- Sometimes you will want to save a snapshot of the current state of a session for possible - use in the future. For example, you may be about to change the entire - arrangement of a piece, or drastically alter the signal processing, and - want a reference to come back to, should that not work out. + A snapshot is a backup of the current state of a session. It differs + from a simple save by allowing branching. It is a "frozen" version of the session + at a certain point in time.
- This is easily accomplished using Session >
- Snapshot.
- A small dialog will appear, allowing you to enter a name for the snapshot.
- The default name is based on the current date and time.
- You can create any number of snapshots.
+ For example, creating a snapshot before changing the entire arrangement of a
+ piece, or drastically altering the signal processing provides a reference to
+ come back to, should that not work out.
+
+ This is accomplished by using either of the Session > + Snapshot menus. A small dialog will appear, allowing to enter a name for + the snapshot. The default name is based on the current date and time. +
+ ++ The difference between the two snapshot menus is: +
+| Snapshot (& keep working on current version)... | +Saves a snapshot of the session, but keeps the current session active, i.e. any + subsequent Session > Save will overwrite the original + session, and the snapshot will remain unchanged. | +
| Snapshot (& switch to new version)... | +Saves a snapshot of the session, and uses this snapshot as the current + active session, i.e. any subsequent Session > Save + will overwrite the snapshot, and the original session will remain unchanged. | +
+ Any number of snapshots can be created.
- Creating a snapshot does not modify your session, - nor does it save your session. Instead, it saves an alternate version + Creating a snapshot does not modify the session, + nor does it save the session. Instead, it saves an alternate version of the session, within the session folder. The snapshot shares all data present in the session.
-- After creating a snapshot, you can continue working on the session and - save it normally using Session > Save and any - existing snapshots will remain unchanged. -
- If you are already working on a session and want to to switch to an - existing snapshot, navigate the Snapshot List. - Find the name of the snapshot in the list and click it. Ardour will switch - to the snapshot. If there are unsaved changes in the current session, Ardour - will ask what you want to do. + Switching to an existing snapshot is done by navigating the + Snapshot List and clicking the the name of + the desired snapshot. Ardour will switch to the snapshot, and, if there are + unsaved changes in the current session, offer to save them.
Since a snapshot is just another session file stored within the session - folder, you can specify that "version" when loading an existing session. + folder, that "version" can be chosen when loading an existing session. The browser in the "Open Session" dialog will show an expander arrow for - sessions that have more than 1 session file (i.e. snapshots) - present—click on it to see the list, and then click on the name of the - snapshot you want to load. -
- -- Sometimes you may want to create a snapshot and then have all future - edits and modifications saved to that snapshot rather than the main - session. This is easily done using Session > Save - As. This does not create a new session folder, but saves your - session as a new snapshot and then switches the "current snapshot" - to the newly created one. All subsequent saves of the session will - be stored in this new snapshot, and existing snapshots (and the main - session) will be left unaffected. + sessions that have more than one session file (i.e. snapshots) + present. Clicking on it shows the list, and then clicking on the name of the + snapshot loads it.