Opening File Problem - File not suitable for Filter

[Merlinski]

... just seen acorns post

it is possible there is some corruption in the way XAR files are saved I suppose... but if they open ok, normally, very unlikely - I take it they work fine on another computer/setup ?

It's all very strange, there's no commonality between ALL the computers over the years in terms of hardware or even software.

In terms of the individual xar files Im trying to open, it's ANY and ALL xar files, all of which open fine after a reboot of xara.

I don't use templates outside of the standard ones, but again, it's any xar file, anything at all, even a blank document. Something fundamentally changes.

I hate to say it, but after seeing this over so many years especially I still think it's something in the software.

Just to give some insight, I'm also IT profession, so although I don't know everything (nobody knows everything at all times) I'm not the sort to come up with whacky conclusions from a place of non understanding.

[Merlinski]

Edited below

[Merlinski]

Chris, I fairly regularly get this. As Acorn suggests above I just drag the file into the top toolbar which normally works fine for me. I don't know why the file won't open directly.

Hi Egg, can you tell me what happens when you get this? Do you get the same messages I get for example?

[Egg Bramhill]

Hi Merlinski, I generally get one or other of the messages you get. The can't open or the png message.

[Merlinski]

Hi Merlinski, I generally get one or other of the messages you get. The can't open or the png message.

Oh I see, and when this happens is it a xar file that's broken or is it that all and any xar files won't open until you restart Xara? Cheers.

[handrawn]

Oh I see, and when this happens is it a xar file that's broken or is it that all and any xar files won't open until you restart Xara? Cheers.

I think it is significant that dragging to the top of the program window to open works, when double clicking in windows does not

thats why I think it is not a XAR file corruption - xara recognises it when presented directly, but windows/file explorer is where the issue lies...

[Egg Bramhill]

No, as HD points out if it won't open via a double click and presents an error message my usual course of action is to drop & drag the file to the top of the Xara page whereby it normally opens without issue, as stated in post #6

[Merlinski]

No, as HD points out if it won't open via a double click and presents an error message my usual course of action is to drop & drag the file to the top of the Xara page whereby it normally opens without issue, as stated in post #6

Sorry I had to clarify because later as stated in post number whatever, I was confused by "as only you are having this problem" after previously stating in post number whatever that you slso have this problem. Because I can now go back to Xara and say here's another user who has same issue.

I need to be able to execute from the desktop regularly, not dragging and drop as a work around, and consistently unfortunately.

Nevermind, this thread has reached it's conclusion.

I just want to say, without offence to anyone in particular, that help and suggestions are always welcome, but sometimes help comes across with an air of 'you don't know what you are doing' or 'clearly the problem is you and your understanding'. Or incorrectly conclusive comments from a lofty position. However accidental. I do appreciate input though. Working with this software and it's predecessors daily since the RISC OS days is fair to say I've been about a bit and lived and breathed Xara. I love it. Thanks for contributing.

[handrawn]

I think it was egg who first said only you had the problem in post #17

and it is only you having the problem in the sense that egg can use an alternative routine, and you cannot [and you have not been that explicit about what it is that you do]

xara may come back and say there is a xara issue; they may come back and say no, in certain circumstances due to the way windows works, you have to do it 'egg's way'; whatever

but everyone here gives their time for free and are trying to help, never loose sight of that

[Egg Bramhill]

Here's an update.

I downloaded this months scribble contest xar from Rik's post.
https://www.talkgraphics.com/showthr...-February-2025
It had previously opened the file.
I required the scribble shape again and on downloading afresh and it was renamed in the downloads folder as "L&L Scribble February 2025(1).xar"

On trying to open it I got the following error message:

However, drag and dropping onto the title bar opens it fine. No idea why and it's not consistent from what I can make out. Just an odd occasional bug on my machine.