Native WebDav works as expected under Linux (Fedora 17 x64 & LibreOffice 3.5.3.2). When a webdav path is entered the username and password is requested.

However, under Windows Windows 7 (x64) with LibreOffice 3.5.4.2.) when a WebDAV URL is entered in the "File open", "File save" or in the "Tools" -> "Options" -> "LibreOffice" -> "My Documents" path a message box pops up with the information:

 Nonexistent object.
 Nonexistent file.

If a LibreOffice application is opened from the command line with a document stored on a WebDav server it behaves as expected. Based on this the following workaround can be devised:

1) In "LibreOffice Writer" go to "Tools" -> "Options" -> "LibreOffice" -> "General" and select "Use libreOffice dialogs" under "Open/Save dialogs"

2) Open the LibreOffice personal settings file "%APPDATA%\LibreOffice\3\user\registrymodifications.xcu" for editing in notepad or another editor. Find the variable "<prop oor:name="WritePath" oor:op="fuse"><value>$(work)</value>" and change the "$(work)" part to the path to your WebDav server.

3) Save an empty document as "ODF Text Document Template (.ott)" and upload it to the WebDav server. Notice the full path, e.g. "https://webdav.bananahill.net/home/webdav.ott"

4) Modify the "LibreOffice Writer" shortcut to include the full path to the uploaded template document from the previous step. One way to do this in windows 7 is to type "LibreOffice Writer" in the start menu; right-click on the shortcut and select properties. Add the path of the documentto the end of the Target line so it looks something like this:  "C:\Program Files (x86)\LibreOffice 3.5\program\swriter.exe" "https://webdav.bananahill.net/home/webdav.ott"

5) Repeat step 3 and 4 for each LibreOffice program that needs WebDav access.


With this setup the "Default Dirctory" button (the one with the house) in the "file save" and "file open" will take you to the WebDav server. To go to a local partition just type the partition letter in the "File name" box, e.g. "C:" and press enter.