Writer Tmp files are 0 bytes

[stanleybeach]

Writer does not appear to create useful autorecovery TMP files using the autorecovery settings at Options▸Load/Save▸General.

In my experience it is creating just a single .tmp file for each document with 0 bytes, and the location is also not as specified in the help docs.

The primary issue is that the tmp files are empty! Selecting “save autorecovery information every X minutes” is thus giving users a false sense of security. The .BAK files are the only backups Libre is producing.

The secondary issue is that, despite the indications in help files, In Windows Writer appears to save TMP files in
C:\Users[USER]AppData\Local\Temp
Not in the indicated
C:\Users[USER]\AppData\Roaming\LibreOffice\4\user\backup
directory where the BAK files are saved as defined in Options▸LibreOffice▸Paths.

A third issue is that LibreOffice Writer only appears to save a single .tmp file per document, not a new one every “x” minutes, so they are no different from the .BAK files and thus there is no opportunity review archived changes independent of the track changes feature.

[EarnestAl]

@stanleybeach

The secondary issue is that, despite the indications in help files, In Windows Writer appears to save TMP files in
C:\Users[USER]AppData\Local\Temp

That is correct for temp files according to Help that I have. It can be changed in Tools > Options > LibreOffice > Paths

In C:\Users\[USER]\AppData\Roaming\LibreOffice\4\user\backup I see a file named filename.odt_0.odt which I assume is the Recovery file for filename.odt that I have open.

Obviously, LO can write to the backup location or you wouldn’t get .BAK files created. So it might be a user profile issue, you could try renaming your user folder as described in link if there is really a problem.

BTW I have noticed that poor old limping Windows File Explorer sometimes takes several minutes to notice a change, even after refresh.

[stanleybeach]

Thank you. Yes, I do see the tmp files being created (inside their own subfolders in C:\Users[USER]AppData\Local\Temp) which is great, however I have a lingering issue regarding these temp files often having 0 bytes.

When docs are created the temp subfolders populate with active tmp files but when a doc is closed the tmp file is also closed/reduced to 0 bytes. I don’t see an option to force the tmp files to endure after documents are closed.

For archival purposes I would like the option to force temp files to endure.

[EarnestAl]

Why not just create version copies as you work? The tmp files might not be helpful anyway.

Click File > Save a copy to save a version of the file you are working on, something like [filename]20211221-0927.odt you can delete them after a while. I find it is best just before editing or a major change.

You could possibly use an extension such as this one on the extensions page, Timestamp Backup » Extensions

[stanleybeach]

Backup extensions should work. Tks!