Dear Wolfgang, I am not a developer, but had the same file issue when I upgraded to Debian 13.
One of the developers suggested I use the releases here, https://dist.apache.org/repos/dist/dev/openoffice/4.2.0-Dev5/de/ , which is an upstream build which I suspect has a fix for this issue. Specifically for you, https://dist.apache.org/repos/dist/dev/openoffice/4.2.0-Dev5/de/Apache_OpenOffice_4.2.0_Linux_x86-64_install-rpm_de.tar.gz and https://dist.apache.org/repos/dist/dev/openoffice/4.2.0-Dev5/de/Apache_OpenOffice_4.2.0_Linux_x86-64_langpack-rpm_de.tar.gz It worked for me, perhaps it will work for you also. Happy New Year. Faithfully, Dean Translation en -> german Lieber Wolfgang, Ich bin kein Entwickler, hatte aber beim Upgrade auf Debian 13 das gleiche Dateiproblem. Einer der Entwickler schlug vor, die Releases hier zu verwenden, https://dist.apache.org/repos/dist/dev/openoffice/4.2.0-Dev5/de / , Das ist ein Upstream-Build, von dem ich vermute, dass es eine Lösung für dieses Problem gibt. Speziell für Sie, https://dist.apache.org/repos/dist/dev/openoffice/4.2.0-Dev5/de/Apache_OpenOffice_4.2.0_Linux_x86-64_install-rpm_de.tar.gz und https://dist.apache.org/repos/dist/dev/openoffice/4.2.0-Dev5/de/Apache_OpenOffice_4.2.0_Linux_x86-64_langpack-rpm_de.tar.gz Es hat bei mir funktioniert, vielleicht funktioniert es auch bei dir. Frohes neues Jahr. Treu, Dean ________________________________ From: Wolfgang Hinzmann <[email protected]> Sent: 31 December 2025 02:12 To: dev@ <[email protected]> Subject: Re: WG: There is only one problem in OpenOffice.... Hello Marcus, many thanks for these hints again. I tried both: As first step I renamed the folder $HOME/.openoffice.org/4/user/basic" After that, I started my computer new. When I started now OpenOffice, I got several messages like "Cannot load [file...].....". Despite this fact, I was able to create a new textfile and could save it. As usual with the "Error message". Because of this errors I tried the second step: I renamed the whole folder - as You described: $HOME/.openoffice.org Then I started my computer new, and after that I started OpenOffice. A window opened, and I was asked to put my whole Name, First name and family name, and an abbreviation for it. By clicking then the "Coninue-Button" OpenOffice opened, and I had the choice between the tools like Writer, Calculation... I opened writer, opened a new document, and then saving it: "The error message appears again" - as I described it. In effect, both steps - renaming the basic-folder, and after that, renaming the "$HOME/.openoffice.org"- folder, did not change the error away... So I decided, to change these system-folders in its originial state by renaming it, and deleting the new created ones. If You are interested in the error-messages, I have got, I would repeat the steps. I had really very great hope. Especially with the second step, because it started with the "Welcome-Window", and asking me for my name and its abbreviation. Strange. Very strange. Despite of this: I wish You a very good new year 2026! Best wishes Wolfgang Gesendet mit [Proton Mail](https://proton.me/mail/home): Ein sicherer E-Mail-Dienst. Marcus [email protected] schrieb am Montag, 29. Dezember 2025 um 16:15: > Hi Wolfgang, > > first of all you can try to reset your Basic settings. The following > will reset only the Basic things (e.g., macros) but nothing more: > > - close all AOO documents and windows > - open a terminal > - rename the Basic directory "$HOME/.openoffice.org/4/user/basic" > - cd ~ > - mv .openoffice.org/4/user/basic > .openoffice.org/4/user/basic_maybe_broken > - start AOO new > - try if the error message is still showing > > If this will not help, try to reset the complete AOO profile: > > - close all AOO documents and windows > - open a terminal > - rename the complete profile directory "$HOME/.openoffice.org" > - cd ~ > - mv .openoffice.org .openoffice.org_maybe_broken > - start AOO new > - try if the error message is still showing > > Please note: > You should know that all your customized settings will be gone. They all > need to be setup again. > > Please be carefully: > Rename the profile directory. You can delete it anytime later when it is > sure that the profile was somehow broken. > Otherwise if the problem persists you