Changing default folder for File | Save As

[martinu]

Is there a way to change the default folder where Libre Office Writer saves a copy of a file?

Suppose I open a file c:\path1\a.odt and want to save a copy b.odt (eg without encryption which a.odt has, or in .docx format). It seems that Writer defaults to save it in the most recent folder where it previously saved a document, which may be a different folder c:\path2

Is there a way to change the behaviour so it defaults to the same folder where a.odt was loaded from (assuming that is diffferent to wherever a document was most recently saved)?

It’s not a big problem if it can’t be done, just a mild annoyance. It would be nice if there was a way to save a copy of a.odt in the same folder as a.odt.

I know about Tools → Options → LibreOffice → Paths but that is something different - it is defining that the default is the value of “My Documents” rather than “save in the same folder as the source document came from”.

[EarnestAl]

You best bet is to create a shortcut/pinned folder in the file manager so you can select it without having to navigate.

I prefer current folder as default because I have many different projects at different times so current folder works for me.
Below are two examples of folders that I have pinned to Windows Explorer, just one click.

You can instead use LibreOffice’s own dialogue; click Tools > Options > LibreOffice > General and tick the box Use LibreOffice dialogue boxes. Create your own shortcuts in the Open dialogue

[JHatcher55]

Exactly my problem. I open files up in LOTS of folders. When I bring one up and make changes, I often want to “save as” with a modified name rather than trash the original.
Right now, it picks the “last folder” I walked it into. Frustrating!
I find myself hunting down where it decided to put it!!!

I’m certain it used to default to “current directory”.

Please, someone tell us how to make it work correctly!

[Wanderer]

@JHatcher55

I’m certain it used to default to “current directory”.

Please, someone tell us how to make it work correctly!

Could depend on the (unknown) version of LibreOffice you use:

Default export to pdf file save location

No setting, this is an intended(?) change: https://bugs.documentfoundation.org/show_bug.cgi?id=165917 Edit: Behaviour will be reverted/fixed in version 24.8.7 and 25.2.3

[JHatcher55]

That is an “export to pdf”, not a “save as”, but it looked promising !

I checked for an update and it said

LibreOffice 24.8 is up to date.

Since was declared “fixed” in

Correct in 25.2.1.2 Wrong in 25.2.2.1

I then went to the website and there was a new one.

Installed it and wallah – it worked.

Thanks !!!

[fmarin]

I have a similar issue using Calc, both in Windows and Linux. When I open a file and then I want to change its name using the “save as” option, libreoffice suggest me a different file folder. Even I think that in at least one of the versions that I tried, the folder depended on the file type. I tried several libreoffice versions in Linux: 25.8.0.4 - 25.8.1.1 (both with the issue) and finally 25.2.5.2 didn’t have the issue. This is a so annoying and basic that is hard to believe.

If libreoffice wants to play professional can’t have these kind of issues, unless you want to have users that just want to “play with libreoffice” for a while.

[glocke]

@fmarin

If libreoffice wants to play professional can’t have these kind of issues, unless you want to have users that just want to “play with libreoffice” for a while.

That is sadly true. This horrible screw up very nearly caused me to commit a very serious security breach by saving data belonging to one client into another cilent’s remote directory. Even though I could have deleted the file if I had saved it (thankfully I noticed the wrong directory in the nick of time) the other party could have easily restored the deleted file. That would have been a massive clusterfuck.

Further to that, the arrogance shown by the developer responsible for the problem does not do much to inspire confidence in terms of something like this not happening again. I do hope he realises the seriousness of his mistake and uses it as a valuable learning opportunity—there is no place for egos in large team efforts such as LibreOffice.

I also hope that the company involved review their quality processes to ensure that future breakage can be prevented or at least minimized.

[martinu]

This horrible screw up very nearly caused me to commit a very serious security breach by saving data belonging to one client into another cilent’s remote directory.

Shouldn’t that situation have been prevented in part with file/folder permissions on the server that didn’t give you permission to read one user’s file and save it in another user’s folder? Or were you logged in as a superuser (Unix root or equivalent) which overrode the different user permissions?

My feeling is that any program which reads a file and has a “Save As” option as well as a “Save (and overwrite)” option should always default to saving the copy with a new name in the same folder as the original was read from, with the option to override this and save somewhere else.