ods and rtf file extensions taking long time to open when connected to Internet

curt jugg · Aug 5, 2022

I have a fairly new HP Pavilion desktop computer with Windows 11. I have found that the ods (but not odt) and rtf file extensions take about a minute to open. However, if I disconnect from the Internet they open at normal speed. Can anyone suggest why this might be, please?

Berton · Aug 5, 2022

The .rtf/Rich Text Format is fairly common and can be opened in WordPad and other office-type programs, does the same problem exist there for you? The format of .ods suggests you are using LibreOffice which shows it as a spreadsheet or maybe another free office product, maybe OpenOffice, maybe the program with the problem is "calling home" before opening the file.

curt jugg · Aug 6, 2022

Thanks for your reply. The rtf files were created in WordPad and if I use WPS Office to open them the problem doesn't occur. The ods files were created in LibreOffice as were the odt ones. The latter, however, open straight away. I also have a laptop with Windows 10 and I don't have the problem with opening these same file extensions on that.

Berton · Aug 6, 2022

Have you tried opening the problem files and re-saving but adding a character to the name? I'm not getting a sense of why being on the Internet would be causing an issue unless it's the program trying to check for updates, maybe an auto-update setting in it?

curt jugg · Aug 6, 2022

I've created a new rtf file using WordPad and a new ods file using LibreOffice. With the Internet disconnected they both open straight away. With the Internet connected they both take up to 50 seconds to open (by double clicking). If I use WPS Office to open the rtf file it opens straight away even with the Internet connected. There is actually a difference in the way the two file types open with the Internet connected. With the rtf file there is simply a long wait, but in the case of the ods file a blank document appears and only after the long wait does the actual document appear. As two different programs are involved, I assume this can't be a program fault as it would be odd if the two programs were both checking for updates.

Berton · Aug 6, 2022

Yep, it's strange and I have not been able to replicate it.

curt jugg · Aug 6, 2022

Do you think it could be a problem with my new computer? Or with Windows 11?

Berton · Aug 6, 2022

It's hard to say, I've only gotten a new Notebook in Oct. and a new Desktop in April, both came with WIn10 Pro and after all the updates were installed they Upgraded to Win11 Pro. None of my other computers can run Win11.

TraderGary · Aug 6, 2022

A Bing search for "wps office" is interesting...

WPS Office (an acronym for Writer, Presentation and Spreadsheets, previously known as Kingsoft Office) is an office suite for Microsoft Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, and HarmonyOS developed by Zhuhai-based Chinese software developer Kingsoft.

LeLibran · Aug 6, 2022

As ODF isn't a native format for WPS Office and an add-in has to be installed to allow WPS to read/write ODF documents, my guess is that that's where the problem probably lies. It would be easy to check if the same files load quickly into LibreOffice or OpenOffice on the same PC and if they do.....

Note: You don't even need to do a full install LibreOffice/OpenOffice to test as both are available from PortableApps.

curt jugg · Aug 7, 2022

Thanks for your reply, LeLibran, but I'm afraid I don't quite understand (I'm not very computer literate). Could you go over it again, please?

LeLibran · Aug 7, 2022

Don't really know how to make it simpler but here goes:

ODF = Open Document Format

1. ODF (.ods, .odt files etc.) is a native format used by LibreOffice, OpenOffice, and others. If files created in that format load quickly in those applications then there is nothing wrong with those files or your Operating System/Computer.
2. ODF (.ods, .odt files etc.) is NOT a native format for WPS, so it needs an add-in/plugin to allow it to read and write that format. See wps-help-center

So if WPS (with the add-in installed) is having problems loading ODF files which otherwise load normally in the other programs the issue would be most probably with WPS and/or the add-in; and if the availability of internet connectivity only affects the speed of loading files in WPS but not other software, then its even more likely that the problem lies within WPS or the add-in.

Please also note that the WPS statement on the above linked page that "It can be compatible with MS Office, which do not support ODF documents." is completely false. Microsoft Office apps do support ODF files without any additional plugins and have done so for years.

Berton · Aug 7, 2022

LeLibran said:
Don't really know how to make it simpler but here goes:

ODF = Open Document Format

1. ODF (.ods, .odt files etc.) is a native format used by LibreOffice, OpenOffice, and others. If files created in that format load quickly in those applications then there is nothing wrong with those files or your Operating System/Computer.
2. ODF (.ods, .odt files etc.) is NOT a native format for WPS, so it needs an add-in/plugin to allow it to read and write that format. See wps-help-center

So if WPS (with the add-in installed) is having problems loading ODF files which otherwise load normally in the other programs the issue would be most probably with WPS and/or the add-in; and if the availability of internet connectivity only affects the speed of loading files in WPS but not other software, then its even more likely that the problem lies within WPS or the add-in.

Please also note that the WPS statement on the above linked page that "It can be compatible with MS Office, which do not support ODF documents." is completely false. Microsoft Office apps do support ODF files without any additional plugins and have done so for years.

Just checked my Office 2013 and Word can open .odt and Excel can open .ods, I don't install other Office apps as no need for them.

curt jugg · Aug 7, 2022

OK. Thanks for the clarification.

ods and rtf file extensions taking long time to open when connected to Internet

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