Apache OpenOffice (AOO) Bugzilla – Issue 17124
hyperlinks destroyed, dataloss
Last modified: 2008-05-15 06:09:29 UTC
I again and again have destroyed hyperlinks in my spreadsheets. My first suspect under OOo 1.0.3.1 was that it had to do with Auto-Spellcheck and "search and replace" in issue 9855, but I was not able to make that reproducible. So I opened this new issue with a more general subject. The effect: From time to time links in my spreadsheets loose parts of the folder-tree-structure in it. Example for correct link: file:///C:/Eigene%20Dateien/OpenOffice/Firma/PROJEKTE/0306_009/korr0609.sxw destroyed link: file:///C:/Eigene%20Dateien/Firma/PROJEKTE/0306_009/korr0609.sxw You see that 'OpenOffice/' has gone lost. In this spreadsheet I have several other similar hyperlinks with lost part 'Firma/' My spreadsheet has been opened with 644m11 (seldom) and with 1.1Beta2, never with 1.0.3.1. Always all links are corrupted or no one. I still have no Idea what might cause that dataloss. I can not make it reproducible, but from time to time i find those corrupted links in my (important and confidential) spreeadsheet. Other issues for similar problems: issue issue 9855, issue 15327 Any other users with this problem? Rainer
Now I am quite convinced that the problem only appeared after I opened a CALC-file with hyperlinks accidentally with 1.0.3! No problems if I only use 1.1RC1 So --> WFM Rainer
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Perhaps there is another problem. Please look at Tools->Options->Load/Save->General->Store URLs (Extras->Optionen->Laden/Speichern->Allgemein->URLs speichern). Is the "in filesystem" checked? If yes, this is the problem. Let's take your example. Your document is initially in file:///C:/Eigene%20Dateien/OpenOffice/doc.sxw. You insert a hyperlink file:///C:/Eigene%20Dateien/OpenOffice/Firma/PROJEKTE/0306_009/korr0609.sxw. While saving this URL is shortened to the relative URL Firma/PROJEKTE/0306_009/korr0609.sxw, because the "save relative" option is on. Now you move this file to file:///C:/Eigene%20Dateien/doc.sxw and reopen it. The relative URL is completed with the current path, which results in the new URL without 'OpenOffice'. To fix this problem, move the document to the old location, open it, change the option in the Options dialog, and save again.
Hi Daniel, thanks for your comment. I will do some further tests cncerning the consequences of this checkbox, but I do not believe that that was my problem, because I never moved the file with the hyperlinks or the files where link points. Rainer
I_get_some_crisis_today! :-(( I was absolutely sure that the problem was solved, but now it is back with 1.1RC1 german! Again all links in my example document are destroyed. I found file:///C:/Eigene%20Dateien/OpenOffice/FIRMA/PROJEKTE/OpenOffice/Firma/ANGEBOTE/0305_010/korr0510.sxw which must be file:///C:/Eigene%20Dateien/OpenOffice/FIRMA/ANGEBOTE/0305_010/korr0510.sxw Now OOo _added_ some paths into the hyperlink, as far as I see all hyperlinks got an additional "OpenOffice/FIRMA/PROJEKTE/" I had activated the checkbox "save URL relative in file system" in menu: Tools/Options/Load-Save/General, and no I will deactivate this function in accordance to Comments From Daniel Rentz, but I co not believe that that will save the problem. Unfortunately my document is with confidential contents, so that I can not attach it for further tests. Rainer
Now it is absolutely sure that I did not open this document with any other OOo build than 1.1RC1! Rainer
I created a document without confidential condents. Hyperlinks before 0305S008 are destroyed, later hyperlinks repaired. I do not know whether this might be helpful to find the bug. Rainer
Created attachment 8314 [details] document with destroyed hyperlinks
Today I had it again with 1.1RC3., and still I am not able to make it reproducible. Rainer
Hi Rainer, is it possible that you had some documents open which contain nearly the same path. So one document in the base path, one document one or two folders above and/or below the base path. So something like this : /OpenOffice/Firma/PROJEKTE/ Basepath /OpenOffice/Firma/ one above /OpenOffice/Firma/test one above and one deeper /OpenOffice/Firma/PROJEKTE/test one deeper Maybe it has something to do with INetUrlObj in the code of the Office. We are not sure, so please test it. Frank
Hi, yes, as far as I see I always had opened several other OOo files, all with same start of path-structure C:\Eigene Dateien\ and most with C:\Eigene Dateien\OpenOffice\FIRMA\ I think your supect is very plausible. Unfortunately until now I am unable to find our how I can enforce this bug to make it reproducible. I will do some more intensive tests concerning your suspect within the next 2 or 3 days. Rainer
Thanks a lot. Frank
