Apache OpenOffice (AOO) Bugzilla – Issue 7659
Calc file vanishes and no recoverability from backup/temp file
Last modified: 2003-09-08 16:55:29 UTC
I'm new to this, so maybe my question/issue is not such a "good" issue. Yesterday I managed to crash an important spreadsheet file. Unfortunately I'm not sure what happen (I don't recall any error message, but I think I logged off from the OS without shutting Calc down, but naturally saving the file first), but the consequence was total loss of the file (not even a file recovery program can find it). The Calc program didn't manage to create backup files (they are of 0 KB size). I managed to recover/undelete an older version of the file, but the Calc program will not open it. So the issue is: - OO Calc is obviously able to delete an existing file, probably during saving the altered one currently in use (or however it works), before it creates or "fills" a backup tempfile. If the creation of the backup file is unsuccessful and there is a problem with file creation, total loss of the file is possible. - OO is not able to recognize or open an undeleted Calc file, even though Win2000 correctly recognizes it as a Calc file. I'm sorry I can't be more specific. I think this is an important issue, though, since at least I haven't experienced before that a file can vanish without any trace.
Odd, thanks for posting this issue. By default, OOo does not have the backup feature enabled. Go to : Tools->Options->Load/Save->General In the Save file, there is an option enable the option "Always create backup copy". As for the recovered Calc file, OOo probably cannot read it due to corruption of the contents during the recovery process. I'm going to close this issue fow now. Thanks for using and supporting OOo.
Hi Odd, When I read your comments, I get the impression that you did have the OOo backup feature turned on, and your .bak file existed, but it was 0kb in size after you found your original file unrecoverable. Am I misinterpretting your comments? As a user of OOo this concerns me *very much*. I have one file, a master parts list of one of my customer's inventory, that has taken me 5+ years to create. If it suddenly disappeared, I would not be a happy camper. I also have several business files that accumulate data for 1 year. Would it be possible for you to add a few more comments to clarify whether or not you already had your backup feature activated? I am very interested in your further comments. thanx, diane
Hi Diane! No, I didn't have the backup feature turned on, because I didn't know it was an option. And I thought I had 0Kb backup files from OO, which would be a bit suprising in this case, but they were some kind of temp files and not .bak files. My misstake. I have checked the box for backup now and that seem to work properly. But I think backup should be a default setting since that is what you're used to from, for instance, MSO. Well, don't forget to backup your files to another server or such. To loose five years of work wouldn't be a very nice experience. /Odd.