On Fri, 4 Nov 2022 07:13:24 -0400 Linda Hull <chalcedony6...@gmail.com> wrote:
> I'm getting a "Document in Use" error. > Document file '2022-09-29myfilename.doc' is locked for editing by: > > Linda Hull (03.11.2022 14:33) > > Open document read-only or open a copy of the document for editing. > > [Open Read Only] [Open Copy] [Cancel] > > ------------ > > When I clicked either 'Open Read Only' or 'Open Copy', I get a different > error. > > OpenOffice 4.1.11 > Read-Error. > This is not a WinWord97 file. > [OK] > > ------------- > > If I click OK it closes the file. > > I'm on Windows 10. I did nothing to lock the file(s) which behave this way. > Thankfully I made a .pdf of it so I have a copy of this one to work from, > but I'd still like to be able to access my originals. What can I do? > > Thanks for your help! > > Linda A partial answer: the "Document in Use" message arises from a left-over lock file in the folder in which the file lives. Such left-over lock files can occur sometimes by a crash, sometimes by overhasty power off of the computer or closure of a laptop lid by the User. The cure is to enable "viewing of hidden and archive files" in the operating system - words to that effect: I'm not using Windows so cannot give specific words or method of doing this, but the method should be available in the system help. When the lock files are disclosed, with OpenOffice closed, they may safely be deleted and the file can then be opened without that error message. OpenOffice lock files have a specific format, typically [code].~lock.FileName.odt#[/code] Note that they are much smaller than the original file - typically a few hundred bytes, compared with several kilobytes for their "owning" file. be certain not to delete the wrong file(s). As to the "not a winword 97" message, I can make no useful suggestion as I only work in .odt format. -- Rory O'Farrell --------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe, e-mail: users-unsubscr...@openoffice.apache.org For additional commands, e-mail: users-h...@openoffice.apache.org