Hi, I still was not able to create a "reproducible bug set" for you, but I have some news how I can one aspect of this bug on my PC. Steps how I can reproduce the bug on my PC 0. I open several OOo- documents, one of them is the one which will contain the broken links 1. I close all documents and exit OOo. 2. I use the WIN- Start- Function - START-button - DOCUMENTS 3. I select document C:\Eigene Dateien\OpenOffice\FIRMA\PROJEKTE\0307_003\doku0703.sxw and so start OOo, what will show that document 4. I wait, until load progress (visible on OOo splash screen) is app. 50% 5. again WIN- Start- Function - START-button - DOCUMENTS for C:\Eigene Dateien\OpenOffice\FIRMA\ORGANISATION\WichtigeDokumente.sxc Now both documents will be opened, but the links in "WichtigeDokumente.sxc" are destroyed. Example: (Correct / destroyed) file:///C:/Eigene%20Dateien/OpenOffice/FIRMA/DATENBANK/ADRESSEN/Adressen.sxc file:///C:/Eigene%20Dateien/OpenOffice/FIRMA/PROJEKTE/DATENBANK/ADRESSEN/Adressen.sxc All other hyperlinks in the document have the wrong additional "PROJEKTE/" With the 2 mentioned documents the problem is more or less 100% reproducible, but until now I was not able to find other combinations. Rainer
Additional hints: When I want to exit from OOo after reproducing the bug, OOo will not ask me to save the changed document "WichtigeDokumente.sxc". Rainer
I think reason for the bug in issue 19100 is the same as here. Rainer
Still I am not able to create a testkit with reproducible results, but I can add additional observations. I had a destroyed link in a spreadsheet. wrong: file:///../WINWORKS.alt/FIRMA.DIR/PROJEKTE.DIR/0106_010/dok_06101.sxw correct: file:///C:/Eigene%20Dateien/WINWORKS.alt/FIRMA.DIR/PROJEKTE.DIR/0106_010/dok_06101.sxw Funny thing, when I tried to correct the link I - marked the text - opened the hyperlink dialog a.m. destroyed link was shown - I clicked to the "open file" button to browse for the file and to find the correct hyperlink expected: EXPLORE-window will open actual: an alert appears (pls see attached "/destroyedlink.png") The mentioned file in the alertbox really does not exist. But why does OOo ask me for that filename? The path C:\Eigene Dateien\OpenOffice\Firma\Finanzen\ Is a correct path on my PC, and some minutes before I found the destroyed link, I opened a file in that correct path by clicking a hyperlink in another OOo Document. Rainer
Created attachment 9197 [details] shows alert box
Hooray, I think now I have the required testcase, pls see attached file "test_destroyed_links.zip" Steps to reproduce the problem are in accordance to Comments From RainerBielefeld 2003-09-02 05:37 PDT Steps how I can reproduce the bug 0. unzip "test_destroyed_links.zip" ro C:\ 1. open all included OOo documents ),check the links (end of document) and colose all files again. 2. use the WIN- Start- Function - START-button - DOCUMENTS 3. select document "test0.sxc" and open with doubleclick 4. wait, until load progress (visible on OOo splash screen) is app. 50% 5. again WIN- Start- Function - START-button - DOCUMENTS for "test2.sxc" and open the file with doubleclick quickly before "test0.sxc" will be opened completely Now both documents will be opened, but the links in "test0.sxc" are destroyed. With this method the problem is more or less 100% reproducible on my PC. It will also work if you use the WIN EXPLORER to open the files in step 2 and 5. I increased Priority because this bug really is very annoying. Questions: - reproducible on other PC, OS ? Rainer
I delete "Issue 17124 blocks issue 19100 in accordance to Comments From Oliver Specht 2003-09-08 02:19 PDT in issue 19100 Rainer
Hi Rainer, I would be glad to check it if only the mentioned zip archive would be there. Could you attach it please ? Frank
I take the ownership for this one and the moment. Frank
Created attachment 9246 [details] test kit, reproduces problem on my PC with 100% success
Hi Rainer, I tried it 30 times. 20 on Win98 with a Pentium 256 MB starting OOo via a netware connection and 30 times on an Athlon xp1800+ 512 MB direct from the disk. In all cases I was not able to reproduce the problem. Can you tell me the configuration of your computer ? I'm sorry and would thank you for all the power you have invested into the investigation of the problem. Maybe other users from the QAdev list can reproduce it. Thanks Frank
Hi Frank, I made an additional test on an other WIN98SE computer (PIII, 400MHz, 256MB) and was able to reproduce the bug. But I found out an important thing: it seems that it is only possible to reproduce the bug if "Quickstart" is not active! Rainer
My wife was able to reproduce it, too; it is nothing with my forefinger ;-) Rainer
Ok, I can confirm on WinXP, OOo 1.1RC4. I followed the given descrition and could reproduce the broken links. The "master key" is, that you have to open test2.sxc thile test0.sxc is just about loading (the file, not the application). It seems, that test0.sxc will be delayed, test2 will load and then test0 will be loaded completetly (but the links got messed up meanwhile). I'll attach the file. I set Prio to 3, becasue these are (imho) *Very* special circumstances. I would even lower to 4, becasue this is really easy to workround: simply be aptient and wait for test0 to be loaded before loading test2 .. or use the quickstarter.
