Scribus not responding

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Kleo

I have suddenly had significant issues with Scribus having used the programme for several years. I am using version 1.6.2 and trying to work on a new document but I have been unable to progress at all. The initial page installs but if I click on OK then the programme does not respond and refuses to go further. I have tried many times!
I tried to install 1.6.4 but that was not much better. In this version of the programme I got as far as inserting a shape to give a background colour to my work when the programme would not respond.
I have gone back to an old file and tried to change that and it seems a bit more responsive but I would prefer to start from fresh - undoing takes a long time and should be unnecessary. Unless, of course, Scribus no longer allows new documents! It would also be nice to think that I could upgrade to 1.6.4 but clearly that version does not work on my computer.
I am using Windows 11. Can anyone help? How do I get Scribus to respond with a new document?
Thanks
Kleo

a.l.e

Hi Kleo

which version were you using before 1.6.2?

how many pages are in your documents?
are there long chains of text?
lot of images?

would you mind uploading one of the affected .sla files somewhere and share the link for the download in this forum or in private messages?

Kleo

Hi!
I uploaded 1.6.2 some time ago - I don't recall when. I was certainly working with it in March 2025, but without seeing when 1.6.2 was introduced I could not say because a lot of my old files have been updated. The programme just doesn't run. I have updated to 1.6.4 and that doesn't run either.
There are no pages in my document - I am trying to open a new document and I can't get past the initial set-up page. The programme crashes every time I try to use it. I am just not able to start a new document.

So no text, no pictures - absolutely nothing!

There is no point in trying to upload anything - the programme crashes so I have nothing to show! I cannot make this any clearer.

Thanks

Kleo

a.l.e

You can try to let Scribus recreate its settings by renaming them:

- Stop Scribus if it is running
- Rename the Scribus folder in C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Roaming\Scribus to something like Scribus-backup
- Start Scribus
- Try to open your documents.

If that does not work, would you mind sharing one of your files?

AdmFubar

Given that the config file can get corrupted (and it seems to be a somewhat common occurrence), are there an option to start scribus to bypass the current config and start with a new config file? Something temporary to check if it is an issue. that way users wont have to go through the file gymnastics to rename the old one.
Using Scribus1.6.1, 1.7.0 openSUSE 15.6
Advanced hobbyist

a.l.e

Theoretically a good idea.

In practice, it depends on how fast Scribus starts reading the preferences...

a.l.e

I gave it a try: on my machine it takes about a second to get there.

The whole start takes slightly more than two seconds on my machine.

For Scribus, pressing a key doing start does not seem to be a good solution.
(Users would have a hard time to press the key before Scribus has already started to read the prefs)


Adding a command line argument would be easy to program and would work reliably.
But most users don't have a clue, how to start an GUI program from the command line.
(And those who know, mostly also can rename the settings folder, when told to do so.)

I guess that the best would be to add a button in the preferences, to restore the preferences to the default (possibly by with also a way to backup the current ones and "download" them into a zip file that one could put in the bug tracker or use for restoring the settings / move the settings to a different computer).
The button for resetting is probably easy to implement.
Exporting the settings in a zip is probably also pretty easy.
Importing from the zip file is probably a bit more tricky.

MrB

There's a defaults button in preferences already.


As for the app issue. This is more than likely an error with the drive or file system.

AdmFubar

Quote from: a.l.e on September 18, 2025, 08:01:22 PMI gave it a try: on my machine it takes about a second to get there.

The whole start takes slightly more than two seconds on my machine.

For Scribus, pressing a key doing start does not seem to be a good solution.
(Users would have a hard time to press the key before Scribus has already started to read the prefs)

I never said anything about button, just an option. ;)

Now i'm wondering if any update recent updates from m$ may have adjusted some security features. and if scribus wasnt installed via windows "app" store it isnt considering it trusted code and wont let it access any files.
Using Scribus1.6.1, 1.7.0 openSUSE 15.6
Advanced hobbyist

a.l.e

@MrB does the "Default" button also reset the position of the windows and palettes?