Mystery invisible file

[MacBH928]

So I have an invisible file that was in my DropBox that says something like this:
.~lock.(File Name).xlsx#

What is it and should I delete it?

 

[hobowankenobi]

Typically any file that starts with a ~ is a temp file automatically created...usually as part of the auto save process. I'm sure they are invisible so they don't bother users, and users don't bother them.

Very common for Adobe and others.

You can delete it, but if the originating file (File Name) is there and in use, another one will be generated. Might as well leave it be, unless the original file is long gone.

 

[Beachguy]

It's a temp file for an open Excel file, and it locks the spreadsheet from updating by others. If the spreadsheet has been closed, you can delete it.

 

[MacBH928]

Typically any file that starts with a ~ is a temp file automatically created...usually as part of the auto save process. I'm sure they are invisible so they don't bother users, and users don't bother them.

Very common for Adobe and others.

You can delete it, but if the originating file (File Name) is there and in use, another one will be generated. Might as well leave it be, unless the original file is long gone.

thank you, the original file name is non-existing probably deleted, and this file creation date is from 2014. So why is it still there if its a temp file?

btw, aren't files that start with ~ invisibile files? Thats how the library directory starts ~/library

 

[hobowankenobi]

anything that starts with a . is invisible.

Hard to say why it is still there, likely just a glitch or file system issue.