Mageia-4: LibreWriter not painting window on mouse scroll

[elmago]

Hello,
I yesterday successfully installed Mageia-4 but came across a strange problem in LibreOffice Writer. I created the first page of a document by copying parts and bits from web sites (no image -- just text). When I reached near the bottom of the page I scrolled back to the top using mouse wheel to see the start of that page. Then I scrolled back to the bottom where I was adding text.

Doing this, the first paragraph of the document (still partly in visible range) just vanished from display leaving an empty space where the paragraph was supposed to be . Suspecting it to be a problem of painting the window on scrolls, I did some back and forth scrolling and sometimes Libre Writer would show the first paragraph -- sometimes, the part of it and sometimes just white space.

When I save the file it saves fine because on next open, I see the complete page. I convert the page to a PDF file and open that PDF file which does not suffer from this scrolling problem. I take screen shots of the Writer window and the scren shots capture this problem. They are attached.

I can reproduce the problem everytime -- even by dragging the Writer's scroll bar back and forth.

Some info on my system:
- Mageia-4, x86_64, installed from full DVD on Samsung 840 SSD, 1.5 years old.
- RAM 2GB, processor Q9550 @ 4 GHz, ATI Radeon HD 3450 (pretty old), Monitor: Single 20" Samsung Syncmaster on 15-pin D-Sub cable
- Video driver: open source radeon (not fglrx)
- System load at the time of problem: Almost none.
- This sytem plays full screen 720p movies without a hitch but no gaming involved.
- LibreOffice Writer: Version 4.1.5.3, Build Id: 4.1.5.3-1.mga4
- After yesterday's install, I updated the system today and then I noticed this problem. I do not know if the problem would show up with the version packaged in full 64-bit DVD.
- The System Monitor shows a mere 6% CPU usage when I go back and forth scrolling moderately fast.

This was the first time that Mageia did not complain about the display and the installation went very smooth. On Mageia-3 I had to struggle with command line and the radeon driver getting stuck with the dreaded AGP-mode(?).

Thanks.

[elmago]

Today I updated my system after playing with it for last 3 weeks to see if I can use it for long term. The most serious problem is still the Libre Office scroll problem that has not gone away after todays update. This really hampers with any serious work. Have not tried using OpenOffice yet but I don't recall having anything this serious with OpenOffice few years back. In Fedora 17,18,19 I did not have this issue. There was the other issue of Libre Office becoming too slow when editing a 50-page file and during "File" dialog but it was manageable. This scroll problem is likely to drive serious users to other solutions and shun away from Libre Office.

A little bit of Googling will show that users had been complaining about similar scroll problem on other distributions and platforms ever since a major upgrade to version 3.6 (?). I guess there is no short term solution.

Any thought or comment? What is Mageia's policy as a distributor when an important package has problem?

Thanks.

[yankee495]

Hi,

I just tested it and you are right. I found that I can click in the header area of the page and it pops back into view.

Just click at the very top and it'll show the header and all of your text.

[doktor5000]

Maybe try to disable hardware acceleration in libreoffice settings, or change the graphics cache settings there ...

[ghmitch]

For what its worth, I have had a long history of the same problem with Libre Office on Mageia 3, so thanks Doktor for the tips.

[doktor5000]

Well, from what I remember those issues date back to at least OO 2.x if not even longer ago. What about the tips, did they help or at least change something?

You should also try to disable antialising, depending on what document you have issues with (spreadsheets with lots or high-resolution graphs with lots of dots will be effected much more by this)

And then the obvious question: Is that also reproducible with the upstream Libreoffice packages?
http://www.libreoffice.org/download/libreoffice-fresh/

Would also be good if someone could attach one of the problematic documents here so others can try to reproduce.

[yankee495]

Doktor5000,

I just copied my TV guide listing and pasted it into a document and it did the invisible text thing. I don't think you need a special doc, I think it does it to pretty much all of them. But here you go.

I think I just fixed it. I went to Tools>Options>LibreOffice>Advanced and clicked Add.

Use Java runtime is checked but after hitting add I have two Java's listed now, was just one.

It had Oracle, but now has Oracle and Free Software foundation.

I can't get it to do it anymore.

When I try to attach it I get "The extension is not allowed".

But mine is working now...let me check my laptop, and my wife has a laptop.

I'll see if I can repeat it.

[yankee495]

OK, it was my laptop that had the problem. My desktop is the one with two JRE's, clicking add didn't add anything.

I think we need to install the FSF JRE, looking for it now.

I installed java-1.5.0-gcj which didn't change anything.

My laptop is using an ATI 4250 with the open source driver (same as OP) and desktop is using ATI 6870 with fglrx.

My wife's laptop doesn't do it and it has Intel graphics, so it is looking like a graphics driver problem.

[elmago]

Thanks to all.
I am trying to go by what yankee495 said ... initial attempt to "add" opened up a file dialog telling me locate the jre.... trying.

[doktor5000]

You may want to check your alternatives configuration.

