Why can't I edit files over a network?

Ted43 · November 13, 2019, 4:35am

When I attempt to open an .odt or .ods file over the network I get the locked by unkown user message and have the option to open RO or a copy. When I attempt to save the copy or new file over the network I get an error.

The setup is two computers running Kubuntu 19.10 on both machines. NFS network share over hardwired LAN shares drives on Computer A with Computer B. LibreOffice 6.3.2.2 was included in the distro.

LibreOffice works fine on the local drives on both machines.

Other applications including KiCAD, LibreCAD, Arduino and Kate can read/write over the network with no problems.

There are NO .~lock files anywhere on either computer. Permissions are all good. The exports and fstab entries are all RW.

Any suggestions?

FYI These two computers had been running Kubuntu 16:10 with the LibreOffice that came with it set up in a nearly identical network arrangement and it worked great. I just upgraded hard drives in both machines and did clean installs of the OS and apps.

gtomorrow · November 13, 2019, 5:13pm

Is the cord plugged in? But seriously, can you open/edit other types of files over your network other than LO files?

mikekaganski · November 13, 2019, 6:07pm

@gtomorrow: seems yes:

Other applications including KiCAD, LibreCAD, Arduino and Kate can read/write over the network with no problems.

gtomorrow · November 13, 2019, 8:06pm

@mikekaganski, what would I do without you?

Rex.On.Ask.Libreoffice · November 13, 2019, 3:11pm

Hi Ted,

It looks like you’ve done your homework, as I don’t see anything obvious to try. I would consider it a bug at this point and beyond the scope of the ask site. If you are able, you should make a bug report with Bugzilla. Feel free to tack a comment to this question or answer with a link to your bug report in case others run into the same problem.

Good luck!

Rex.On.Ask.Libreoffice · November 13, 2019, 9:28pm

Sorry, this should have been a comment instead of an answer.

Ted43 · November 20, 2019, 10:52am

I solved it myself when I decided to install an older version of LibreOffice. In the *tar.gz file is a readme file with information I have not found anywhere else.

Here is what the readme says:

File Locking

File locking is enabled by default in LibreOffice. On a network that uses the Network File System protocol (NFS), the locking daemon for NFS clients must be active. To disable file locking, edit the soffice script and change the line “export SAL_ENABLE_FILE_LOCKING” to “# export SAL_ENABLE_FILE_LOCKING”. If you disable file locking, the write access of a document is not restricted to the user who first opens the document.