Firejail prevents opening more than 1 Libreoffice instance

WildCat · 2021-10-18 16:25:21

Hello,

I am on Arch 5.14.8-arch1-1
I am running PCManFM 1.3.2 on LXDE
I have LibreOffice 7.2.1.2

[Edited post 22.10.21]

If I double click a libreoffice-readable file (for any app - Writer, Calc, whatever) in the PCManFM browser or lauch via commandline, it opens up Libreoffice and opens the file - no problem.
If, while the first file is open, I try to double-click another libreoffice-readable file (or load via the commandline), this time the 'busy' mouse pointer spins around for a while but eventually stops and nothing happens (the file isn't opened).
Both files are each readable / loadable by double click on their own if Libreoffice is not already runing - the point is it won't work if an instance of Libreofice is already running.
It is not restricted to specific files - the same behaviour occurs for all LO-readable files.
With some help from forum member Dakota (below) I figured out this was due to a Firejail error but I can't decipher it.

This behaviour happened a few months ago but seemed to 'fix itself' after an Syyu update - I could load any number of files by double click at any time. Now (noticed after another Syyu update) the problem has returned.

Anyone else have this issue and know how to fix it (apart from waiting for another update and hoping for the best or regressing to an older version)?

Thanks.

Last edited by WildCat (2021-10-22 09:48:03)

dakota · 2021-10-19 01:02:35

Hello WildCat,

1. You should update using -Syu, not -Syyu
2. I believe the current version of LibreOffice is 7.2.2-1 and Arch is 5.14.12-Arch1-1. So you should update now.
3. If that does not fix the problem, try launching libreoffice from the command line and report any error messages.

Cheers,

WildCat · 2021-10-19 11:28:38

Thanks for your help. I did the Syu update but the same problem persists.
So I loaded an odt document by double-click (now LibrfeOffice is running with that document open).
Trying to load another document by double click failed. So I opened a terminal and tried to load a second document ('Slides.odp') like this:

[wildcat@archlinux ~]$ uname -r
5.14.12-arch1-1
[wildcat@archlinux ~]$ cd /home/wildcat/Slides
[wildcat@archlinux Slides]$ libreoffice ./Slides.odp
Reading profile /etc/firejail/libreoffice.profile
Reading profile /etc/firejail/allow-java.inc
Reading profile /etc/firejail/disable-common.inc
Reading profile /etc/firejail/disable-devel.inc
Reading profile /etc/firejail/disable-exec.inc
Reading profile /etc/firejail/disable-passwdmgr.inc
Reading profile /etc/firejail/disable-programs.inc
Reading profile /etc/firejail/whitelist-var-common.inc
Switching to pid 790, the first child process inside the sandbox
Error: cannot read /proc file
[wildcat@archlinux Slides]$

So it seems to be something to do with my firejail sandbox stopping a second instance being launched by double click or command line - but it did work before this problem started so not sure what has changed. I can load the second file OK if I do it from the already open libreoffice GUI - and both documents will be open simultaneously - but I can't do it via double-click in the filebrowser or via the commandline (as shown). If this were a simple permissions thing then it shouldn't have let me open the first file by double-click. Any suggestions how to proceed? I am not clear as to what file in /proc the error message is referring to.

dakota · 2021-10-20 01:22:58

I'm in over my head... but I'm curious what the command line shows if you try to start the first instance from the command line also.

Will it try to read /proc?

Cheers,

WildCat · 2021-10-20 10:03:32

Thanks anyway - you have helped me figure out this is probably something to do with firejail which is a start. Perhaps someone else reading this thread may have some ideas so I will continue.
I tried to load the file initial file from the command line and it works fine. Then I tried to load another file (while the first instance of libreoffice was running) and it failed with the same error as described above.
When loading the initial file (which works) from the command line I get this:

[wildcat@archlinux Slides]$ libreoffice ./Slides.odp
Reading profile /etc/firejail/libreoffice.profile
Reading profile /etc/firejail/allow-java.inc
Reading profile /etc/firejail/disable-common.inc
Reading profile /etc/firejail/disable-devel.inc
Reading profile /etc/firejail/disable-exec.inc
Reading profile /etc/firejail/disable-passwdmgr.inc
Reading profile /etc/firejail/disable-programs.inc
Reading profile /etc/firejail/whitelist-var-common.inc
Parent pid 3224, child pid 3225
Warning: An abstract unix socket for session D-BUS might still be available. Use --net or remove unix from --protocol set.
Warning: /sbin directory link was not blacklisted
Warning: /usr/sbin directory link was not blacklisted
Warning: not remounting /run/user/1000/gvfs
Blacklist violations are logged to syslog
Child process initialized in 106.68 ms

(soffice:39): dbind-WARNING **: 10:42:24.500: Couldn't connect to accessibility bus: Failed to connect to socket /tmp/dbus-4MgrrOVuf0: No such file or directory

My understanding is that the blacklist errors are irrelevant on Arch as per this post on github . Not sure if the unix socket and soffice warnings are relevant.
Note: It doesn't matter which file I load first or second - the first one (whichever it is) loads just fine and libreoffice starts up. What this excercise has added is that this problem is not specific to PCManFM or double-click activation via the GUI. The same problem exists from the commandline.
I suspect I need to somehow reconfigure firejail so I will look into that. If anyone has any specific suggestions in the meantime please add your post.

dakota · 2021-10-20 12:10:00

A couple more suggestions...

1. You might play around to see if this problem is limited to LibreOffice... or if all applications are restricted to one instance inside your FireJail.
2. After that, you might change your thread title to include the word FireJail. (It might attract some FireJail experts...)

Cheers,

Last edited by dakota (2021-10-21 12:49:38)

WildCat · 2021-10-21 08:38:48

You are right - but I can't figure out how to change the title! Perhaps I should start a new thread with the benefit of the knowledge I gained here.

dakota · 2021-10-21 12:49:07

WildCat wrote:

You are right - but I can't figure out how to change the title! Perhaps I should start a new thread with the benefit of the knowledge I gained here.

Edit your first post. (You'll see an "Edit" button to the bottom-right of the post).
Then, above the message window, you'll see a field for the title. Edit, then submit.

Cheers,

Last edited by dakota (2021-10-21 12:50:21)

Arch Linux

#1 2021-10-18 16:25:21

Firejail prevents opening more than 1 Libreoffice instance

#2 2021-10-19 01:02:35

Re: Firejail prevents opening more than 1 Libreoffice instance

#3 2021-10-19 11:28:38

Re: Firejail prevents opening more than 1 Libreoffice instance

#4 2021-10-20 01:22:58

Re: Firejail prevents opening more than 1 Libreoffice instance

#5 2021-10-20 10:03:32

Re: Firejail prevents opening more than 1 Libreoffice instance

#6 2021-10-20 12:10:00

Re: Firejail prevents opening more than 1 Libreoffice instance

#7 2021-10-21 08:38:48

Re: Firejail prevents opening more than 1 Libreoffice instance

#8 2021-10-21 12:49:07

Re: Firejail prevents opening more than 1 Libreoffice instance

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