Why do I "Save Project"?

Question

This seems a really stupid question, but I really don't understand what is "saved" when I use "File -> Save Project". As I understand it, a project is a collection of assets, each of which is a file in the file system (and versioned in the Asset Server or an external VCS). So what is "saved" when I "Save Project" and why isn't that (whatever it is) just an asset like anything else?

(I understand Save Scene - that's saving the Hierarchy as a <scene>.unity asset in the project)

Answer 1

Best Answer

Answer by Lucas Meijer 1 · May 07, 2010 at 10:29 AM

Your assumptions are correct. "Save Scene" saves the current hierarchy into .unity scenefile.

"Save Project" saves all unsaved modifications to any asset in your projectfolder to disk. This also automatically happens when you close Unity.

We don't automatically write any asset modification to disk immediately. We mark the asset as dirty, so that next time we save all assets, it will get saved.

Add comment · Show 9 · Share

yoyo · Mar 18, 2011 at 11:24 PM 2

Share

And note that if you modify a prefab which is not instantiated in the current scene, you don't get the little * in the title bar -- but you still need to save the scene in order for the prefab change to be saved.

Waz · Jun 22, 2011 at 01:03 AM 3

Share

I would prefer a single Save item, and Auto-Save, or for Unity to never crash. You choose.

roppi · Jun 20, 2012 at 08:58 AM 1

Share

for a single save functionality. I$$anonymous$$O it cannot be expected from a user to know which save operation does what, because it's nowhere explained. I always do both, Save Scene and Save Project... "just in case". And whenever I do a change by mistake (e.g. touch a $$anonymous$$aterial), I believe I can "just close the project" and it'll be reverted... but as I know now, it seems to still be saved on Quit anyway. Very confusing.

numberkruncher · Oct 20, 2012 at 03:57 AM 3

Share

Agreed, a single save option would be better because when Unity crashes with unsaved assets it can cause major damage to a project!

Gronky · Feb 28, 2014 at 06:07 PM 2

Share

We should be able to save the project with Ctrl+Shift+S combination at least. Currently we can't.

Show more comments

Why do I "Save Project"?

1 Reply

Your answer

Follow this Question

Related Questions