SOLIDWORKS Journal File Could Not Be Created
The SOLIDWORKS Journal File is one of two log files generated during a SOLIDWORKS session—the other being the Performance Log. This journal file is a plain text record of every action taken while using SOLIDWORKS. There are a few reasons SOLIDWORKS may display the warning “A journal file could not be created. Auto recover will not work. Another session of SOLIDWORKS may already be running on this machine.” This guide will provide solutions to this behavior.
What is the Journal File?
The SOLIDWORKS journal file is a valuable resource for troubleshooting SOLIDWORKS crashes and can assist in developing SOLIDWORKS Basic macros or API-based tools. It also plays a key role in the auto-recover feature, which relies on the journal file when enabled under System Options > Backup/Recover.
By default, the journal file is stored at:
C:\Users\[current user]\AppData\Roaming\SOLIDWORKS\SOLIDWORKS 20XX\swxJRNL.swj
The folder also contains a file named swxJRNL.BAK, which represents the journal from your previous session. Once SOLIDWORKS is launched again, the swxJRNL.swj is copied to swxJRNL.BAK and then swxJRNL.swj starts tracking the current session.
How to Fix the Journal File Warning
When launching SOLIDWORKS, there are a few reasons why a journal file warning will be presented to the user:
1. Another Session of SOLIDWORKS is Open
As the error message suggests, one common cause is that another SOLIDWORKS session is still running.
- If you are receiving this message while trying to launch another session of SOLIDWORKS while another session is already open, then the journal file will only be able to manage the first session.
- If SOLIDWORKS wasn’t closed properly, its journal file remains active in Windows, preventing a new session from starting.
Even if no SOLIDWORKS window is visible, open the Details tab in Task Manager and check for SLDWORKS.exe. If it’s listed, end the task and try launching SOLIDWORKS again. Rebooting the computer will also force Windows to release/end the application.
2. The Logged In Windows User Does Not Have Permissions
It’s possible the logged in Windows user’s permissions are restricting access to the journal file’s location. This location needs to be writable to the user. To test if the user has the required permissions, browse to the journal file in File Explorer and save a text file (.txt) to the location by right-clicking in the folder and then selecting New > Text Document.
By default, the journal file is stored at:
C:\Users\[current user]\AppData\Roaming\SOLIDWORKS\SOLIDWORKS 20XX
If the logged in Windows user is unable to create the text file, then this is what’s causing the journal file error. Connect with your IT professional to change the folder permissions or you can proceed to step #3 to change the journal file to a different location that is writable.
3. Journal File Location is Invalid
Caution: This process involved editing the Windows Registry. Incorrectly editing the registry can severely damage your operating system. The MLC CAD Systems SOLIDWORKS Technical Support team strongly suggests that you back up the registry data before making any changes to the registry by right-clicking the key and selecting export.
If the journal file location differs from the default location or the folder can’t be found, you may encounter a “journal file could not be created” error.
This typically occurs when a .sldreg file from another system is imported using the Copy Settings Wizard, especially if the source machine had a different operating system. A common issue is that the path references a different user profile than the one currently logged in.
To resolve this error or set the journal file to a different location, follow these steps:
- Close all open sessions of SOLIDWORKS.
- Open your Windows registry by clicking Windows start icon and then type regedit. Select Registry Editor when it appears in the search results.
- Navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\SolidWorks\SOLIDWORKS 20XX\ExtReferences and find the key named SolidWorks Journal Folders. Review the stored location.
- Double-click this key and delete the key’s contents. Click OK to close the Edit String dialog with the Value Data field blank. The next time a SOLIDWORKS session is closed, the system will add the default location to the key.
If you change the location, be sure to also copy the swxJRNL.swj file to the same location before launching SOLIDWORKS.
- Close the Registry Editor and test launching SOLIDWORKS to verify the journal file error no longer displays.
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