"Versions." I cannot find them. Don't want them

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Level 3

686 points

"Versions." I cannot find them. Don't want them

Oh man, this is insane. I have been searching for (where are versions stored) and getting nowhere except...I can't do anything about it.

Turned on visibles, tried to follow trails where people have said they are stored, read that no actual "copies" are stored, read more about...just more about and still have no idea if and where any given file I create is being stored someplace in addition to where my original (if it is even the orioginal anymore) actually is.

This is insane. This is why I never liked Windows, I never could get my hands on anything. I've been a Mac user for over 25 years and since Lion, I have never felt more lost and out of control.

Can anyone please tell me where these so called "versions" are? I mean, really, where are they? I don't want copies (or versions) of everything I do to be lingering around on my hardware or in the ethos. I want to decide what to keep and where to keep it.

Can I do that? How?

A very frustrated mac (used to be) fan.

MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.7)

Posted on Feb 5, 2013 2:54 PM

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Answer 1

baltwo

Level 9

62,362 points

Feb 5, 2013 3:29 PM in response to Noodle-head

At the root-level in the hidden .DocumentRevisions-V100 directory.

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Answer 2

Noodle-head Author

Level 3

686 points

Feb 6, 2013 10:22 AM in response to baltwo

Nope. I already tried that. I see four folder, checked inside all and nothing that I could distinguish or that resembles documents I have worked on, then lost option to save as so opted to save version. But it or any others do not appear.

I just don't get this...or maybe I do but am so appalled by this notion of taking away my decision about keeping a file or not keeping it, and where it is going.

I've been trying to accept and adjust to apples lion takeover--I not only bought a lion update for my macro and my MacBook Pro, I also bought a new iMac (still waiting for delivery). And, I bought this annoying iPad min which for who knows why, has no back arrows or way to backspace.

I am thinking about canceling the iMac order and sucking up the rest, then just going back to snow leopard. I'm giving myself alittle more cooling off time.

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Answer 3

Noodle-head Author

Level 3

686 points

Feb 6, 2013 10:23 AM in response to Noodle-head

Sorry for the lousy typing but I am doing this on this new iPad mini.

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Answer 4

Feb 6, 2013 1:28 PM in response to Noodle-head

Versions are not documents. Only enough information is saved to allow the application to reconstruct earlier instances of the document. If you delete the current version of the document the old versions are gone too.

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Answer 5

baltwo

Level 9

62,362 points

Feb 6, 2013 1:36 PM in response to Noodle-head

Jeffrey provided the salient detail. For more, see http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4753 and https://discussions.apple.com/thread/3198808?start=0&tstart=0.

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Answer 6

Feb 7, 2013 9:53 AM in response to Jeffrey Jones2

Jeffrey: Thank you Jeffrey. However, I still want to get my hands on it. It is absurd that this level of personl control has been stripped away.

Baltwo: I appreciate the link Been reading it. Here's the thing though, Apple breezily states you can use the Version Browser (which by the way, I cannot find or figure out). *And keep in mind, I am far from a novice, though not an IT person I've been using Macs maybe 28 years now and have five in my home counting iPad and Laptops. As a writer/educato I worked for years in a Windows world and had to make it my business to know how to use a Mac well enough to be able to convert, create, edit, etc., all types of ducuments for all those Windows professionals. I am such a loss at this point. The only reason I stepped up to Lion was to keep abreast of what others are using or need. I am in the dark at this point. Yes, I did provide feedback to Apple. My next feedback will be in the form of cancelling my order for a new 27"iMac (placed 3 weeks ago and still waiting).

I know I'm unloading here and I apologize. Thanks for yoiur patience.

George - a drifting-away-and-about-to-disappear-mac-fan.

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Answer 7

baltwo

Level 9

62,362 points

Feb 7, 2013 11:10 AM in response to GeorgeInTheMountains

GeorgeInTheMountains wrote:

baltwo: I appreciate the link Been reading it. Here's the thing though, Apple breezily states you can use the Version Browser (which by the way, I cannot find or figure out).

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Answer 8

Feb 15, 2013 5:40 AM in response to baltwo

Baltwo

!Thank you! It's not visible till hovered over, therefore I had no idea or reason to look in that spot. It does show me the versions, so thank you. (I'd still like to know where they are kept-or maybe more accurately, how they are kept.)

ps. I have this brand new 27" iMac sitting in its box in my house. I t arrived yesterday; same day Apple emailed me a Return Authorization Label. I'm hesitating. Since I am only able to bring my Mac Pro up to Lion, and did the same with my MacBook Pro; I am wondering if Mt. Lion is less cumbersome?

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Answer 9

baltwo

Level 9

62,362 points

Feb 15, 2013 10:50 AM in response to GeorgeInTheMountains

GeorgeInTheMountains wrote:

I'd still like to know where they are kept-or maybe more accurately, how they are kept.

At the root-level in the hidden .DocumentRevisions-V100 directory.

I have this brand new 27" iMac sitting in its box in my house. I t arrived yesterday; same day Apple emailed me a Return Authorization Label. I'm hesitating. Since I am only able to bring my Mac Pro up to Lion, and did the same with my MacBook Pro; I am wondering if Mt. Lion is less cumbersome?

Mtn Lion is Lion on steroids, but is further iOSified. If you're happy with Lion, then go for it. Not my cup of tea, since I compute with Snow Leopard and only test with these new kittens that can't run PPC apps and have hooks to iOS devices which I don't use.

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Answer 10

babowa

Level 9

78,103 points

Feb 15, 2013 11:00 AM in response to GeorgeInTheMountains

I find ML better than Lion - at least it brought back "Save As" which had disappeared in Lion (have not been bothered with Versions at all in ML). You can also turn off Resume. I'm using ML daily and have learned to ignore/turn off any of the features I don't need or want or like. Other than that, I absolutely agree with baltwo.....

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