Local files and backups
Understand where projects live and how to keep recoverable copies.
You choose where the project lives
Minstrel projects are .mns files on your Mac. Put active projects in a clearly named folder and include that folder in Time Machine or another backup routine you trust.
- 1Keep each active project in a stable folder.
- 2Confirm that folder is included in your normal backup system.
- 3Create dated exports before major structural revisions when you want an easy milestone copy.
- 4If a recent-project shortcut stops working, use Open File and select the project at its new location.
Keep imports separate from the project
Minstrel imports DOCX documents and Scrivener projects instead of editing those sources directly. The first save creates a new .mns project. A DOCX import lets you keep the original as a backup or move it to Trash after conversion; a Scrivener project remains unchanged.
Know the difference between history and backup
Version history helps you revisit saved project states inside a healthy project. A separate backup protects you if the project file or Mac is lost or damaged. Use both.