Possible bug creates password protected file?

[rustynails]

I have the following scenario:

1) Opening a password protected .xlsx file produced using Excel 2007
2) Calc opens it just fine after entering the password created in Excel
3) 'Save As' in Calc and select Excel 97/2000/XP format
4) Deselect the box 'Save with password'

Saves OK but when you try to reopen it (with Calc or Excel) it asks for a password (despite deselecting the option when saving) and crucially it is NOT the password that the Excel file had originally. Few more notes:

1) If I do select the box 'Save with password' it works as expected - ie it asks for and sets a password which then works
2) This is repeatable - ie it happens every time (having discovered it I have tried the same procedure on several xlsx files and it does it every time).

Obviously now I know about it I won't do it BUT I have several files that I have spent the last few hours processing that I would really like not to have to start again. I am trying a brute force password cracker now but don't hold out much hope as I have no idea what length password may have ended up being created (the original was 7 characters).

Anyone come across this, any ideas how I can open the files?

Thanks

Russell

[floris v]

Sounds like a bug. [Tutorial] Reporting bugs or suggestions.

[RoryOF]

From memory, this is currently under investigation; I've seen postings on one of the Apache lists. As I remember (not having paid much attention to the thread), once a file has been passworded, it is currently impossible to unpassword it.

In general, my instinct is that passwording on OpenOffice and variants is not a good idea, for a number of reasons. One is the strength of the encryption: if the password is forgotten (and this happens very frequently to judge by user posts, the file can only be opened by brute force methods which may tie up a powerful computer for days. Also, there are reports of passworded files not opening after OO version changes. If file security is that important, it may be better to keep one's confidential files on a USB drive (not a USB stick), and keep that drive in one's possession. Alternately, one can trust to the built in security of modern Operating Systems which should not allow one User see another's files.

[rustynails]

Thanks - as noted now I am aware of the issue I can work around it.

Slightly odd thing how this manifests though - ie that it keeps it password protected but seems to have changed the password? Would help me if anyone who has access to the save code can offer any hints as to how it may have changed the password (ie what length it is likely to end up at, etc) but I accept that this may not be possible.

We live and learn!

[MrProgrammer]

1) Opening a password protected .xlsx file produced using Excel 2007
2) Calc opens it just fine after entering the password created in Excel
3) 'Save As' in Calc and select Excel 97/2000/XP format
4) Deselect the box 'Save with password'
Saves OK but when you try to reopen it (with Calc or Excel) it asks for a password (despite deselecting the option when saving) and crucially it is NOT the password that the Excel file had originally.

Possible workaround:

• Open Excel file
• Edit > Sheet > Move/Copy > +Copy > ToDocument > - new Document - (that is, copy the sheet to a new document)
• Repeat as needed for additional sheets
• Close the original Excel file
• File > Save As > Excel 97/2000/XP (you should find that Save with password is deselected for the new document)

I can't try this myself since I don't use Excel.

If this answered your question please go to your first post use the Edit button and add [Solved] to the start of the title. You can select the green checkmark icon at the same time.

[RoryOF]

This thread may give some background information on the bug and its progress towards a cure.
http://comments.gmane.org/gmane.comp.ap ... evel/21293