86 MACWORLD FEBRUARY 2020
WORKING MAC SAVE, SAVE AS, AND DUPLICATE IN MACOS APPSSAVE
For apps that support storing versions of
files, each Save not only takes the current
changes stored temporarily for an active
document and writes them to a file on a
volume, but also may create an archived
version of the file’s previous state. Apple
says that a version is stored each hour and
then also for any time major changes are
made in a document, without being too
specific about how significant those
changes are.
You can manage the version history
through File → Revert To → Browse All
Versions, as I wrote about in a recent
column describing how to purge older
versions (go.macworld.com/mnvh).
DU PLI C ATE
By default, the File menu shows Duplicate
below the Save item. Choosing File →
Duplicate creates a copy of the current
state of the file, including unsaved
changes. The copy is a separate
document that has as its name the original
file’s title plus the word “Copy,” and the
title is highlighted.
The file is stored in the same location as
the original once the title is edited; in the
meantime, it’s stored temporarily in iCloud
Drive, typically in the location devoted to
the app you’re using, like Pages.
Duplicate detaches itself from old
versions, so you can’t revert to earlier
forms of the original file, and starts its
own version history. However, you can
always open the original file—so long as
you didn’t delete it—and review its
version history.
Trying to close the duplicate without
saving brings up a Save dialog that asks if
you want to keep the document and offers
Delete Copy, Cancel, and Save as options.SAVE AS
Hold down the Option key and File >
Duplicate changes to the previous and
long-running menu item Save As. Select
that option, and a Save As dialog appears
allowing you to choose a name and
destination for the file.
Save As differs in three ways from
Duplicate:
> The original file isn’t left open, but the
current window adopts a new file name or
location or both.
> The Save As dialog lets you choose
any destination for the file before editing it.
> If the document contains unsaved
changes, the app includes a checkbox in
the Save As dialog that reads “Keep
changes in original document.” If checked,
the app performs a Save operation in the
original file, then saves the new version and
leaves that as the only open, active window.
However, like Duplicate, Save As trims
the version history: the new file has a fresh
start. ■