Code: Select all

[doktor5000@Mageia4 ~]$ sudo update-alternatives --list java
/usr/lib/jvm/jre-1.5.0-gcj/bin/java
/usr/lib/jvm/java-1.7.0-openjdk-1.7.0.60-2.4.7.1.mga4.x86_64/jre/bin/java

Code: Select all

[doktor5000@Mageia4 ~]$ sudo update-alternatives --display java
java - status is auto.                                                                                                                                                 
 link currently points to /usr/lib/jvm/java-1.7.0-openjdk-1.7.0.60-2.4.7.1.mga4.x86_64/jre/bin/java                                                                     
/usr/lib/jvm/jre-1.5.0-gcj/bin/java - priority 1500                                                                                                                     
 slave jre: /usr/lib/jvm/jre-1.5.0-gcj                                                                                                                                 
 slave keytool: /usr/lib/jvm/jre-1.5.0-gcj/bin/keytool
 slave rmiregistry: /usr/lib/jvm/jre-1.5.0-gcj/bin/rmiregistry
 slave jre_exports: /usr/lib/jvm-exports/jre-1.5.0-gcj
/usr/lib/jvm/java-1.7.0-openjdk-1.7.0.60-2.4.7.1.mga4.x86_64/jre/bin/java - priority 170055
 slave jre: /usr/lib/jvm/java-1.7.0-openjdk-1.7.0.60-2.4.7.1.mga4.x86_64/jre
 slave keytool: /usr/lib/jvm/java-1.7.0-openjdk-1.7.0.60-2.4.7.1.mga4.x86_64/jre/bin/keytool
 slave rmiregistry: /usr/lib/jvm/java-1.7.0-openjdk-1.7.0.60-2.4.7.1.mga4.x86_64/jre/bin/rmiregistry
 slave jre_exports: /usr/lib/jvm-exports/java-1.7.0-openjdk-1.7.0.60-2.4.7.1.mga4.x86_64
 slave rmid.1.xz: /usr/share/man/man1/rmid-java-1.7.0-openjdk-1.7.0.60-2.4.7.1.mga4.x86_64.1.xz
 slave pack200: /usr/lib/jvm/java-1.7.0-openjdk-1.7.0.60-2.4.7.1.mga4.x86_64/jre/bin/pack200
 slave unpack200.1.xz: /usr/share/man/man1/unpack200-java-1.7.0-openjdk-1.7.0.60-2.4.7.1.mga4.x86_64.1.xz
 slave java.1.xz: /usr/share/man/man1/java-java-1.7.0-openjdk-1.7.0.60-2.4.7.1.mga4.x86_64.1.xz
 slave tnameserv.1.xz: /usr/share/man/man1/tnameserv-java-1.7.0-openjdk-1.7.0.60-2.4.7.1.mga4.x86_64.1.xz
 slave servertool: /usr/lib/jvm/java-1.7.0-openjdk-1.7.0.60-2.4.7.1.mga4.x86_64/jre/bin/servertool
 slave pack200.1.xz: /usr/share/man/man1/pack200-java-1.7.0-openjdk-1.7.0.60-2.4.7.1.mga4.x86_64.1.xz
 slave keytool.1.xz: /usr/share/man/man1/keytool-java-1.7.0-openjdk-1.7.0.60-2.4.7.1.mga4.x86_64.1.xz
 slave rmid: /usr/lib/jvm/java-1.7.0-openjdk-1.7.0.60-2.4.7.1.mga4.x86_64/jre/bin/rmid
 slave orbd: /usr/lib/jvm/java-1.7.0-openjdk-1.7.0.60-2.4.7.1.mga4.x86_64/jre/bin/orbd
 slave orbd.1.xz: /usr/share/man/man1/orbd-java-1.7.0-openjdk-1.7.0.60-2.4.7.1.mga4.x86_64.1.xz
 slave servertool.1.xz: /usr/share/man/man1/servertool-java-1.7.0-openjdk-1.7.0.60-2.4.7.1.mga4.x86_64.1.xz
 slave rmiregistry.1.xz: /usr/share/man/man1/rmiregistry-java-1.7.0-openjdk-1.7.0.60-2.4.7.1.mga4.x86_64.1.xz
 slave tnameserv: /usr/lib/jvm/java-1.7.0-openjdk-1.7.0.60-2.4.7.1.mga4.x86_64/jre/bin/tnameserv
 slave unpack200: /usr/lib/jvm/java-1.7.0-openjdk-1.7.0.60-2.4.7.1.mga4.x86_64/jre/bin/unpack200
Current `best' version is /usr/lib/jvm/java-1.7.0-openjdk-1.7.0.60-2.4.7.1.mga4.x86_64/jre/bin/java.

[jiml8]

I was unable to duplicate the problem here; it seems to work the way it should. I have nvidia graphics using a driver downloaded from their site and installed with their installer, and my java is openjdk 1.7.0 on a phenom-II 955 based system.

If I can provide any possibly useful information, just ask.

