Bug 138092

Summary:	We need a "Protect Comments" feature under Tools -> Protect Document as well, to prevent unknown deletion of comments.
Product:	LibreOffice	Reporter:	TH <thuck777>
Component:	Writer	Assignee:	Not Assigned <libreoffice-bugs>
Status:	NEW ---
Severity:	enhancement	CC:	buzea.bogdan, dgp-mail, jluth
Priority:	medium
Version:	7.0.3.1 release
Hardware:	All
OS:	All
See Also:	https://bugs.documentfoundation.org/show_bug.cgi?id=132637
Whiteboard:
Crash report or crash signature:		Regression By:
Bug Depends on:
Bug Blocks:	120763
Attachments:	Protect Document menu in 7.0.3 is MISSING a Protect Comments option

Description TH 2020-11-09 16:07:44 UTC

Description:
Tools -> Protect Document has two options presently: Protect Fields and Protect Bookmarks.  We need one more: "Protect Comments".  Currently, if View -> Comments is off, there is no indicator of any kind that one or more comments exist, and deleting text adjacent to those comments may result in deletion of the invisible comments as well, with no warning or notice of any kind.  That's haphazard and bad!

Steps to Reproduce:
1. Add a comment to a document.
2. Use View -> Comments to hide the comment.
3. Delete the text where the comment, which cannot be seen, was placed—and the comment itself will be deleted without warning and perhaps with the author not even realizing that had occurred until it is too late, and may not be recovered.

Actual Results:
Comments which are not visible are deleted with no warning and without a user even realizing he or she has done so.

Expected Results:
First, there should be a confirmation dialog warning a user that he or she is about to delete one or more comments, and asking for confirmation to proceed if that is the desired outcome.  Second, it should be possible to protect comments against inadvertent deletion.


Reproducible: Always


User Profile Reset: No



Additional Info:
This issue applies to all versions of LibreOffice Writer, through the 7.1 Alpha.

Comment 1 Dieter 2020-11-24 08:17:45 UTC

I can't see the option Tools => Protect document

LO help https://help.libreoffice.org/7.0/en-GB/text/swriter/guide/protection.html?&DbPAR=WRITER&System=WIN gives also no information. Could you please explain where I can find that option?

=> NEDINFO

Comment 2 TH 2020-11-25 22:03:41 UTC

(In reply to Dieter from comment #1)
> I can't see the option Tools => Protect document
> 
> LO help
> https://help.libreoffice.org/7.0/en-GB/text/swriter/guide/protection.
> html?&DbPAR=WRITER&System=WIN gives also no information. Could you please
> explain where I can find that option?
> 
> => NEDINFO

You need to be using a current version of LibreOffice Writer....  If you are using a current version, then you WILL see two options under Tools ==> Protect Document, and neither of those has to do with comments.  We need an option to also protect comments....

Comment 3 Dieter 2020-11-26 07:02:56 UTC

(In reply to TH from comment #2)
> You need to be using a current version of LibreOffice Writer....  If you are
> using a current version, then you WILL see two options under Tools ==>
> Protect Document, and neither of those has to do with comments.  We need an
> option to also protect comments....

Sorry, but I don't have an "Protect Document" entry in

Version: 7.0.3.1 (x64)
Build ID: d7547858d014d4cf69878db179d326fc3483e082
CPU threads: 4; OS: Windows 10.0 Build 19042; UI render: Skia/Raster; VCL: win
Locale: de-DE (de_DE); UI: en-GB
Calc: CL

ans even if I try to customise the menu, I can't find that option. Perhaps anybody else can help. (BTW: You can't confirm your own bugs => UNCONFIRMED)

Comment 4 Justin L 2020-11-27 11:13:15 UTC

And once some poor soul adds this ability, it also should be imported and exported for MS formats.

P.S. Another common place for this kind of protection is File - Properties - Security.

Comment 5 TH 2020-11-27 18:34:52 UTC

No, Security would be the wrong place to protect comments.  We are talking about protecting written work from inadvertent (i.e., unintended) deletion and loss, not security here.

Comment 6 TH 2020-11-27 18:37:59 UTC

Created attachment 167624 [details]
Protect Document menu in 7.0.3 is MISSING a Protect Comments option

Protect Document menu in 7.0.3 is MISSING a Protect Comments option

Comment 7 TH 2020-11-27 18:40:57 UTC

(In reply to TH from comment #5)
> No, Security would be the wrong place to protect comments.  We are talking
> about protecting written work from inadvertent (i.e., unintended) deletion
> and loss, not security here.

But it would be good also to export comments when saving as .docx, for example.  (You may want to add a feature request for that, if it's not already functional.)

Comment 8 Dieter 2020-11-30 07:47:48 UTC

(In reply to TH from comment #7)
> But it would be good also to export comments when saving as .docx, for
> example.  (You may want to add a feature request for that, if it's not
> already functional.)

Please open a new report for this topic

BTW: I could find the "Protect Document" entry in LODev-Version.