The document “XXXXXXX.numbers” could not be autosaved.

[jmickeyg]

hi. just updated to latest big sur 11.5 and get this error "The document “XXXXXXX.numbers” could not be autosaved" on saving files back to my usb.
using iMac 27" late 2019 16 gig ram . The usb is used with a windows 10 pc. how do i get the computer accepting this drive again? oh i should mention i cannot export or save the file at all.

 

[jmickeyg]

after talking to apple now can export excel files back to usb but still cannot save the numbers files to the usb.

 

[chscag]

The usb is used with a windows 10 pc. how do i get the computer accepting this drive again? oh i should mention i cannot export or save the file at all.

How is the USB flash drive formatted? In other words, is that USB drive formatted as FAT-32 which would be compatible between your Mac and PC? Other formats proprietary to either the Mac or PC would cause the problem you're experiencing.

You can not save the Numbers file to the flash drive if that drive is formatted for Windows. (NTFS)

 

[jmickeyg]

How is the USB flash drive formatted? In other words, is that USB drive formatted as FAT-32 which would be compatible between your Mac and PC? Other formats proprietary to either the Mac or PC would cause the problem you're experiencing.

You can not save the Numbers file to the flash drive if that drive is formatted for Windows. (NTFS)

Formatted FAT-32. was working fine before going to 11.5 from 11.4.

 

[jmickeyg]

Formatted FAT-32. was working fine before going to 11.5 from 11.4.

ITS a big 6 t usb external drive.

 

[chscag]

How large are the Numbers files that you're trying to save to that drive? Keep in mind that the maximum file size for FAT-32 is 4 GB. I can't imagine that you would have Numbers files that large but I thought I had better ask just in case.

 

[jmickeyg]

How large are the Numbers files that you're trying to save to that drive? Keep in mind that the maximum file size for FAT-32 is 4 GB. I can't imagine that you would have Numbers files that large but I thought I had better ask just in case.

THE files can be measured in kbs nothing over a megabyte. Interestingly i copy pasted one to an apple formatted usb drive (6T) worked on it from there . saved to the apple formatted drive. then copy pasted back to the Msdos drive and now it saves as numbers and exports as excel to the Msdos drive fine. jpegs I open from theMsdos drive save back to it as empty files . Working is getting a bit difficult in a mixed enviroment.

 

[chscag]

Working is getting a bit difficult in a mixed enviroment.

That's always the case when you mix data and have to be able to work with both. However, what you're doing is the correct way. I did much the same thing when I was required to keep Windows running alongside macOS.

I am wondering though why you're using Numbers? The Mac version of Excel does have some limitations that are not found with the Windows version, but certainly is better than using Numbers.

 

[jmickeyg]

I just find numbers more efficient. layouts simple doesn't have a whole lot of bells and whistles that i don'T need. everything i need is much easier to do in numbers.

 

[jmickeyg]

THE files can be measured in kbs nothing over a megabyte. Interestingly i copy pasted one to an apple formatted usb drive (6T) worked on it from there . saved to the apple formatted drive. then copy pasted back to the Msdos drive and now it saves as numbers and exports as excel to the Msdos drive fine. jpegs I open from theMsdos drive save back to it as empty files . Working is getting a bit difficult in a mixed enviroment.

If I copy numbers and excel files from the MSdos Fat32 usb delete and paste back they work fine from then on. BUT jpgs if saved from preview to the usb become empty files.

 

[chscag]

You might want to try erasing that 6 TB drive (after copying your data elsewhere) and then reformat it using ExFAT rather than FAT-32.

We normally do not recommend keeping data on a drive formatted to FAT because FAT is a non journaling file system and prone to errors.

 

[jmickeyg]

You might want to try erasing that 6 TB drive (after copying your data elsewhere) and then reformat it using ExFAT rather than FAT-32.

We normally do not recommend keeping data on a drive formatted to FAT because FAT is a non journaling file system and prone to errors.

I'll take a look at doing that . thanks for the suggestion

 

[jmickeyg]

SEAGATE tells me expat is not advisable it is unjournaled

 

[MacInWin]

SEAGATE tells me expat is not advisable it is unjournaled

Neither is FAT32, so you won't be losing anything to go from FAT32 to Ex-FAT. And you'll be improving portability and interoperability.

 

[chscag]

SEAGATE tells me expat is not advisable it is unjournaled

That's exactly what we told you above in #12 isn't it? However, given the choice of ExFAT versus FAT-32, I recommend ExFAT because it allows larger files sizes with smaller clusters.

Since you need to use a file system that can be read by both Windows and macOS you have no choice unless you wish to use a proprietary file system and a driver.