can decide to go back to the old > profile directory by renaming it back with the following commands in the > terminal: > > cd ~ > rm -rf .openoffice.org > mv .openoffice.org_maybe_broken .openoffice.org > > HTH > > Marcus > > Am 26.12.25 um 10:40 schrieb Wolfgang Hinzmann: > >> as You suggested, I will try OpenOffice, especially Writer, >> with a new profile. >> Because I never needed special settings and other useful extensions so far. >> The only question for me in that wayis: >> How can I realize that? >> If You get other hints too, I would be very glad. >> >> Marcus [email protected] schrieb am Dienstag, 23. Dezember 2025 um 13:45: >> >>> Am 21.12.25 um 18:09 schrieb Wolfgang Hinzmann: >>> >>>> /as You suggested, I opened the terminal, and / >>>> /typed then the command "soffice"./ >>>> /After that, the main-menu of OpenOffice started./ >>>> /There, I go to "Open last files", and opened the "Testfile01.odt"./ >>>> /After that I got the message:/ >>>> >>>> /image.png/ >>>> / >>>> /In the_terminal-window_, there are the following messages:/ >>>> /wolfganghinzmann@fedora:~$ soffice/ >>>> /javaldx: Could not find a Java Runtime Environment!/ >>>> / >>>> /That's all./ >>> >>> than I (you) need help from others as I've no idea at the moment what >>> could be checked next. >>> >>> @All: >>> Has anyone more hints? Thanks. >>> >>> Last resort: >>> There is always the possibility to start from scratch with a new AOO >>> profile. But that means you would loose all your settings that you have >>> done up to know (customized toolbars, menus, keyboard shortcuts, see >>> menu "Tools - Customize" or in German: "Extras - Anpassen" plus some >>> more settings in other locations, e.g., "Format - AutoCorrext - >>> AutoCorrect Optionen"). >>> >>> So, it depends on you if you want to try it. >>> >>>> Marcus [email protected] mailto:[email protected] schrieb am >>>> Sonntag, 21. Dezember 2025 um 14:44: >>>> >>>> Am 21.12.25 um 14:12 schrieb Wolfgang Hinzmann: >>>> >>>> /I don't use macros in my documents./ >>>> >>>> OK, a possible root cause less. >>>> >>>> /Question:/ >>>> /You suggested, I should try to start Writer from Terminal./ >>>> /How can I do this? I am really not so familiar with all these >>>> commands./ >>>> >>>> that should be simple. You just open the terminal and enter the >>>> following command: >>>> >>>> soffice >>>> >>>> If this results in an unknown command, then please use it with the full >>>> path. It depends where you have installed it in your system. E.g., >>>> >>>> /opt/openoffice4/program/soffice >>>> >>>> The output until the error message appears could be helpful. Fore this >>>> purpose start OpenOffice and then open a document that shows that error >>>> message. After that please post the complete text here. >>>> >>>> Thanks >>>> >>>> Marcus >>>> >>>> Gesendet mit Proton Mail https://proton.me/mail/home: <https:// >>>> proton.me/mail/home:> Ein sicherer E- >>>> Mail-Dienst. >>>> >>>> Marcus [email protected] mailto:[email protected] >>>> mailto:[email protected] mailto:[email protected] schrieb am >>>> Sonntag, 21. Dezember 2025 um 10:05: >>>> >>>> Am 20.12.25 um 16:32 schrieb Wolfgang Hinzmann: >>>> >>>> great that it is now installing and working. >>>> >>>> /There is only one problem with OpenOffice, I had already in the/ >>>> /earlier version too:/ >>>> /By opening an odt-file with Writer I receive always the error >>>> message/ >>>> / "Allgemeiner Fehler"./ >>>> /image.png >>>> / >>>> /I had the hope, that this message will disappear by the >>>> installation of >>>> the new version./ >>>> /But it doesn't./ >>>> / >>>> /But what is the solution for it?/ >>>> /After pressing the button "OK" I am able to work normally with >>>> the file >>>> I opened:/ >>>> /Changing it and saving it./ >>>> >>>> do you have macros inside the document? Please have a look via >>>> the menu >>>> "Tools - Macros - Organize Macros - Basic" (German: "Extras - >>>> Makros - >>>> Makros verwalten - Basic")? >>>> If so, it's up to you to decide if you still need them - then >>>> you have >>>> to adjust parts to run correctly. Then there is good chance that the >>>> document will open without error messages. Or to delete them. >>>> >>>> Please make sure you have made a backup before deleting things >>>> that you >>>> still need.
