It’s normal for an [u]AUP project[/u] to contain many small files and you can get-into trouble if you move things around. You may be able to recover if you can get everything back into the original folder(s).
I always recommend that export to WAV immediately after recording whether you make an AUP project or not. WAV files are more foolproof, simply because you have one (or more) complete, stand-alone file(s).
Beyond that, you can use more frequent backups, distributed backups, etc., depending on how important or irreplaceable the file is.
I had the EXACT same thing happen to me. I tried opening one of the eff files in text edit and changing the name of the file but nothing happened. The files are split into three folders titled: d1e, d1f, d1d.
I tried opening one of the eff files in text edit and changing the name of the file but nothing happened.
Yes. it did. Your damage got worse.
Can you put it back?
A legacy Audacity project has an AUP project manager text file and a _DATA folder with millions of tiny sound snippets. The two need to be in the same location or folder, they must have the same name, and it needs to be the name you gave them in Audacity.
Double click the AUP file or select it > Open With > Audacity and the show should open. Post back what happens.