# Unexpected file format error pls help

**URL:** <https://forums.sketchup.com/t/unexpected-file-format-error-pls-help/204019>\
**Category:** Pro\
**Created:** [July 25, 2022, 2:42pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/unexpected-file-format-error-pls-help/204019 "2022-07-25T14:42:58Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 9\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![rifragrafica](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/278dde/32.png) [@rifragrafica](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/rifragrafica)\
**Post date:** [July 25, 2022, 2:42pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/unexpected-file-format-error-pls-help/204019/1 "2022-07-25T14:42:58Z")

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Hi,

I’ve saved my project like I always do, and when i try to open it, sketchup give me a “unexpected file format” error.

I’ve already tried to open the skb file but nothing…can someone please help me?

Thanks

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**Author:** ![DaveR](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/user_avatar/forums.sketchup.com/daver/32/7601_2.png) [@DaveR](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/DaveR)\
**Post date:** [July 25, 2022, 2:44pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/unexpected-file-format-error-pls-help/204019/2 "2022-07-25T14:44:49Z")

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> [@rifragrafica](#):
>
> I’ve saved my project like I always do,

How is that? Where did you save it?

If you read the several threads on this same topic you’ll see that sharing the file is required. @colin very often has some success at recovering at least the components and materials.

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**Author:** ![rifragrafica](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/278dde/32.png) [@rifragrafica](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/rifragrafica)\
**Post date:** [July 25, 2022, 2:47pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/unexpected-file-format-error-pls-help/204019/3 "2022-07-25T14:47:52Z")

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[https://we.tl/t-W3RcbanWlo](https://we.tl/t-W3RcbanWlo)

you can download the project file here.

Please help 🥲

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**Author:** ![DaveR](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/user_avatar/forums.sketchup.com/daver/32/7601_2.png) [@DaveR](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/DaveR)\
**Post date:** [July 25, 2022, 2:55pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/unexpected-file-format-error-pls-help/204019/4 "2022-07-25T14:55:37Z")

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I expect Colin will be along to try to help when he has time.

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**Author:** ![colin](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/user_avatar/forums.sketchup.com/colin/32/266703_2.png) [@colin](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/colin)\
**Post date:** [July 25, 2022, 2:58pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/unexpected-file-format-error-pls-help/204019/5 "2022-07-25T14:58:18Z")

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I’m getting the file. Where I am at the moment has Internet problems, it will take a while to download.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![rifragrafica](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/278dde/32.png) [@rifragrafica](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/rifragrafica)\
**Post date:** [July 25, 2022, 2:58pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/unexpected-file-format-error-pls-help/204019/6 "2022-07-25T14:58:32Z")

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Thank you, that would be awesome 🙏

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**Author:** ![colin](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/user_avatar/forums.sketchup.com/colin/32/266703_2.png) [@colin](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/colin)\
**Post date:** [July 25, 2022, 3:13pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/unexpected-file-format-error-pls-help/204019/7 "2022-07-25T15:13:16Z")

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I didn’t recover anything in the scene, only components and materials.

[https://we.tl/t-TINqDcAhmL](https://we.tl/t-TINqDcAhmL)

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![rifragrafica](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/278dde/32.png) [@rifragrafica](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/rifragrafica)\
**Post date:** [July 25, 2022, 3:23pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/unexpected-file-format-error-pls-help/204019/8 "2022-07-25T15:23:53Z")

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so… I’ve lost everything? 🥲

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![DaveR](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/user_avatar/forums.sketchup.com/daver/32/7601_2.png) [@DaveR](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/DaveR)\
**Post date:** [July 25, 2022, 3:58pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/unexpected-file-format-error-pls-help/204019/9 "2022-07-25T15:58:59Z")

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> [@rifragrafica](#):
>
> I’ve lost everything?

No. Not everything. The components and materials are there. You will have to rebuild your scene.

Where have you been saving your files?