Why do I get "Failed to open file: Code 1" when I open a job?

What the message means

Code 1 is different from the Code 3 crash-recovery error. On the public user forum, the consistent explanation is that Code 1 usually means another program has the file held open at the moment you try to load it, or less often that the file is damaged. The usual culprit is a sync or backup program copying the file in the background. Large files are more exposed because they take longer to copy.

Usual causes, most likely first:

1. The job lives in a folder synced by Google Drive, OneDrive, Dropbox or similar, and the sync has it locked.
2. Antivirus or a backup tool is scanning it.
3. The file is being opened from a network share with a shaky connection.
4. The file was damaged by an earlier interrupted save.

How to fix it

1. Wait a minute for syncing to finish and try again.
2. In Windows, right-click the file, choose Copy, then Paste in the same folder. Open the copy (it will have "(1)" or "Copy" in its name).
3. If that fails, copy the file to a plain local folder such as Documents and open it from there.
4. Restart the computer and try again. Forum users report this clears locks that will not let go.
5. If it still fails, fall back to an earlier saved version of the job.

How to confirm it is fixed

The job opens from the local folder without the message. Save it there and keep working locally.

Pro tips

• The maker's documented advice is to save job files to the local drive first and copy them to shared or synced folders afterward. Following it prevents most Code 1 reports.
• If double-clicking the file is what fails, also check which program version Windows is launching (see the entry on double-clicking opening the old version).
• For a file that will not open after a crash, see the entry on error Code 3.