HT203517: iCloud: Troubleshooting Documents in the Cloud

Learn about iCloud: Troubleshooting Documents in the Cloud
Minty01
Level 1 (0 points)

Q: Restoring a Deleted Numbers Work Book

I store my iWork documents on iCloud and this morning I manged to select an older version of a Numbers document when I was given the option and have lost my current document.  Is there any way of getting the overwritten/deleted version resinstalled?

iMac

Posted on Jul 27, 2013 1:40 AM

by Winston Churchill,Solvedanswer
Winston Churchill Winston Churchill
Level 10 (104,485 points)
Apple TV
A:

To the best of my knowledge iCloud only offers you different versions when there is a conflict, I'm assuming this is where you selected the wrong version. Numbers itself keeps different versions which you can browse from File > revert to. It may be worth having a look there.

Posted on Jul 28, 2013 9:27 AM

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Minty01

Q: Restoring a Deleted Numbers Work Book

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  • by pvonk,

    pvonk pvonk Jul 27, 2013 8:08 AM in response to Minty01
    Level 6 (13,739 points)
    Jul 27, 2013 8:08 AM in response to Minty01

    iCloud copies of documents are also kept on your mac...

     

    ~/Library/Mobile Documents

     

    Note that Library in the user's home folder is now hidden, so you'll have to set Finder to view hidden files.

     

    The Mobile Documents folder has subfolders where copies of the doc/data files are stored.

     

    Now, if the file you need is gone, then use Time Machine to restore that one file from an previous backup.  This assumes you use Time Machine to make hourly backups of your mac.

  • by Minty01,

    Minty01 Minty01 Jul 28, 2013 8:41 AM in response to pvonk
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jul 28, 2013 8:41 AM in response to pvonk

    pvonk

     

    Thanks for the advice, but I'm struggling to find a way to show the finden folders in Finder.  I'm assuming that I should be able to do so in the preferences pane of finder?

     

    Any help would be good.

     

    Thanks in advance.

  • by Roger Wilmut1,

    Roger Wilmut1 Roger Wilmut1 Jul 28, 2013 8:47 AM in response to Minty01
    Level 9 (78,503 points)
    iTunes
    Jul 28, 2013 8:47 AM in response to Minty01

    Don't try to set the Finder to show hidden files, there's no need and you will see an awful lot of clutter. To view the User Library, hold the option (alt) key down while clicking on the Finder's 'Go' menu - the Library will appear as a choice.

  • by Winston Churchill,

    Winston Churchill Winston Churchill Jul 28, 2013 8:59 AM in response to Minty01
    Level 10 (104,485 points)
    Apple TV
    Jul 28, 2013 8:59 AM in response to Minty01

    The problem here is that the Mobile Documents folder only keeps the most up to date document too. It's possible it may not have updated as yet I suppose, but if it has you may need to refer to your backups of this folder to recover older versions.

     

    Also, have you checked that the document cannot be recovered from the Numbers version of versions instead of the iCloud version of versions, if you know what I mean.

  • by Minty01,

    Minty01 Minty01 Jul 28, 2013 9:18 AM in response to Roger Wilmut1
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jul 28, 2013 9:18 AM in response to Roger Wilmut1

    Roger

     

    Thanks for the advice, but at Winston says, the item was updated!  Useful tip though.

  • by Minty01,

    Minty01 Minty01 Jul 28, 2013 9:19 AM in response to Winston Churchill
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jul 28, 2013 9:19 AM in response to Winston Churchill

    Winston you were right the item had already been updated!  I'm not sure what you mean by, "the Numbers version of versions instead of the iCloud version of versions".  Any help would be gratefully received.

  • by Winston Churchill,Solvedanswer

    Winston Churchill Winston Churchill Jul 28, 2013 9:27 AM in response to Minty01
    Level 10 (104,485 points)
    Apple TV
    Jul 28, 2013 9:27 AM in response to Minty01

    To the best of my knowledge iCloud only offers you different versions when there is a conflict, I'm assuming this is where you selected the wrong version. Numbers itself keeps different versions which you can browse from File > revert to. It may be worth having a look there.

  • by Minty01,

    Minty01 Minty01 Jul 29, 2013 4:01 AM in response to Winston Churchill
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jul 29, 2013 4:01 AM in response to Winston Churchill

    Winston.  Thanks matey.  Opened the workbook in iCloud.  Selected File> Revert to.  This opened up Time Machine and allowed me to scroll back to the version that I wanted.  Selected Restore and Bingo.

     

    Brilliant.  Thanks everyone for your help.

     

    Minty01

  • by Winston Churchill,

    Winston Churchill Winston Churchill Jul 29, 2013 4:47 AM in response to Minty01
    Level 10 (104,485 points)
    Apple TV
    Jul 29, 2013 4:47 AM in response to Minty01

    It doesn't actually open up Time Machine, although the effect is very similar. Numbers documents are no longer single files, they are packaged bundles where various other stuff including different versions is stored. You possibly don't really need to know this most of the time, but sometimes it's helpful to undersdtand it.

     

    Anyway, glad you have your problem resolved.

     

    Also, if you are using iWork on a mobile device in conjunction with your Mac, can I suggest you get into the habit of backing up your documents in the cloud regularly.