How to turn of making backup do files in Stata 18?

[Laura Gibbons]

I'm finding the do file backup and .stswp files annoying. According the the manual "The time interval can be changed in the Do-file Editor’s advanced settings, and the backup feature can also be turned off." But I can't figure out where to do that. Can someone clue me in?

Much appreciated,
Laura

[Clyde Schechter]

Open the do-file editor. Open the Edit menu and select Preferences (which, at least in Windows, is at the bottom of the drop-down menu). Click on the Advanced tab. About a quarter of the way down find "Backup modified documents:" Open the drop down menu and select Never (at the bottom). You will never be bothered by the backup files again.

[Laura Gibbons]

Perfect, thank you so much!

[Jared Greathouse]

"Backup do files"?

[Leonardo Guizzetti]

Stata 18 adds the ability to make automatic backups of do-files.

[Caoimhe Cawley]

I have also been finding the .stswp files annoying, because even when I save and close my do file in an orderly manner, every time I want to reopen it I am asked if I want to use the backup file (which I don't, because I saved it properly before closing). However, if I turn off backups completely, does this mean that in the event of a real need for a backup file (e.g. power outage, changes not saved), it would not be available anymore? This does not seem to make sense. Seems rather like there's a bug in Stata 18 - i.e. if the file is properly saved before closing, user should not be asked if they want the backup when they next go to open the file....

[Clyde Schechter]

While it doesn't happen very often, I do occasionally save my do-file by mistake, and it is handy to be able to revert to the backup in that situation.