Gregg's Nearly Interminable Adventures in Linux Land - Page 4

Gregg Bell · 03-19-2014, 04:19 AM

I've been composing in the "Text Body" style in LibreOffice. And from there I've saved the document as an .odt file and then saved the .odt file as a .html file (all in LO). I did it that way for eight stories and it worked perfectly. Just clean <p>paragraphs</p>. I was thrilled. Until this last story.

The story handled two or three italics (using italics once in a while is all I really do, besides typical punctuations marks), but then (see screenshot 109) it added all this bloat, all these span tags in the middle of sentences etc. A mess. And I don't know why.

The LO Text Body style seems different than MS Office Word 2003's, where if you were in a portion of the text reflecting a certain style the style pane reflected it as well. Click on an area reflecting a different style and the style pane would change to reflect it.

Well, in LO the Text Body in the style pane doesn't change.

And anyway, I need to know how to avoid this and I'd really like to know why it happened. This piece in the screenshot is only 1100 words so no biggie but if it had been a novel I would have been really concerned. (read euphemism)

Next issue. Dealing with flash drives. In Linux it seems very unreliable. Like the USB drive is "not mounted" sometimes. Other times it is "mounted automatically."

Then I couldln't paste anything into this one flashdrive. It had little lock icons next to every file. So I clicked on the drive's properties and when I tried to opened the access panel below "gregory" to "read & write" (figuring that's why the lock icons were there) it gave me the window (see 110 screenshot) and I did not know what to do with that "recursive" window. (I Googled it and it says, 'it calls out itself.' Oh.)

And the last problem with a flash drive was trying to paste into it and getting this window (see screenshot 111).

You guys know what's going on?

cromag · 03-19-2014, 06:12 AM

Can't help you with LibreOffice -> HTML, since I never use this.

I am surprised by your experience with flash drives. I have dozens, from an ancient 128 MB drive to a brand new 32 GB drive, as well as flash drive-type SD card readers, and have never had a problem. If anything, my Linux netbook (Ubuntu 12.04) is more reliable than my Windows XP box, but I suspect that's due to old, cranky hardware.

avantman42 · 03-19-2014, 08:05 AM

Like cromag, I don't export from LibreOffice to HTML, and I've never had any trouble with flash drives.

I can, however, tell you what "recursively" means: "apply the changes to this directory and everything inside it". If you tick the box, whatever changes you made will be applied to the directory you've selected, and all sub-directories. If you don't tick the box, it will only apply to the directory you've selected.

theducks · 03-19-2014, 12:50 PM

Never had a OS specific problem with flash drives.

I have messed up by failing to remove the drive properly (includes, jumping the gun after clicking: eject). That can leave the drive corrupt AND/OR leave the port (usage) status questionable. A reboot clears the last. You need to repair the file structure for the first.

Gregg Bell · 03-19-2014, 03:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cromag

Can't help you with LibreOffice -> HTML, since I never use this.

I am surprised by your experience with flash drives. I have dozens, from an ancient 128 MB drive to a brand new 32 GB drive, as well as flash drive-type SD card readers, and have never had a problem. If anything, my Linux netbook (Ubuntu 12.04) is more reliable than my Windows XP box, but I suspect that's due to old, cranky hardware.

Thx cromag, but something going on with this "read and write" and "permissions" and "mounting" and stuff.

Gregg Bell · 03-19-2014, 04:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by avantman42

Like cromag, I don't export from LibreOffice to HTML, and I've never had any trouble with flash drives.

I can, however, tell you what "recursively" means: "apply the changes to this directory and everything inside it". If you tick the box, whatever changes you made will be applied to the directory you've selected, and all sub-directories. If you don't tick the box, it will only apply to the directory you've selected.

Thanks Russell. I didn't have nay problems with flash drives and Linux either until three or four days ago. Now it's like anything I try to do I get a pop up window telling me I can't.

Thanks for explaining "recursive." I have a little better understanding of it now, but I still am unsure of some things. For instance, I went to copy and paste a file into the flash drive. I got the permission denied thing (I can't even remember the exact warning--there have been so many) so I added the "read and write" access below the "gregory" directory. That gave me the "recursive" choice. I chose "No," figuring I just want the flash drive to work and that that was the safest choice. Then this window flashed on (see screenshot 42). I cancelled out of that because I didn't know what to do.

Trying to understand the recursive thing. Since I choose "read and write" for "gregory" and all its sub-directories (see screenshot 44) so that means the flashdrive will accept pasting from all those folders (pictures, music etc), right? But there are no subdirectories (folders) under those folders (only files) so what would be the point of going recursive?

