Somehow the audacity file sound file – plus the version I exported version into a WAV file – have both disappeared for something I want to retrieve. (Actually several things.) But the audacity “data file” remains. Is it possible to reconstruct the sound file if all you have is the data file? If so how would you do that?
This is the first time I have tried to use the forum and frankly it’s way over my head. If someone answers this q, I’m not sure I’d every see it. If you can answer this question, you could email me directly at (address removed by elf). Thanks.
Nobody can email you. This isn’t a help desk, it’s a forum with multiple conversations. I removed your address because we get a lot of SPAM robots trolling for fresh addresses.
You should go to extraordinary measures to find out why those files vanished. If you don’t, chances are good that if you do rescue the show, it’s just going to become damaged again.
There are no good, perfect, easy tools to put your show back together. You need to find that AUP file or the WAV file you exported of the show. The AUP file is the project manager and it has the lists and information to build the show.
http://manual.audacityteam.org/o/man/recovery.html
Koz
Oh sir, would you tell the difference between a help desk and a forum? Can we not pose questions on the forum?
Yes of course you can, but we don’t offer telephone or e-mail support.
There are no paid staff here - we are all Audacity users. This is what is referred to as “community support”. Audacity is created and supported by individuals, not some big commercial organisation.
Re, the problem - have you discovered what happened to the AUP and the exported WAV file? Disappearing files should never happen, but if it does it is likely to indicate a serious problem on the computer - hopefully you have just misplaced them. Are you logged into the computer with the same user name?
By the way, glad you managed to find your way back to your forum topic. 
You may find it useful to bookmark this page until the issue is resolved.
I found most of the missing files (in the backup trash bin) and in the process discovered something which might be of use to some users – anyone who uses Sound Forge, which I do (with Sony movie editing software). When you access a Sound Forge file, it automatically creates an SFK file, which appears to me to be useless because you can’t accees it or work with it. You continue to use the WAV or other file to to further editing, etc.The SFK is to my understanding some kind of useless artifact that Found Forge nonetheless puts on your directory. I delete these SFK files and have for years, with no ill effect. It’s like housekeeping. But here’s the problem: On my system at least, the icon for an AUP file looks like the icon for the useless SFK file. I probably inadvertently deleted some AUK files, without actually looking at what kind of file it was.
If your computer has not been used much since the (possible) accidental deletion, you could try the free program “Recuva” to see if it can get your WAV and/or .AUP files back. http://www.piriform.com/recuva
the icon for an AUP file looks like the icon for the useless SFK file.
Meaning Windows can’t figure out either one and thereby assigns “generic” icons that look alike.
You might consider telling Windows to reveal file extensions. That helps a lot.
MyMusic and MyMusic turn into MyMusic.wav and MyMusic.mp3. Clearly music files – and different.
Hidden File Extensions
– Start > My Computer > Tools > Folder Options > View > [ ] Hide Extensions for Known File Types (deselect)
– Apply (to this folder) or Apply to All Folders
– OK
That’s where it used to be. It’s different in Win7. Looking…
Start (globe lower left) > Documents > Organize > Folder and Search Options > View > [ ] Hide Extensions (de-select) > Apply > OK.
There’s an option to Apply To Folders that I have gray. I apply this change to the whole machine.
Koz