[Dropped] OpenOffice is creating duplicates of documents

[Paz]

Hello,

I've been using Openoffice for a while on a Mac.
Now, it started randomly making duplicates of the several docs I am working on, (and of the pdfs I am turning them into), this, instead of simply saving the updates made, each time.

Of course, this is causing great stress and confusion!...

Someone, please help?
Paz

[MrProgrammer]

Now, it started randomly making duplicates of the several docs I am working on …

I need a lot more information from you before I can help. Did you recently (perhaps by accident) enable Writer → File → Versions? Read about file versions in Help → Index or in User Guides (PDF) or searching for topics about this in the Writer Forum. Does Writer say that your files are read-only?

What procedure do you use to determine that you have duplicates of documents? Explain in detail the steps you take and tell us why you say that you have duplicates. Are you using Finder to show these duplicates? Are these documents in iCloud? Are you using TimeMachine? Finder, iCloud, and TimeMachine are Apple features, not part of OpenOffice. The latter is Apple's backup management tool. It certainly makes copies of files as you change them so older copies can be restored. This is normal. Finder → Help → MacOS Help explains how to use Finder, iCloud, and TimeMachine. Explain any changes that you've made recently to your MacOS system, even if they don't seem relevant to this problem.

I've worked on the forum for 15 years helping with OpenOffice and MacOS installations of it, and your topic is the first one I've seen to describe this behavior. OpenOffice just does not operate the way you've described. It never automatically makes copies of files. When you open a file, File → Save saves it to the same file. You must use File → Save As to create a new file and you will have to choose the name; OpenOffice won't suggest one with a number at the end. You must use File → Export as PDF to create a new PDF. It's possible that LibreOffice has added a new feature which is responsible for this behavior; the developers there like to make lots of changes. If not, I believe some other software (or person) is responsible for the copies.

[Tutorial] Mac FAQ

How to attach a document here

[Paz]

Hello,

Thank you.
Yes, in Finder, yes in the Cloud, no TimeMachine.

Please forgive my ignorance if it's not this software's issue, but is happening since a few days ago only in docs I have created and worked on in openoffice...
Suddenly, in stead of updating the original, I started seeing a few extras, say in stead of dog.odt. now I have dog2.odt, dog3.odt, dog4.odt...
Then, since those are to be turned into PDFs, I also have dog2.pdf, dog3.pdf...etc.

- No to the "versions" question

Paz

[Hagar Delest]

Any pattern with these new files? Date of saving is the same between 2 versions?
No such issue with files from other applications (not AOO)?
When you open those files, what is the difference in the content?

[keme]

This sounds like what will happen when you have Cloud sync enabled for locally stored files, and work from different workstations. If you don't close the file properly on one workstation, the local file and its mirror in the cloud will be locked. If you then work on the file from a different computer, you will initially be asked whether you want to open write protected or work on a copy. It may be possible on iCloud to select the "work on a copy" as a default action, which may then automatically create numbered versions of your file.

Also when you work offline from two workstations a similar thing happens when you bring them online again. When the cloud sync finds that both local and cloud version of your document was altered after last sync (both are newer than last sync), it will ask whether you want to keep the local file, the cloud file, or both. If you choose "both", it will create numbered versions of your file.

[Paz]

Thank you for your patience and assistance, MrProgrammer, Hagar Delest and keme!

It appears it might be something on the lines of what keme says, even though I used the same computer, and happened only with many docs created in OpenOffice, which is why I came here! It was maddening!
Perhaps it was due to highly unstable internet during the last heat wave, and then the modem itself dying. (I had many fires going at once!)

Thank you again for your help, I will try to solve it from the Apple side of things...
Paz