And lastly (see screenshot 43) I checked my flash drive again and all these lock icons are there. (They weren't there the first time.)

Any idea what's going on?

Gregg Bell · 03-19-2014, 04:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by theducks

Never had a OS specific problem with flash drives.

I have messed up by failing to remove the drive properly (includes, jumping the gun after clicking: eject). That can leave the drive corrupt AND/OR leave the port (usage) status questionable. A reboot clears the last. You need to repair the file structure for the first.

What's with the "mounting"? Sometimes I put a flashdrive in a usb port and the computer says the flashdrive is mounted automatically. Sometimes the flash drive icon is grayed out and when I right click on it I get the option to mount it. So in other words, the flashdrive has to be mounted for the computer to recognize it, right?

eschwartz · 03-19-2014, 05:07 PM

Try this? http://askubuntu.com/questions/58914...anything-to-it

I remember this happened to me once, cannot remember how I fixed it, but I think it may have been as this article recommends, by copying all files to a backup folder and reformatting the flashdrive.

Gregg Bell · 03-20-2014, 05:42 AM

This post was made in error.

Gregg Bell · 03-20-2014, 04:39 PM

Opened a file and got this (screenshot) and 90% of my file was missing. "Eli the Computer Guy" said Linux is "buggy." Is this what he was talking about? (I hope not!) This file I lost the 90% on was easily replaced but what if it wasn't? Is Linux that unreliable?

cromag · 03-20-2014, 05:22 PM

If Linux was unreliable I wouldn't be using it. I've done nearly all my writing, editing, etc., on my Linux (Ubuntu 12.04, recently updated from 10.04) netbook. When I get rid of my Windows XP desktop I'll be replacing it with a Windows 7/Ubuntu dual boot system, because I really don't like Windows.

Many Universities have active users groups and customize their own "distros." Not what you'd expect from an "unreliable" operating system.

cromag · 03-20-2014, 05:26 PM

What specific hardware are you using for your setup? Make and model, age, any upgrades or additions? Where was the file you tried to open located?

twowheels · 03-20-2014, 05:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cromag

If Linux was unreliable I wouldn't be using it. I've done nearly all my writing, editing, etc., on my Linux (Ubuntu 12.04, recently updated from 10.04) netbook. When I get rid of my Windows XP desktop I'll be replacing it with a Windows 7/Ubuntu dual boot system, because I really don't like Windows.

Many Universities have active users groups and customize their own "distros." Not what you'd expect from an "unreliable" operating system.

Not to mention that a rather substantial number of the servers that run the Internet are running Linux.

PeterT · 03-20-2014, 07:32 PM

I also don't think that Linux is producing that error, it's the application doing the import reporting the error.

eschwartz · 03-20-2014, 07:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gregg Bell

Opened a file and got this (screenshot) and 90% of my file was missing. "Eli the Computer Guy" said Linux is "buggy." Is this what he was talking about? (I hope not!) This file I lost the 90% on was easily replaced but what if it wasn't? Is Linux that unreliable?

I don't think I said that... Oh wait. THAT Eli.

Never seen anything like that before. What did you click on to get an error about "import(ing)"? What application were you using, and what else were you doing at the time, that might have caused it to fail?

03-19-2014, 04:19 AM	#46
Gregg Bell Gregg Bell Posts: 2,266 Karma: 3917598 Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Itasca, Illinois Device: Kindle Touch 7, Sony PRS300, Fire HD8 Tablet	yo I've been composing in the "Text Body" style in LibreOffice. And from there I've saved the document as an .odt file and then saved the .odt file as a .html file (all in LO). I did it that way for eight stories and it worked perfectly. Just clean <p>paragraphs</p>. I was thrilled. Until this last story. The story handled two or three italics (using italics once in a while is all I really do, besides typical punctuations marks), but then (see screenshot 109) it added all this bloat, all these span tags in the middle of sentences etc. A mess. And I don't know why. The LO Text Body style seems different than MS Office Word 2003's, where if you were in a portion of the text reflecting a certain style the style pane reflected it as well. Click on an area reflecting a different style and the style pane would change to reflect it. Well, in LO the Text Body in the style pane doesn't change. And anyway, I need to know how to avoid this and I'd really like to know why it happened. This piece in the screenshot is only 1100 words so no biggie but if it had been a novel I would have been really concerned. (read euphemism) Next issue. Dealing with flash drives. In Linux it seems very unreliable. Like the USB drive is "not mounted" sometimes. Other times it is "mounted automatically." Then I couldln't paste anything into this one flashdrive. It had little lock icons next to every file. So I clicked on the drive's properties and when I tried to opened the access panel below "gregory" to "read & write" (figuring that's why the lock icons were there) it gave me the window (see 110 screenshot) and I did not know what to do with that "recursive" window. (I Googled it and it says, 'it calls out itself.' Oh.) And the last problem with a flash drive was trying to paste into it and getting this window (see screenshot 111). You guys know what's going on? Attached Thumbnails

