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Calc file locked
Posted: Mon May 11, 2015 1:30 pm
by grahamphillips
My computer recently crashed, and I got this message when trying to open an important file
Document file 'xxxxxxx.ods' is locked for editing by
Unknown user
Open document read only or open a copy of the file for edit editing
When I try either option I have a blank spreadsheet before me
Have I lost the file?
Title Edited. A descriptive title for posts helps others who are searching for solutions and increases the chances of a reply (Acknak, Moderator).
Re: Calc Problem
Posted: Mon May 11, 2015 1:36 pm
by grahamphillips
I tried a system restore hoping that will fix the issue, unfortunately not
Re: Calc Problem
Posted: Mon May 11, 2015 2:05 pm
by Villeroy
Close the office suite.
Go to the folder where the document is stored.
Enable the display of hidden files and file name extensions.
Find the lock file of the document file and delete it. It may be named like .~lock.xxxxxxxx.ods#
Re: Calc Problem
Posted: Mon May 11, 2015 2:28 pm
by grahamphillips
Thanks for your response.
Ok I found that file, but it only appears when I try and open the Calc file, it appears feint, then I try and delete it and reopen the calc file and it reappears
Re: Calc file locked
Posted: Mon May 11, 2015 3:08 pm
by grahamphillips
Also, when I try and open my file I get a "text import" screen with lots of different option
Re: Calc file locked
Posted: Mon May 11, 2015 3:11 pm
by RoryOF
The ASCII filter window is bad news. Very probably your file is corrupt; the fact that you have an ASCII filter window and symptoms of a lock file suggests that you either had a system or program crash, or an over hasty closedown of the computer.
Re: Calc file locked
Posted: Mon May 11, 2015 3:30 pm
by grahamphillips
Yes, the plug came out. So no way to retrieve the file then?
Re: Calc file locked
Posted: Mon May 11, 2015 3:55 pm
by grahamphillips
Ok I have seen from other posts now that I have no chance
I will remove Openoffice from my computer, not the first time it has caused me problems
Thanks for your help
Re: Calc file locked
Posted: Mon May 11, 2015 3:56 pm
by RoryOF
Try renaming the file to .zip and opening with an archive utility such as WinZip. If it opens then you may find your unformatted data in contents.xml.
Otherwise look in the temporary and backup directories pointed to by OpenOffice (/Tools /Options /OpenOffice /Paths will tell you where these directories are) If there are files of type .bak or in the temporary directory with arbitrary names like adfgh.ghj, rename these to .ods or the type used by your lost document and see if they contain any relevant data.
Probably not any way to retrieve the file you have on computer, but worth running PhotoRec or Recuva to see if they can find a deleted or intermediate work file.