Word 16.31 turning server files invisible

Anonymous
2019-11-20T17:12:10+00:00

Microsoft Word 16.31 for macOS seems to be turning server files invisible.

This has been observed in mulitple locations with multiple Macs (macOS 10.13.16 and 10.14.6) saving to macOS Server 10.12.

The file's UNIX chflags bit is turned to "hidden" and to make it visible we have to find the file using "ls -la" and then "sudo chflags nohidden file/path.docx?" to fix the file and make it visible again.

Microsoft 365 and Office | Word | For home | Windows

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Anonymous
2019-11-24T15:20:28+00:00

With help from Adam Berti or Berti Group we have found that this script can fix a folder or share's invisible word documents:

find basedir/ -name '*.docx' -exec chflags nohidden {} ;

Where "basedir/" is the full path to a server share (including the trailing slash)

Adding -print will list what is happening.

find basedir/ -name '*.docx' -exec chflags nohidden {} ; -print

But it would be far more helpful if Microsoft would just fix Word 16.31 !

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  1. Anonymous
    2019-11-26T01:48:01+00:00

    Hi All,

    Thanks for the information. Now we know that the issue can happen to Word and Excel files. 

    Can we say the issue only happens to Office files? Can any non-Office files be affected?

    Regards,

    Rena

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  2. Anonymous
    2019-11-26T01:24:04+00:00

    Hi,

    If it helps, I have had reports of it happening in excel (xlsx) as well. Haven't heard anything about powerpoint.

    Thanks,

    Jeff

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  3. Anonymous
    2019-11-26T01:22:06+00:00

    Thanks for this. Definitely a help.

    Jeff

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  4. Anonymous
    2019-11-25T23:54:14+00:00

    Hi jondthompson,

    We are investigating with more resources about this behavior. Please allow us more time for that. When we get any update, we will post back as soon as possible.

    We greatly appreciate your time and understanding.

    Best regards,

    Madoc

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