New to Mac OS X Lion is βVersionsβ, it is an automatic backup utility much like Time Machine that saves several copies of files as youβre working on them. Apple introduced this utility so that users could always revert back to previous versions of a file if they chose.
A few people have wondered if there was a way to turn this feature off. As much as I hate to be the bearer of bad news, there is not. Versions is a built-in feature that comes standard with Appleβs word-processing software such as Text Edit, Pages, Numbers and Keynote.
As of now, there is no way to fully eliminate Versions or turn off the feature. However, if you are extremely bothered by Versions, you may wish to switch to a non-Apple version of word processing software. Microsoft Office and its applications do not use Versions.
One workaround that I can offer, albeit it is quite a pain, is to save your document under a different name when you go to save it, and then deleting the other version. As I said, I know itβs not a perfect solution, but at this time it is the only real workaround that I can suggest, save for switching to another word processing application.
The best advice that I can offer at this time is to call or email Apple support and make your voice and concerns heard. Believe it or not, Appleβs support team DOES listen to your suggestions and ideas (both positive and negative) and incorporate them into future software updates and operating systems.
Now, if youβre working with large files and your main concern has to do with the hard drive space being taken up by Versions, there is a way to delete the Versions history. Warning: It is painstaking process, and will be something you will need to do every time you want to delete the Versions history. You have been forewarned, so here it is:
1. The first thing we will want to do is show all files. To do this, we need to open a Terminal window and type the following:
defaults write com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles YES
Press βReturnβ, then type
killall Finder
2. Now, we will need to logon to the Root User account. To do this, we will go to System Preferences, followed by Users & Groups. Click βLogin Optionsβ, followed by clicking βNetwork Account Server: Joinβ.
Once youβve done that, you will see a button that says: βOpen Directory Utilityβ. Youβll need to unlock the lock from the bottom left, and then enter your password.
Go to βEditβ from the top menu bar, and click βEnable Root Userβ. You will now be prompted to enter a password for the Root User account. Choose something you know you will remember. We will now log out of your account, and login to the Root User account we just enabled.
3. From your MacIntosh HDβs root directory in Finder, you will want to find the folder called βDocumentRevisions-V100β. You probably cannot open it right now, so weβll have to change the permissions of the file. Right-click on the folder and select βGet Infoβ. At the very bottom of the menu that appears, you will see another lock to unlock. Click it, and enter the ROOT password. Change the permissions of the folder to βread & writeβ and choose βApply to enclosed itemsβ. If youβre prompted to confirm, click OK.
You can now clear out that folder and regain your hard drive space. As mentioned before, you would need to perform these steps every time that you want to remove your Versions history. So, with all this in mind, it might just be best to grin and bear Versions for now, at least until Apple releases an option to disable it.
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Thanks, I would like to think there is an answer on this somewhere in the terminal. I truly hope. Another option is store the files on a remote drive (server) and viola, versions doesnβt work. Autosave, not sure. I need to kill auto save too.
This is a feature that is great for a new user making small files on their local machine but for hard core graphics users it is a world of complication.
This article says complete copies of files are stored in the hidden directory.
http://www.maclife.com/article/howtos/everything_you_need_know_about_versions
So if I am working on a 1.2 gig Keynote presentation think of the bloat and autosave lag that is going to give your pooter ever 10 minutes.
Versions stored within the file is nightmarish when the client is on the phone requiring the 400 page presentation we did last year to be recalled right now and you know some versions had sensitive confidential info in them and others didnβt.
Somebody get me off this thing!!!! Shaun, what would happen if the hidden directory was deleted?
This page has a post about turning off auto save via the terminal at an application specific level.
http://forum.telestream.net/forum/messageview.aspx?catid=42&threadid=8899