Over about 15 years years of teaching others to how use various software and computer systems, I’ve noticed there is much confusion around files. Confusion about where they’re located, how to find them, how to rename or move them.
Not having those skills is usually what people really mean when they tell me they’re “not very good at computers.” I get it! There’s a lot to know. Which is why I always recommend learning the basics of your computer’s file system—both Apple and Microsoft have free tutorials in their Support sections—but no matter your level of comfort with computers, Scrivener 3 has some features that make it easier than ever to find your files.
Understanding Scrivener Project File Basics
Let’s take a quick detour for a couple of key points to understand about Scrivener project files before we get into the features.
Files are Separate from Their Programs
A project file is not stored inside Scrivener. It is created by, viewed in, and edited with Scrivener, but is not part of Scrivener. You could delete Scrivener from your computer and still have all of your Scrivener projects. (You just wouldn’t be able to open them on that computer.)
This behavior is actually true for almost any type of computer file (e.g., Word documents, pictures), not just Scrivener projects. It allows you to send a file to someone else, open it on a different computer, and move it around.
Where Projects are Located is Your Choice
When you create a Scrivener project, it’s saved to the location of your choice on the same screen where you give the file a name. Many people skip the location part of this step, and click Create without paying attention to the default location. Then, they have no idea where the project file is stored.
Sometimes, they do pay attention, but they can’t figure out how to change the location to the place they want. If that’s you, I recommend visiting the appropriate tutorial above. ;-)
Now, on to the fun stuff!
Locating Scrivener Project Files
Finding the Current Project
When you close Scrivener, any projects you had open will automatically open next time you use Scrivener. That’s super handy, but also means you may have no idea where the project is located when it comes time to rename, move, delete, etc.
If you have a project open and you’d like to know where it’s stored on your computer (or any drive accessible by your computer, e.g., Dropbox, flash drive, external hard drive), go to File>Show Project in Finder. A Finder window opens with the current project selected.
From here, you can rename the file, or just take note of where it is. If you want to move it, I recommend closing Scrivener first.
NOTE: I used to recommend closing Scrivener before renaming a file, but the new version no longer gets confused. Yay for progress!
Searching for All Scrivener Projects
To locate all Scrivener projects accessible from this computer, go to File>Find All Projects in Spotlight.
A Finder window opens, with a list of files that matched the search for Scrivener projects. This may include zipped backup copies and compile formats.
Bookmarking Projects
I have a Scrivener project where I keep track of all upcoming workshops, from the request/proposal stage through delivery. I only need to access it every month or two, which means it often falls off the Recents list (covered below). So I added it to my list of Favorites so it’s always easy to find.
Follow the steps below to add a project to your Favorites list.
- Open the project in Scrivener.
- Go to File>Add Project to Favorites.
Opening a Project from Favorites
Next time you want to open that project while Scrivener is already running, go to File>Favorite Projects and choose it from the list.
Removing a Project from Favorites
To remove a file from Favorites, it must be open in Scrivener first. Then, go to File>Remove Project from Favorites.
Working with the Recent Projects List
The Recents list is a common feature in many software programs, but I’ve encountered some confusion around it, so here’s a short overview.
- The Recent Projects list displays the last few files you opened in Scrivener.
- To open a recent project, go to File>Recent Projects and choose the desired file from the list.
Encountering Duplicate Entries
Sometimes a file is listed multiple times. Often this happens if you’ve moved the project and then opened it from the new location. One entry will be from the old location, the other from the new one. (This is because a file’s name actually includes the entire path, or location—all that gobbledygook like /Users/yourcomputer/Dropbox—not just the name you give it.)
NOTE: Every project you open is added to the list. If you want a curated list of project files, use Favorites.
Clearing the Recents List
If you’re worried about getting mixed up, or if you recently opened a bunch of projects you don’t normally use, you can clear the list and it’ll rebuild over time as you open projects.
To clear the list, go to File>Recent Projects>Clear Menu.
TIP: The number of recent projects displayed in the list can be changed in Mac OS’s system settings on the General tab. It will apply to all of the programs on your Mac.
