The Project Version History dialog allows you to locate and open previously archived versions of an ARCHLine.XP project.  

Note: Project version history (from version 2026 onwards) in previous versions Drawing Recovery Manager.

This function is useful when you need to:

• return to an earlier state of a project,
• recover a version created before an unwanted modification,
• compare archived project versions,
• identify the latest available archived copy,
• or inspect the contents of a stored project version before opening it.

Depending on the ARCHLine.XP version, the command may also be referred to as Version History.

Project list

The main area of the dialog displays the available archived project versions.

Each row represents one archived project version.

The following information is shown:

For example, several archived copies of the same project may appear with similar names, such as:

• HOUSE_PLAN_V07
• HOUSE_PLAN_V07(1)
• HOUSE_PLAN_V07(2)

These entries represent separate archived versions of the project.

Select a row to inspect its contents or open that version.

File info

The File info panel displays the drawing and view files stored inside the selected archived project.

Typical entries may include:

• Document4.asc
• Section1.asc
• Section.asc
• View 2.asc
• Section2.asc

These files represent project drawings or views contained in the selected archived project.

Selecting an item in the File info list allows you to inspect the corresponding project content where a preview is available.

Note: The file names shown here are internal project content names. In normal use, it is usually not necessary to open or modify these files separately.

Project contents list

The Project contents list provides a graphical overview or preview of the contents associated with the selected project version.

This makes it easier to verify that the selected archive contains the required drawings or views before opening it.

The preview is intended only as an identification aid. The actual project becomes editable only after the archived version is opened.

Search location

By default, the Project Version Finder searches the configured ARCHLine.XP archive location.

The current archive folder is displayed in the Path field at the bottom of the dialog.

For example, the archive may be stored in a user-specific ARCHLine.XP folder.

Enable search in

Enable Enable search in when you want to search for archived project versions in a different folder.

When enabled, the folder field becomes available.

You can then either enter a folder path manually or select one using Browse.

This is useful when archived projects have been:

• moved to another folder,
• copied from another workstation,
• restored from an external backup,
• stored on another drive,
• or placed in a shared/network location.

Browse

Click Browse to select the folder in which ARCHLine.XP should search for archived project versions.

After selecting a new folder, use Search again to refresh the project list.

Search again

Click Search again to scan the selected archive location and update the list of available project versions.

Use this command after:

• changing the search folder,
• copying additional archive files into the folder,
• restoring archived projects from backup,
• or when the required project version does not appear in the current list.

Opening an archived version

To open an archived project version:

1. Select the required project in the project list.
2. Check the Last modification date, Size, and available File info to make sure you have selected the correct version.
3. Click Open.

ARCHLine.XP then opens the selected archived project version.

Important: It is recommended to save the recovered version under a new project name or location before continuing normal work. This helps preserve both the current project and the recovered historical version.

Open

Opens the selected archived project version.

Use this command only after verifying that the correct version has been selected.

Cancel

Closes the Project Version Finder without opening an archived project.

No project data is modified.

How archived versions are created

The Project Version Finder works together with the ARCHLine.XP Backup Archive system.

When Backup Archive is enabled, ARCHLine.XP creates archived recovery copies of project data according to the configured backup settings.

These backup options can be configured under:

File > Options > Open and Save > Backup Archive

The Backup Archive settings include:

• creation of daily backup copies,
• archive storage location,
• preservation period,
• automatic deletion of old backups,
• and recovery-related options.

The available versions shown in Project Version Finder therefore depend on the archived project data currently stored in the configured archive location.

Choosing the correct version

When several versions of the same project are available, use the following information to identify the required version:

Project name helps identify the project.

Last modification date is usually the most useful value for determining when the archived state was created.

Size can help identify significant changes between versions.

File info and Project contents list can be used to verify that the expected drawings and views are present.

For example, if you need the project state from before a modification made in the afternoon, choose the most recent archived version whose Last modification date is earlier than that modification.

Recommended recovery workflow

A safe recovery workflow is:

Current project → Find archived version → Open → Verify → Save As a new project

For example:

HOUSE_PLAN_V07

could be recovered and then saved as:

HOUSE_PLAN_V07_RECOVERED

This avoids accidentally overwriting another valid project version.

Important notes

The Project Version Finder is intended primarily for project recovery and version retrieval. It is not a full version-control system and does not track individual modelling changes, users, comments or change sets.

An archived version represents the state of the project at the time the corresponding archive was created.

If the required project version is not displayed, check the archive folder using Enable search in and Browse, then run Search again.

Important: Do not manually modify the internal files of an archived project. Open archived versions through ARCHLine.XP and save the recovered project normally.