Document file "X.odt" is locked for editing by: unknown user

[sennin00]

Hi,

As stated in subject line: Document file "X.odt" is locked for editing by: unknown user; open document read-only or open a copy of document for editing.

OOo 3.1 on Windows XP Pro

Text file

This only recently started to happen. Sadly did not have back up copy.

This only happened with this file

Have opened this file 10 times in past with no problems. It is an ongoing text file

To make matters worse, all characters of this "read-only" now look like this: ##################################################################################################################################################################################################################

That is directly from first few sentences of file

Everything has been updated. Computer has been restarted a few times. Searched web to no avail.

Thanks for time and help, I'm going to go vomit now.

[Hagar Delest]

See in the folder where is the file, you should see a #.lockxxxxx file. Delete it to get rid of the notification. The file seems to be corrupted. We have had a burst of similar reports few months ago but nothing afterwards. Look at the backup folder if there is a copy: [Tutorial] The OOo user profile.

Good luck.

[TheGurkha]

Sounds bad for the file. If it is less than 128K and not private you could attach it here and we can look at it.

[Forum] How to attach a document here

[sennin00]

well I guess I will bow out and take the loss. Thanks for your time, I learned some stuff at least ;p

[barrieh]

Files are only locked in the quick access "documents" file in win 10. I copied the whole docs folder to a removable hard drive and they can all be opened from there with no problems. It seems this is a windows problem

[Ian_Gower]

I too am having a problem with a database file that has been locked and is now two files that appear as text documents when opened. Can someone there take a look please? Any help would be appreciated...<solved>

[FJCC]

I think I managed to recover your data. Take a look at this file. I strongly recommend you look at running your database in safer way than the default Embedded mode.

[Ian_Gower]

Yes you did...thank you so very much...not sure what you meant by your comment about the default Embedded mode. Thanks again for your help

[FJCC]

See this tutorial for a start on making your data more secure.

[Adamdust]

I too have just encountered this problem but with these differences: my document is RTF, it is perfectly readable in the read-only or edit copy, and there is no second file (locked file) in the same folder. Scratching my head. I have loads of files. i write all the time. What can I do given these differences from the original post?

[Adamdust]

Also: my acer, with windows 7, had restarted on its own before this problem happened. i'm beginning to suspect Spotify is responsible for every crash i've been experiencing lately.

[RoryOF]

Look for a hidden file of form .lock in the user profile file.
Close OpenOffice and the Quickstarter. Open File Explorer. Copy and paste %appdata%\OpenOffice\4 in the File Explorer Address Bar and press Enter.look there for a hidden .lock file and delete it. Also check the directory where your RTF file lives and delete any file with a name like .~lock.MyFile.rtf#

[Adamdust]

Ive done both and yeilded nothing

[RoryOF]

Are you certain you enabled viewing of hidden files?

[Adamdust]

I enabled through control panel, appearances and personalization, folder options, unchecked hide extensions for known file types, restarted my pc, searched my profile folder and documents folders. Nothing.

Instead, I opened my file copy, copied it and saved it to a new file. And that opens just fine now. But not the original.

[RoryOF]

That might indicate a .~lock. file you haven't found.

[Bill]

...folder options, unchecked hide extensions for known file types...

You need to check the "Show hidden files, folders..." option. You unchecked the wrong option.

[Villeroy]

I enabled through control panel, appearances and personalization, folder options, unchecked hide extensions for known file types, restarted my pc, searched my profile folder and documents folders. Nothing.

Instead, I opened my file copy, copied it and saved it to a new file. And that opens just fine now. But not the original.

It is very, very good to keep this option OFF forever. It is the worst Windows setting since Windows*95.

[RoryOF]

I agree with Villeroy - it is best to switch the option so as always to view hidden files.

[Adamdust]

Resolved. Thank you! Im keeping those hidden files visible from now on.

[Villeroy]

I meant the hidden file name extensions for known document types. The whole f****g system relies on file name extensions but hides them away from the users which leads to heavy misconceptions about file types and associated programs.
Hiding away certain files that merely serve technical purposes is not that bad if you know that they may exist while being hidden.