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Old 11-13-2014, 06:13 PM   #1
r.stiltskin
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libreoffice file editing disabled by password


A couple of days ago I found that I can't edit any password protected libreoffice calc or writer documents. In fact opening a password protected document effectlively disables the entire keyboard -- including the arrow keys, page up and down, etc. I discovered this when I opened a protected file & was unable to edit it. Then I found that if I open LibreOffice, create a completely new calc spreadsheet and save it with a password, then close it, that file cannot be edited after reopening it. The same is true with LibreOffice Writer documents.

Not only that, but while a password-protected file is open, if I use file/new to create another new calc or text document, nothing can be typed in the new document either.

I can save ("save as") a protected file under the same name (can't change the name since the keyboard is disabled) with "save with password" de-selected, close the file, reopen the file (this time without password), and then the file can be edited normally. This of course is pretty inconvenient.

This is occurring in Xubuntu 14.04 and Kubuntu 14.04 (different machine). It also occurs in a new user account, so probably not related to individual user .config files. I see that LibreOffice was updated about a week ago to version 1:4.2.7-0ubuntu1 so it may be a bug in that update.

I wonder if this is just an Ubuntu problem or is it occurring in other distros?
 
Old 11-13-2014, 07:29 PM   #2
ljb643
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Same bug reported here

It doesn't look like there is a fix, but there is a work-around: Click on the OK button in the password dialog, rather than pressing Enter. But do read the comments on the bug report.

Last edited by ljb643; 11-13-2014 at 09:48 PM. Reason: typo
 
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Old 11-14-2014, 06:59 AM   #3
r.stiltskin
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Thanks for pointing out that bug report. I'll investigate further and post there. I can confirm that clicking OK rather than pressing Enter is a workaround.
 
Old 11-14-2014, 02:07 PM   #4
jdkaye
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I'm using Libreoffice 4.3.4.1 and I can't replicate the problem. I created a password protected document and when I open it I can edit it without problem whether I hit the Enter key or click the OK button. Are you using an earlier version of Libreoffice?
jdk
 
Old 11-14-2014, 02:55 PM   #5
ljb643
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jdkaye View Post
I'm using Libreoffice 4.3.4.1 and I can't replicate the problem...
I should have clarified: this is by no means affecting everyone. I'm running 4.3.2 and 4.3.3 on different Linux distributions including Xubuntu and I don't see this problem. It seems to be reported by some people using the Ubuntu-packaged Libreoffice (I am not), and might have something to do with the KDE support or KDE libraries.
 
Old 11-14-2014, 08:56 PM   #6
r.stiltskin
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I'm using LibreOffice 4.2.7.2 which is the latest Ubuntu-packaged version. I don't think it is KDE-related. It is affecting my Xubuntu machine which has no KDE libraries installed with exactly the same symptoms as on my KDE system. And it only popped up within the past week or so ... so it seems pretty likely that some recent update is to blame.
 
Old 11-15-2014, 01:34 AM   #7
jdkaye
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I'm also running KDE so I agree that it's unrelated to that desktop. I've got two laptops running Ubuntu 14.04 so I'll try them out to see if the bug is present.
jdk
 
Old 11-16-2014, 06:09 PM   #8
r.stiltskin
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This is interesting. I just arrived at my 2nd office where I have another machine running Xubuntu 14.04, no KDE. Essentially, I would think, the same as the other one. This one also has LibreOffice 4.2.7.2 updated on 11/6, one day before the other one. But on this one, password-protection works normally: I can press Enter after entering the password and still retain full editing capability.

There are probably some differences between the two machines in terms of the programs and libraries that I've installed after the intial setup but it'll take some time to identify the differences exactly.
 
Old 11-16-2014, 06:30 PM   #9
r.stiltskin
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Update: there are surprisingly many differences in installed packages on the two machines -- so if someone has a theory as to some specific package that might be the culprit I'll be happy to investigate, but I don't think I have the patience to prepare a complete list of all the differences.
 
  


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