Why am I getting two different inkscape file types when opening and closing a file several times - even when NO parameters are being changed.

I create a file, save it using the default inkscape file format, open and close the file several times and then discover there are two different versions of the same file eg. "*gearbox.svg" and "gearbox.svg". I am not selecting the file type, nor using Save As - only using the default file every time (*svg).

Obviously this is not good as it leads to version chaos, misplaced work etc.

This does not seem to be explained in any how-to or tutorials about file types.

My thanks in advance to anyone who an explain what and why this is happening and how to prevent it.

It means you either have 2 files open with the same name; or you have the same file opened twice. The one with a * in front has been edited since the last time it was saved. If you've edited both of them, they both have * in front.

To avoid it, just pay closer attention, and don't open the same file twice. Or if you want to open-close-open-close, be sure it's closed before you open it again.

Okay thank you - I'll close every file every time I put it away (I pull elements from different files to create new technical diagrams). This is obviously very inefficient and time-wasting but seems like the only work-around.

I'm curious why Inkscape behaves like this, while no other software that I've ever encountered opens a new copy of a file that's already open - other programs simply either do not react or the already open file jumps up from the Dock (mac).

*gearbox.svg is the file name of a drawing of a gearbox - exactly the same as gearbox.svg

Oh wow, I was trying to figure out how you were getting the same file opened twice!

Can't you just minimize the Inkscape window, instead of closing? Then you can just maximize it from the taskbar, if you need it. Then minimize again.

In any case, in Inkscape, Open means open, and that's what it does. I don't find that strange at all. It seems strange to me, to use Open to bring the window up from the taskbar. That's what minimize and maximize are for.

I'm not familiar with Mac, but I think minimizing and maximizing is basic for all operating systems. Although maybe it goes by a different names? Don't you have buttons like this, in the upper-right corner of windows?