[ghmitch]

I have ATI FireGL V3350 on my system. I really don't see how this can have anything to do with java. But the fact that systems NOT using ATI video do NOT seem to have this problem may well be a clue that it has something to do with ATI related hardware/software. I still haven't had a chance to use LibreOffice long enough to see whether disabling hardware accelleration has had any effect on the problem.

[elmago]

Thanks to ghmitch for opening up another possibility. But first let me try out the java jre stuff.

doktor5000 smelled a rat when I said the "Add" option opened up the file dialog! Well, I have only one jre available:

Code: Select all

[root@localhost cavoy]# update-alternatives --list java
/usr/lib/jvm/java-1.7.0-openjdk-1.7.0.60-2.4.7.1.mga4.x86_64/jre/bin/java
[root@localhost cavoy]#
[root@localhost cavoy]#


doktor5000 has two in his list.

Code: Select all

[root@localhost cavoy]# update-alternatives --display java
java - status is auto.
 link currently points to /usr/lib/jvm/java-1.7.0-openjdk-1.7.0.60-2.4.7.1.mga4.x86_64/jre/bin/java
/usr/lib/jvm/java-1.7.0-openjdk-1.7.0.60-2.4.7.1.mga4.x86_64/jre/bin/java - priority 170055

 slave rmid.1.xz: /usr/share/man/man1/rmid-java-1.7.0-openjdk-1.7.0.60-2.4.7.1.mga4.x86_64.1.xz
 slave servertool: /usr/lib/jvm/java-1.7.0-openjdk-1.7.0.60-2.4.7.1.mga4.x86_64/jre/bin/servertool
 slave pack200: /usr/lib/jvm/java-1.7.0-openjdk-1.7.0.60-2.4.7.1.mga4.x86_64/jre/bin/pack200                                                                   
 slave unpack200: /usr/lib/jvm/java-1.7.0-openjdk-1.7.0.60-2.4.7.1.mga4.x86_64/jre/bin/unpack200                                                               
 slave java.1.xz: /usr/share/man/man1/java-java-1.7.0-openjdk-1.7.0.60-2.4.7.1.mga4.x86_64.1.xz                                                                 
 slave tnameserv: /usr/lib/jvm/java-1.7.0-openjdk-1.7.0.60-2.4.7.1.mga4.x86_64/jre/bin/tnameserv
 slave jre: /usr/lib/jvm/java-1.7.0-openjdk-1.7.0.60-2.4.7.1.mga4.x86_64/jre
 slave orbd: /usr/lib/jvm/java-1.7.0-openjdk-1.7.0.60-2.4.7.1.mga4.x86_64/jre/bin/orbd
 slave jre_exports: /usr/lib/jvm-exports/java-1.7.0-openjdk-1.7.0.60-2.4.7.1.mga4.x86_64
 slave rmiregistry.1.xz: /usr/share/man/man1/rmiregistry-java-1.7.0-openjdk-1.7.0.60-2.4.7.1.mga4.x86_64.1.xz
 slave tnameserv.1.xz: /usr/share/man/man1/tnameserv-java-1.7.0-openjdk-1.7.0.60-2.4.7.1.mga4.x86_64.1.xz
 slave keytool.1.xz: /usr/share/man/man1/keytool-java-1.7.0-openjdk-1.7.0.60-2.4.7.1.mga4.x86_64.1.xz
 slave unpack200.1.xz: /usr/share/man/man1/unpack200-java-1.7.0-openjdk-1.7.0.60-2.4.7.1.mga4.x86_64.1.xz
 slave keytool: /usr/lib/jvm/java-1.7.0-openjdk-1.7.0.60-2.4.7.1.mga4.x86_64/jre/bin/keytool
 slave rmid: /usr/lib/jvm/java-1.7.0-openjdk-1.7.0.60-2.4.7.1.mga4.x86_64/jre/bin/rmid
 slave pack200.1.xz: /usr/share/man/man1/pack200-java-1.7.0-openjdk-1.7.0.60-2.4.7.1.mga4.x86_64.1.xz
 slave servertool.1.xz: /usr/share/man/man1/servertool-java-1.7.0-openjdk-1.7.0.60-2.4.7.1.mga4.x86_64.1.xz
 slave orbd.1.xz: /usr/share/man/man1/orbd-java-1.7.0-openjdk-1.7.0.60-2.4.7.1.mga4.x86_64.1.xz
 slave rmiregistry: /usr/lib/jvm/java-1.7.0-openjdk-1.7.0.60-2.4.7.1.mga4.x86_64/jre/bin/rmiregistry

Current `best' version is /usr/lib/jvm/java-1.7.0-openjdk-1.7.0.60-2.4.7.1.mga4.x86_64/jre/bin/java.
[root@localhost cavoy]#


Since the current best version is same as mine, I have not really added anything yet.

[elmago]

Well, I ran out of options.

1. The jre I have is the one that should not cause problem
2. I disabled H/W Acceleration in LibreWriter (Options-> View), rebooted and it made no difference.
3. Do not have any nVidia card (all PCs I can get to have AMD) otherwise I would have tried that too.

Thanks for your help so far.

[ozky]

Weird problem i don't have any issues with libreoffice painting with intel hd 3000.