Not saving when saving as, whether it is a new file or an edit
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Trying to modify csv or txt files does not save the changes.
Every time I am prompted with a message saying the file is opened in another window. I know it is not opened anywhere else unless it is a very well hidden process since I have tried with about 15 files by now. .csv that came from .xlsx and also created brand new files :old files will give me the message that it is already opened and cannot save
new file will open the save as windows explorer then when I hit save, it is like nothing happened, but the file will now appear in the window as if it actually saved. If I click on save again, it says the file already exist and asks if I want to overwrite, if I click yes, it says the file is already opened in another window.
If I look at the file without clicking on save the 2nd time, it is completely empty.I have a video that shows the issue with the save, but I tried to uninstall and reinstall the latest version, did not work
I also tried to remove that new feature with the backups, was not it.
I tried to save files in document and also on c drive directly, same issue for both…I have no idea what is going on anymore.
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@kip ,
unless it is a very well hidden process
Windows sometimes keeps files open in very well hidden processes. Microsoft’s sysinternals tools have a “Process Explorer” – you can get the 64bit version, run that, and use
Ctrl+Fto search for the name of your file. After some minutes, it will list any process that has that file open and locked (Notepad++ doesn’t necessarily lock the file, so it won’t always show files that are open in Notepad++, unfortunately).But I’m not convinced that the files really are open somewhere else.
To me, your description sounds like you might have a weird permissions issue on the files or folders that you are working with.
- Use Windows’ file Explorer and right click on the folder you are writing to and the file you are trying to edit, and look at the Properties > Security info to make sure that your active user has appropriate permissions.
- Check to see if Notepad++ is running as Admin (it will say “Administrator” in the title bar and ?-menu’s Debug Info – which you can share with us – will say
Admin mode : ONorOFF. - Is the folder you are saving to a normal folder, or one that’s in a One Drive or Drop Box or other cloud storage? Or is it a network drive or mapped network drive?
I have sometimes seen similar behavior when I am using a network drive whose clock is set incorrectly, so it puts the wrong timestamps on files, so Notepad++ thinks that the network has changed the file since it loaded it, and gets confused.
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@PeterJones thank you for your response
Notepad++ v8.4.6 (64-bit)
Build time : Sep 25 2022 - 19:51:39
Path : C:\Program Files\Notepad++\notepad++.exe
Command Line :
Admin mode : ON
Local Conf mode : OFF
Cloud Config : OFF
OS Name : Windows 10 Enterprise (64-bit)
OS Version : 21H2
OS Build : 19044.2006
Current ANSI codepage : 1252
Plugins :
mimeTools (2.8)
NppConverter (4.4)
NppExport (0.4)I have all access but special permission on this computer, including on that file
I am saving to Document in <username>/documents and also directly on C drive, but same issue. also running in Administrator yeah.I have already looked with Process Explorer and cannot find anything that is running that file. That is why I am here cause I am completely out of ideas.
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@kip said in Not saving when saving as, whether it is a new file or an edit:
also running in Administrator yeah
Why do you need to run in administrator mode? Is it due to the permissions admin mode gives you on the file.
Can you try running Notepad++ normally (confirm by looking at debug info and seeing Admin Mode: OFF) and accessing the same file, editing and saving and see if issue remains.
There will be lots of suggestions. I think you will just have to work through each until we get more info to help you solve it.
Terry
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@kip said in Not saving when saving as, whether it is a new file or an edit:
I am saving to Document in <username>/documents and also directly on C drive, but same issue
Are you saying that
<username>/documentsis on one drive, and C:-drive is separate? Or is<username>/documentson the C: drive?If you want good help, you need to be explicit, rather than using brief shorthand that you can understand because you’ve been using your machine for N years, but we cannot do more than guess, because we have no idea what mental model you have of your computer.
I have all access but special permission on this computer, including on that file
Some folders, like
C:\Program Files\*, have special requirements, so that you have to elevate to write to them – even if you have permission to elevate, you have to actually do that. Contrariwise, other folders (like the user config folders) might be set up so that your normal user has access, but when elevated to Administrator, it does not have permission (also, things like mapped network drives are mapped for the normal user, but when you elevate to Admin, you can no longer access that map). Since you claim you are running in Administrator, then maybe Administrator does not have write permission to the specific directory or file you are trying to edit.As @Terry-R said while I was slowly typing my reply, try running Notepad++ not as Admin, and see if that improves things. In general, because of network maps and weird permissions, I find it best to not run Notepad++ as Admin, except in those exceedingly rare circumstances when I am editing a protected windows config file.
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@kip ,
Another experiment: run MS Windows’
notepad.exe(not as Admin) and try to edit the file; see if it works. If it does work, then exit that, and try again to run Notepad++ (not as Admin) and try to edit the same file. If notepad works but Notepad++ does not, then something weird is going on.In that case, you might try to download a portable zip and unzip to a folder on your desktop. Then run that portable Notepad++ (close any other Notepad++ window first; then run the portable Notepad++ not as Admin) and try to edit the same file.