Created attachment 9257 [details] file with broken links as result of testcase
I was also able to reproduce this on WinXP, RC4, German, with the same observations (test0.sxc delayed, ...) as Andre.
Reproduced on Linux with the following script: #!/bin/sh set -x rm -rf test unzip test_destroyed_links.zip cd test ~/OpenOffice.org1.1.0rc4-pre1/soffice test0.sxc & sleep 7 ~/OpenOffice.org1.1.0rc4-pre1/soffice test1/test2/test2.sxc You might need to adjust the sleep time; 7 seconds was what it took to get the 2nd document to start loading when the 1st one was half loaded for me on my dual 650MHz Pentium 3. Good catch, Rainer!!
I was able to reproduce the problem with text documents, too. So Component -> Framework By the way please let me remind: the biggest problem is not, that the hyperlinks get destroyed if you go the the comlpicated way which is necessary to reproduce the bug. The main problem is, that that damage sometimes happens during quite normal work with OOo. Rainer
Hi Mathias, as discussed assigned to you. Frank
After reading the whole story, my impression is as follows: If links are stored "relative", OOo makes them "absolute" on loading time. As a reference for this process the URL of the documen is used. Unfortunately the developers that implemented that many years ago used a global variable(!) for this reference URL. It's easy to imagine that this leads to a disaster if more than one document is loaded at a time. I have the honour to coordinate the necessary rework, so I will keep this bug as a wellcome reference. I don't expect that we can fix this in a minor version, so I set the target to OOo2.0.
I added votes for this because we got bitten this week by exactly this with OOo 1.1, with members of our team truly puzzled. One has spent many hours rewriting his links... I gave him a workaround based on the excellent diagnosis work here.
I found out that an other user operation causes the ugly problem: If you use Menu: "File - Save All" (so that, as it seems, more than 1 document in time will be saved), the hyperlinks will be destroyed as described. This makes it_very_ urgent to find a solution (I am quite sure that the reason is the same as for the problem in the original report) . Rainer
There is some suspect in users@de.openoffice.org, that in global documents the links to the sub-documents are affected by a similar problem, a user reported the same damages in the path structure. Currently, there is no way to make that reproducible, but may be you can check that while working on this issue, too? As soon as I have more information, I will open a separate issue, if necessary. Rainer
I created a separate issue 34705 for the "global documents problem" in comments from rainerbielefeld Mon Sep 27 10:28:16 -0700 2004 Rainer
The URLObject part is fixed. Now we must clarify that this was the real problem.
@mba: in what build the fix will be integrated? Rainer
Reopened for assignment to QA
Frank, it would be great if you could verify the fix. :-) @Rainer: if you or anybody else is interested in verifying the fix, we could arrange that you can get an installation set of the CWS.
Yes, I am interested and would check that, if I can download an installation set. Rainer
Rainer, it seems that you want to have a Windows build. If you are fine with a "NonProduct" version (it's much slower and shows a lot of assertions. As an alternative, you could get a Linux "Product" version. What's your choice?
I can test on WIN-XP or SUSE LINUX 9.0. The alternative causing least work for qou ist the best one. Rainer
Rainer, there is a Linux ("NonProduct") installation set available on ftp.staroffice.de. You need a password for downloading it, please send an e-mail to Mathias.Bauer@sun.com and I give it to you.
finally I've found an Linux machine which allows me to re-produce this Issue with an SO7. Testing cws sb19 I was not able to reproduce this behaviour. So I set this one as verified fixed. Frank PS Rainer please comment on this one if you've got the Instset from Mathias.
fouund fixed on master src680m73