WollMux Troubleshooting: Fix Common Template and Printing Issues
Quick checklist (start here)
- WollMux version: Ensure WollMux and LibreOffice/OpenOffice are compatible and up to date.
- Template location: Confirm templates (.ott/.odt) are stored in the configured WollMux template folder and accessible by the user.
- Permissions: Verify file and folder permissions allow read access for the user and the application.
- Template naming: Avoid special characters or leading/trailing spaces in template filenames.
- Backup: Make a copy of working templates before editing.
Common problems and fixes
1. Templates not appearing in the menu
- Check WollMux configuration file (wollmux.cfg): ensure the template directory path is correct and uses absolute paths.
- Restart LibreOffice/OpenOffice after changing wollmux.cfg.
- Verify the template folder contains valid .ott/.odt files (open one directly in LibreOffice to confirm).
- If using network storage, test with a local copy to rule out network latency or mount issues.
2. Template fields not populating (mail merge/variables)
- Confirm field names in the template match the keys provided by WollMux (case-sensitive).
- Ensure the data source (CSV, LDAP, database) is reachable and configured in wollmux.cfg.
- For CSV: check delimiter, encoding (use UTF-8), and header row exactness.
- Run WollMux in verbose/log mode to see variable resolution errors (enable logging in wollmux.cfg).
3. Macros or scripts in templates fail
- Check LibreOffice macro security settings: set to a level that allows WollMux macros to run or sign macros.
- Ensure WollMux’s scripting interface is enabled in the application.
- Look for Java or UNO bridge errors in the LibreOffice log (sometimes Java runtime mismatch causes failures).
4. Printing produces blank pages or incorrect layout
- Verify page styles and printer settings in the template: use LibreOffice’s Page Styles (not manual page breaks) for consistent output.
- Test printing outside WollMux to confirm printer driver works.
- If printing to PDF produces different results, compare PDF export settings and embed fonts if needed.
- For duplex or tray issues, check printer driver options and set them explicitly in the print dialog.
5. Performance issues (slow opening or merging)
- Large data sources: filter or paginate input, or pre-generate smaller batches.
- Complex templates: simplify nested fields or heavy macros.
- Network templates/data: copy locally and test to isolate network latency.
How to collect useful error info
- Enable WollMux logging in wollmux.cfg and collect logs.
- Include LibreOffice logs (stderr/stdout) and Java console output if applicable.
- Note exact steps to reproduce, template file, sample data (anonymized), WollMux and LibreOffice versions, OS, and printer model.
Quick recovery steps
- Revert to a known-good template copy.
- Disable recent macros/changes and retest.
- Move templates locally and reconfigure path.
- Reinstall WollMux if configuration seems corrupted.
When to seek help
- Provide logs and a minimal reproducible example (template + sample data).
- Ask for versions, OS, and whether templates are local or on a network share.
If you want, I can:
- suggest exact wollmux.cfg settings for your setup, or
- review a small template or log excerpt (paste it here) and point out likely causes.
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