Apache OpenOffice (AOO) Bugzilla – Issue 51367
Improve the error message regarding impossibility to create the backup on saving.
Last modified: 2017-05-20 10:55:37 UTC
In the case the backups path points to a directory that was not created yet, saving document produces an error message popup "Cannot create backup copy.". It creates a copy of the document file in the form filename0.odt, filename1.odt, ..., but saving is not performed (file filename.odt stays unchanged). Therefore save function is effectively blocked, but user is not properly notified about it. OOo will notify the user when trying to close the document, but seeing only the abve mentioned error message, the user is likely to conclude that only backup was not created, but file was in fact saved. The situation occured after installing version 1.9.m109 on Gentoo Linux and performing migration of settings from OOo version 1.1.4. I'm not sure wheter creating the backup directory is responsibility of installer or settings migration utility, but in any case, OOo should handle such situation more gracefully (imagine accidental deletion of backup directory).
Framework issue
It should be noted that in OO 1.1.4, the issue cannot be recreated fully. With 1.1.4 you will get the error message as above, but the original file will be saved properly and no backup files will be created ie: test1.sxw etc. In the advent of a missing backup folder, OO should at least properly save the backups in the same folder of the original file was saved to ie: "My Documents"
TM->MAV: Occurs on every OS. But due to the fact, that the errormessage says what´s wrong and an other sounding message could inform the user better this might be a P3 but not a P2. So I lowered the Prio and set the target to OO Later.
*** Issue 65363 has been marked as a duplicate of this issue. ***
I checked with "2.0.2 German version WIN XP: [680m5(Build9011)]" and can reproduce the problem. Steps to reproduce: 1. Open existing Writer document 2. Menu "Tools - Options - Load/Save - General", check "Always create backup copy" under heading "Save" 3. "Tools - Options - OpenOffice.org - paths", check and remember the path for backup copies, close dialogue 4. Open WIN Explorer and go to OOo backup folder that contains backup folder (C:\Dokumente und Einstellungen\Rainer\Anwendungsdaten\OpenOffice.org2\user\) 5. Rename subfolder "backup" to "backups" 6. Change to your open OOo WRITER document 7. Insert some characters 8. Press "Save" button Expected: Document should be saved Actual: Error message "Cannot create backup copy." 9. Press 'OK' 10. Redo from step 8. ... You will never be able to save your document, only "save as" under a new name will rescue the changes. Of course it's no real DEFECT that the backup copy will not be saved, because that is just the problem, but for a user with few experience will despair with this vague information. I would prefer a message containing options - Ignore - Check path preference (opens "Tools - Options - OpenOffice.org - paths" when clicked) - Check path for backup (opens backup path in OS specific explorer) (that all only as a first idea). But: It is calamitous that the original document will not be saved, only because there is a problem with the backup copy; this might cause dataloss for inexperienced users, so P2.
*** Issue 14248 has been marked as a duplicate of this issue. ***
P2 due to 'Additional comments from rainerbielefeld Thu Dec 28 08:59:11 -0800 2006' (althoug I blieve that the problem is not very "popular")
In case the option "Always create a backup copy" is selected and the backup can not be created the saving of the document would mean data loss ( the previous version of the document is lost, and the feature definition explicitly says that it must be stored as a backup ). So it would be a P2 if the document was successfuly stored while the backup option is selected and the backup can not be created. Of course the error message could contain more information. So I change the summary and the priority accordingly.
*** Issue 71790 has been marked as a duplicate of this issue. ***
according to release status meeting -> target 3.x
Reset assigne to the default "issues@openoffice.apache.org".