Reinforcing Your Scrivener Basic Skills
If you’re looking for more on opening, closing, renaming, and moving Scrivener projects, refer back to this post.
Any questions? What other Scrivener issues can I help with?
Now, thanks to tinyCoffee and PayPal, you can!Wish you could buy this author a cup of joe?
About Gwen Hernandez
Gwen Hernandez is the author of Scrivener For Dummies, Productivity Tools for Writers, and the “Men of Steele” series (military romantic suspense). She teaches Scrivener to writers all over the world through online classes, in-person workshops, and private sessions. Learn more about Gwen at gwenhernandez.com.
Another helpful Scrivener post! Thanks so much, because I have gotten confused on several occasions with regards to where my files are and keeping track of them when I start renaming or copying them. Even though I’ve participated in the tutorial a couple of times, I still seem to have forgotten what I learned by the time I actually encounter a question. For some reason it’s hard for me to find what I need when I go back to the tutorial, too. Your posts are nice reminders!
Thanks, Lara! You’re definitely not alone in getting confused. :-)
On the Mac, I have Finder set up so that all my recently used or saved files show up at the top of the Finder window. I do this by clicking the “Date Last Opened” column so that files sort from the most recent date and time they were opened. It is just one click, and if I get the sort order wrong, a second click on that column fixes it.
I can use Spotlight on the Mac to search for “*.scriv”. That will get me a quick list of projects. Click one, and Scrivener launches.
Also on the Mac, I like to open a terminal window and use Unix commands to search for files and directories.
Every Scrivener project seems to have a directory (also called a “folder”) which is the name of the project, and inside that folder are the file and subfolders associated with that project. For example I have a folder named “house_addition.scriv” and inside that folder are a file named “house_addition.scrivx” and 3 subfolders: Files, QuickLook, and Settings.
So let’s say that I bring up house_addition.scriv in a Finder window. What is an easy way of recording where that file is on my file system, and what is the name of the file? Take a picture of the Finder window with your cell phone. That will give you the location and exact spelling in one handy photo.
Sounds like you have a system that works for you all figured out, Bob! One caution, don’t mess with the files inside of the .scriv file. The .scrivx is the structure file, but the other folders in there contain the actual text and snapshots and such. Thanks for sharing!
Thank you, Gwen. I should have been a little more exact in my comments above. If one uses Finder to show the contents of a directory without putting any search text in the search bar at the top right of the window, it can be sorted on the “Date Modified” column. If you search by putting text in that search bar, such as “kind: Scrivener Project”, and files of that type are actually found, then there will be a column in the results window titled “Date Last Opened”. If one actually uses the Spotlight utility by clicking the search icon at the top right corner of the Mac’s desktop window, and enters search text in Spotlight, it appears that you will be shown a list of files on the left side of the results pane and the content of the currently selected file on the right, “Preview” pane. I seem to hit the return key a little too hard when I do this and I guess that is what causes Scrivener to actually launch, bringing up the file selected in Spotlight for editing.
And yes, I’m careful not to change the files I see in the Scrivener folders. I’m pretty sure that Literature and Latte is “closed source” and they do not publish their file formats. They should open source all their code, but that is a whole separate discussion…
Bob: Isn’t nice to have so many options? Thanks!
Hi, First, not sure what version of scriverner I have on Windoews. Pls advise how I might upgrade. I and writing a text book and and writen several subject matter files, binders etc, Not sure where I put them and they are now lost. I tried the File > All files. In my version there is no link for Find All Projects under the File tab.
IPlease advise.
My thanks,
Hi, James. Version 3 for Windows hasn’t released yet, but is expected sometime this year. To check your version, go to Help>About Scrivener. To see if there are any updates, go to Help>Check for Updates.
To find your project location, you can search for .scriv in the search bar on the taskbar at the bottom of the screen. If you don’t see that, click the Windows button and select Documents, then use the File Explorer search box to look for .scriv. NOTE: Do not move or rename the .scrivx. You must always work with the .scriv folder or you may lose your text. HTH!