Lost text: whole document disappeared during typing

[Narshi]

I was typing an important document, and kept saving it at regular intervals. However, the whole document in progress disappeared mid typing, except for the last couple of words typed. Now, every time I try to open the document, only those last couple of words
appear - the rest seems to have disappeared for ever. What has happened, and can I retrieve my hard work?

[Hagar Delest]

Hi and welcome to the forum!

You've posted in the LibreOffice section but your signature says AOO 4.1. Which one is true?

Could it be a combination of keys like Shift+Home arrow (that brings to the beginning of the document) and then Delete?
Check the backup folder in case there is one (see [Tutorial] The OpenOffice user profile).
Had you tried to undo?
Why save the file if you had seen that the content had been deleted?

[RoryOF]

Or an inadvertent Ctlrl A while touch typing would select everything, then overtype with the next sentence.

The ultimate step for possible recovery is to download Recuva or PhotoRec and let one or other (only one needed) run to undelete any deleted files. Then you will have to examine these to determine which, if any, contains some, all or none of your data.

The sooner you do this, the better chance of recovery - but there are no guarantees.

[Narshi]

I don’t know how the signature process works, but LibreOffice was intended. I don’t believe I pressed any combination of keys, iI was just in the middle of normal typing when everything typed so far disappeared. As I said, I was saving the document regularly during typing, and that was to prevent just such a happening. The undo function was not available, neither was backup. Thanks.

[RoryOF]

The recovery process with Recuva or PhotoRec may be your best option. Ctrl A is easily pressed by a carelessly keyed Shift A.

[Hagar Delest]

But when you noticed the disappearance, did you save the document?
At least not saving and closing with losing the recent changes would have been less dramatic than overwriting the last version.

[Narshi]

Thanks. No, I did not attempt to save it after the loss - there were only two words, the latest I had typed, left. So there was no point in trying to save those.

[RoryOF]

Then your last saved document should be available on your computer, in the folder in which you Saved it; did you Save it with a filename? If not, it will be called Untitled.odt or similar.

[Narshi]

I did that, but I found that the only the same last two words were in the folder!

[RoryOF]

Then it was Saved in the altered form. Try Recuva/PhotoRec (one only) as soon as possible.

[Narshi]

Wii do, thanks

[Narshi]

Recuva turned out to be too circuitous - I have now re-typed the document using the memory of my own brain. But many thanks for your time and helpfulness.

[John_Ha]

All text you type is stored only in memory and not stored on disk.

So, if you do not have Save AutoRecovery data set to ON, all typed text will be lost unless and until you save the file.

[Narshi]

Appreciate your advice. Many thanks again.