# Error: "The work directory does not exist."

**URL:** <https://prepomax.discourse.group/t/error-the-work-directory-does-not-exist/3071>\
**Category:** Bug Reports\
**Created:** [November 6, 2025, 7:01pm UTC](https://prepomax.discourse.group/t/error-the-work-directory-does-not-exist/3071 "2025-11-06T19:01:15Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![GB61](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/258eb7/32.png) [@GB61](https://prepomax.discourse.group/u/GB61)\
**Post date:** [November 6, 2025, 7:01pm UTC](https://prepomax.discourse.group/t/error-the-work-directory-does-not-exist/3071/1 "2025-11-06T19:01:15Z")

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I am using v2.4.0. In settings I have set the .pmx folder as the work directory.

After creating a new file, when I attempt to import a .STEP file, I get the error, “The work directory does not exist.” If the .pmx file is saved before importing the .STEP file, the error does not occur. This isn’t a serious problem, but I haven’t found a workaround for the following situation.

After setting up an analysis, attempting to regenerate the FE model using a different file results in the original model being deleted, then the working directory error is given. I haven’t found a way to actually recreate the FE model with a different file.

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**Author:** ![FEAnalyst](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/prepomax.discourse.group/feanalyst/32/688_2.png) [@FEAnalyst](https://prepomax.discourse.group/u/FEAnalyst)\
**Post date:** [November 6, 2025, 8:15pm UTC](https://prepomax.discourse.group/t/error-the-work-directory-does-not-exist/3071/2 "2025-11-06T20:15:17Z")

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I don’t have this issue. I normally have it set to No, but I changed it now and tried creating a new model, then importing a STEP file, and it worked normally. Apparently, it uses your _Work directory_ setting before you save the file so make sure it’s not a directory that needs admin access.

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**Author:** ![GB61](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/258eb7/32.png) [@GB61](https://prepomax.discourse.group/u/GB61)\
**Post date:** [November 6, 2025, 9:57pm UTC](https://prepomax.discourse.group/t/error-the-work-directory-does-not-exist/3071/3 "2025-11-06T21:57:44Z")

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Apparently a file had been corrupted. I downloaded a new copy of PrePoMax and the problem went away.

Thank you for looking into this. This topic can be closed or deleted.

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**Author:** ![Matej](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a698b9/32.png) [@Matej](https://prepomax.discourse.group/u/Matej)\
**Post date:** [November 7, 2025, 8:48am UTC](https://prepomax.discourse.group/t/error-the-work-directory-does-not-exist/3071/4 "2025-11-07T08:48:08Z")

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