This seems to happen when I am using the fingers of my right hand and something twitches and a wrong key or combination of keys is struck.
Before anyone here can help you, more details are required. From where has the file vanished? Which methods have you used to try to retrieve the file? Which operating system are you using? Which version of LibreOffice are you using? More details, please.
Thank you.
The file was on my active computer screen and suddenly disappeared while I was working on it.
LibreOffice Version 6.1.5.2 (x64)
Windows 10
I did a complete file search of the computer searching for the filename and all I found was the file with no content, starting at Page 1
When you say the file disappeared, do you mean that the Writer program closed or that Writer changed to display a blank document?
By the way, in future please don’t use Answer to add detail to your question. Instead, either Edit your original question or use the Comment field.
Writer program did not close, but changed to display a blank document.
It seems, then, that the combination of keys struck must have deleted the entire document. (I am surprised that this is even possible.) If you have Auto Recovery enabled it might be possible to recover an earlier version of the document, but I know nothing about that feature. Perhaps someone else here can help.
This deletion event has happened several times over the last couple of years and happens in the blink of an eye with the flick of a finger(s) with no possibility of duplicating the event.
This deletion event has happened several times over the last couple of years and happens in the blink of an eye with the flick of a finger(s) with no possibility of duplicating the event.
So it has happened with several different versions of LibreOffice. For documents that are useful for more than a few hours, back ups are always good insurance. Besides that, it might be a long-shot but have you tried changing keyboards??
The first occurrence was in 2014 with a Microsoft ergonomic keyboard which was many years old. I bought another Microsoft ergonomic keyboard in 2015. So this event occurs very occasionally with two different keyboards. The question now is - how can I retrieve the file when the error happens? At present I email the entire file to another computer twice or three times per day as back-up.
Without knowing exactly what is causing the loss of your documents, it is hard to recommend a cure or any method of avoidance. Because the file still exists but is empty after an “event”, it seems that your work is being deleted by some errant “command” (I will call it that) and then saved in that state. It is puzzling.
Backups are good and your method is as good as any. Do you have Auto Recovery enabled? Do you save the document periodically during your work session or do you rely on a single save operation before you finish? Depending on the exact cause of the deletions, it is possible that neither of these would help anyway.
Without knowing or understanding the cause of the deletion events, it is difficult to recommend more.
I have Auto Recovery activated to save the file every 10 minutes. I now also save the doc periodically via email to another computer, to avoid losing more than say, an hour’s work. Where do I retrieve the file stored by Auto Recovery?
I have no experience with AutoRecovery and can not help you with it, but it is my understanding that it will not help in your situation.
An automatic backup copy, however, should help you. In the same dialog box where you adjust AutoRecovery, make sure that Always Create Backup Copy is checked (on). I believe that backup copies are stored in /users/xxxx/AppData/Roaming/LibreOffice/?/user/backup . You may have to drill down and explore a bit to find the /backup folder. On one of my computers (Win 7), the “?” is 4. Yours (with Win 10) might be quite different. This might be of interest Frequently asked questions - General - The Document Foundation Wiki
@ve3oat the directory with number “/ 4 /” has been retained in newer versions, it should not be changed, because it caused too many problems.