03-20-2014, 05:42 AM	#54
Gregg Bell Gregg Bell Posts: 2,266 Karma: 3917598 Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Itasca, Illinois Device: Kindle Touch 7, Sony PRS300, Fire HD8 Tablet	This post was made in error. Last edited by Gregg Bell; 03-20-2014 at 02:07 PM. Reason: this post was a mistake

03-20-2014, 04:39 PM	#55
Gregg Bell Gregg Bell Posts: 2,266 Karma: 3917598 Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Itasca, Illinois Device: Kindle Touch 7, Sony PRS300, Fire HD8 Tablet	the latest Opened a file and got this (screenshot) and 90% of my file was missing. "Eli the Computer Guy" said Linux is "buggy." Is this what he was talking about? (I hope not!) This file I lost the 90% on was easily replaced but what if it wasn't? Is Linux that unreliable? Attached Thumbnails

03-20-2014, 05:22 PM	#56
cromag Surfin the alpha waves ~~ Posts: 26,767 Karma: 459765791 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: New Jersey Device: Jetbook Lite & Mini, Nook STR, Kobo, Hanvon N516, Kindle 2, Androids	If Linux was unreliable I wouldn't be using it. I've done nearly all my writing, editing, etc., on my Linux (Ubuntu 12.04, recently updated from 10.04) netbook. When I get rid of my Windows XP desktop I'll be replacing it with a Windows 7/Ubuntu dual boot system, because I really don't like Windows. Many Universities have active users groups and customize their own "distros." Not what you'd expect from an "unreliable" operating system. Last edited by cromag; 03-20-2014 at 05:28 PM.

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03-19-2014, 06:12 AM	#47
cromag Surfin the alpha waves ~~ Posts: 26,767 Karma: 459765791 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: New Jersey Device: Jetbook Lite & Mini, Nook STR, Kobo, Hanvon N516, Kindle 2, Androids	Can't help you with LibreOffice -> HTML, since I never use this. I am surprised by your experience with flash drives. I have dozens, from an ancient 128 MB drive to a brand new 32 GB drive, as well as flash drive-type SD card readers, and have never had a problem. If anything, my Linux netbook (Ubuntu 12.04) is more reliable than my Windows XP box, but I suspect that's due to old, cranky hardware.

03-19-2014, 08:05 AM	#48
avantman42 Wizard Posts: 1,090 Karma: 6058305 Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: UK Device: Kindle Paperwhite	Like cromag, I don't export from LibreOffice to HTML, and I've never had any trouble with flash drives. I can, however, tell you what "recursively" means: "apply the changes to this directory and everything inside it". If you tick the box, whatever changes you made will be applied to the directory you've selected, and all sub-directories. If you don't tick the box, it will only apply to the directory you've selected.

03-19-2014, 12:50 PM	#49
theducks Well trained by Cats Posts: 31,267 Karma: 61916422 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: The Central Coast of California Device: Kobo Libra2,Kobo Aura2v1, K4NT(Fixed: New Bat.), Galaxy Tab A	Never had a OS specific problem with flash drives. I have messed up by failing to remove the drive properly (includes, jumping the gun after clicking: eject). That can leave the drive corrupt AND/OR leave the port (usage) status questionable. A reboot clears the last. You need to repair the file structure for the first.

03-19-2014, 05:07 PM	#53
eschwartz Ex-Helpdesk Junkie Posts: 19,421 Karma: 85400180 Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: The Beaten Path, USA, Roundworld, This Side of Infinity Device: Kindle Touch fw5.3.7 (Wifi only)	Try this? http://askubuntu.com/questions/58914...anything-to-it I remember this happened to me once, cannot remember how I fixed it, but I think it may have been as this article recommends, by copying all files to a backup folder and reformatting the flashdrive.

03-20-2014, 05:26 PM	#57
cromag Surfin the alpha waves ~~ Posts: 26,767 Karma: 459765791 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: New Jersey Device: Jetbook Lite & Mini, Nook STR, Kobo, Hanvon N516, Kindle 2, Androids	What specific hardware are you using for your setup? Make and model, age, any upgrades or additions? Where was the file you tried to open located?

03-20-2014, 07:32 PM	#59
PeterT Grand Sorcerer Posts: 13,698 Karma: 79983758 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Toronto Device: Libra H2O, Libra Colour	I also don't think that Linux is producing that error, it's the application doing the import reporting the error.