Missing or hidden file

English
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#1

I have a document that lists all my favorite or everyday URLs that also shows my Username and my Password to open those URLs. Like banks and FB and well, everywhere I’m signed up.

Recently I discovered that Libre Office would allow that file or the folder it was in to be password protected. So I set that up and hey, it worked great every time I tried to open it, it asked for the password and opened right up when entered. So far so good.

But…I had done a ‘Save As’ onto my Desktop and later discovered the file didn’t show up there, like it was hidden. Still available on LibreOffice as a ‘Recently Opened’ file though. So I thought that would be okay, though not very handy. I didn’t want that and didn’t spec that when setting it up so it seems to be a LibreOffice security default for some reason. If it’s already password protected, I don’t need it to be invisible and hard to find on the HDD.

That was yesterday…today, I tried to open it from the ‘Recently Opened’ page in Libreoffice like I did yesterday and when I click on that file, it comes up with this error message: “Does Not Exist” even though it’s showing the file.

WHAT HAPPENED? That was my only copy of the file. I need it back. I didn’t do anything yesterday that would have deleted that file.

HELP!

EDIT Sorry, system is Ubuntu 21.10 using Mate desktop GUI.

#2

You don’t say what operating system you are using. I have to assume Windows

  • Use your operating system file manager to search for the file by name.
  • Look in your recycling bin.
  • If you have OneDrive account (probably), then look at the online recycling bin. It wouldn’t be the first time that OneDrive has deleted files it shouldn’t even be accessing.
  • Have a look at this question on Microsoft forum, Lost desktop files

Some advice:

  • If you are using Windows, never store important files on the Desktop, they might be lost after a system restore or Windows Update. Files stored in the Documents folder will not be affected by a system restore, nor by Windows Update.
  • Have a look at this Preventing data disaster - The Document Foundation Wiki
1 Like
#3

No. LibreOffice does not allow to password-protect folders. Only some file types it handles can be password-protected.

LibreOffice never makes files it saves hidden. So, combined with what you wrote next, it looks like you saved it in some place different to what you believed you did. That’s why it didn’t show up on the desktop where you looked for it (and where it wasn’t), and if that actual storage was modified later (e.g., temporary files cleaned up), that could remove the file. The entry shown in LibreOffice’s Start Center allows you to see its path (in a tooltip shown when you hover over the entry), so you cold get an idea where it would be saved to actually.

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#4

Hovering over the file or folder both showed the Desktop as the location.

I searched the HDD for the file, comes back empty. Not in trash either.

I usually don’t place files on the desktop, usually just a link. This time though I was just testing the password protection of LO. I’ve learned the lesson though, don’t try to save a LO file on the desktop.

I have since recreated the file so I’m good.

#5

It is a Windows operating system issue, not LO, don’t save anything important to desktop

#6

@EarnestAl It’s unlikely to be a Windows OS issue :wink:

1 Like
#7

It would be very unusual if it were a Windows issue then.

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