[Solved] Text is hundreds of pages of gibberish

[Cyberdog]

Hello. I searched the forums for a similar problem and couldn't find one using my search terms - if I missed a match, please forgive.

I have similar .odt files of about 25 KB each in the folder pictured below, each file containing no more than 16 pages of text (no pictures or other objects).

However, there is one .odt that is greatly larger in size at 154 KB, yet it was created as only a few pages of typing, just like the others. It should only be 20-odd KB.



When I open it, I now get a dialogue box that does not appear when I open the others (I have tried many different combinations of Character Sets, Fonts, and the Paragraph Breaks to no avail).



The file is now ballooned to a huge 625 page document of only symbols and gibberish. My original 5 or 6 pages is gone.



Is there anything I can do to get back my typing?

TIA for any ideas

[robleyd]

If your document opens with the ASCII Filter options, it is an indication that the file has been seriously corrupted, and most likely has no recoverable data. If you have no backup of the document (why not?), you might wish to try some of the recovery suggestions in [Tutorial] The Dreaded Pound Signs: file reduced to ####

For future peace of mind, you might consider installing the Timestamped backup extension, which will allow you to make multiple, timestamped backups of your documents.

As a long shot, upload your file to a file sharing service - as it is over the forum limit of 128 Kb - and someone here may be able to look at it and see if there is anything recoverable.

[robleyd]

Looks very similar to your earlier topic viewtopic.php?p=537754

[Cyberdog]

Looks very similar to your earlier topic viewtopic.php?p=537754

Thank you. That previous question/thread was apparently a pdf that was corrupted, this one is definitely an .odt that changed into corrupted mess.

[Cyberdog]

If your document opens with the ASCII Filter options, it is an indication that the file has been seriously corrupted, and most likely has no recoverable data. If you have no backup of the document (why not?), you might wish to try some of the recovery suggestions in [Tutorial] The Dreaded Pound Signs: file reduced to ####

For future peace of mind, you might consider installing the Timestamped backup extension, which will allow you to make multiple, timestamped backups of your documents.

As a long shot, upload your file to a file sharing service - as it is over the forum limit of 128 Kb - and someone here may be able to look at it and see if there is anything recoverable.

Great suggestions, very much appreciated.

I will for sure backup multiple copies from now on. As an aside, I just started using Proton drive that does a very nice job of auto-uploading my files the moment they are updated (I have no relation to Proton.me.)

[Hagar Delest]

Note that LibreOffice does not suffer from this issue. See [Tutorial] Considering a Switch from OpenOffice to LibreOffice? Some Useful Information if you want to try.

[Cyberdog]

Thanks. Am going to try it out now.

[Cyberdog]

Note that LibreOffice does not suffer from this issue.

Thanks for the heads-up. A very smooth app and my exclusive Writer now.