diff --git a/apps/vectorcraft-web/src/web.rs b/apps/vectorcraft-web/src/web.rs
index 50028187..e4e3bbd7 100644
--- a/apps/vectorcraft-web/src/web.rs
+++ b/apps/vectorcraft-web/src/web.rs
@@ -434,11 +434,8 @@ fn services(inbox: Inbox, place_inbox: PlaceInbox, ctx: egui::Context, locks: Op
                 ctx.request_repaint();
             });
         })),
-        download: Some(Box::new(|name: &str, bytes: &[u8]| {
-            if let Err(e) = download(name, bytes) {
-                log::error!("download of {name} failed: {e}");
-            }
-        })),
+        // A download that couldn't be started fails the save or export it is for (#1693).
+        download: Some(Box::new(|name: &str, bytes: &[u8]| download(name, bytes).inspect_err(|e| log::error!("download of {name} failed: {e}")))),
         inbox: Some(inbox),
         recovery_store: Some(Arc::new(BrowserStore { locks })),
         // File → Print: the browser's print dialog.
@@ -517,7 +514,8 @@ fn download(path: &str, bytes: &[u8]) -> Result<(), String> {
     let revoke = wasm_bindgen::closure::Closure::once_into_js(move || {
         web_sys::Url::revoke_object_url(&url).ok();
     });
-    window.set_timeout_with_callback_and_timeout_and_arguments_0(revoke.unchecked_ref(), 10_000).map_err(js)?;
+    // The download has started: a timer that can't be set leaves the URL allocated, no more.
+    let _ = window.set_timeout_with_callback_and_timeout_and_arguments_0(revoke.unchecked_ref(), 10_000);
     Ok(())
 }
 
diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/src/dialogs/confirm.rs b/crates/ui-egui/src/dialogs/confirm.rs
index ba166874..555a1b83 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/src/dialogs/confirm.rs
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/src/dialogs/confirm.rs
@@ -41,10 +41,27 @@ pub const MESSAGE: &str = "message";
 
 pub(super) const MESSAGE_SPEC: DialogSpec = DialogSpec { ok: None, ..SPEC };
 
+/// Most messages kept for later while a dialog is open ([`tell`]).
+const MAX_WAITING: usize = 16;
+
 /// Tell the user `message` (with an optional `detail` line), both in the UI language, in a dialog
-/// they close.
+/// they close. While another dialog is open (the message comes from work in the background) it
+/// waits its turn instead of replacing it: neither what the user was doing there nor the message
+/// is lost.
 pub fn tell(app: &mut VectorcraftApp, message: &str, detail: &str) {
-    app.ui.dialog = Some(Dialog::new(MESSAGE, json!({"message": message, "detail": detail})));
+    let d = Dialog::new(MESSAGE, json!({"message": message, "detail": detail}));
+    if app.ui.dialog.is_none() {
+        app.ui.dialog = Some(d);
+    } else if app.ui.told.len() < MAX_WAITING && !app.ui.dialog.iter().chain(&app.ui.told).any(|t| t.kind == MESSAGE && t.fields == d.fields) {
+        app.ui.told.push(d);
+    }
+}
+
+/// Show the next message that waited for a dialog to close (each frame).
+pub(super) fn show_waiting(app: &mut VectorcraftApp) {
+    if app.ui.dialog.is_none() && !app.ui.told.is_empty() {
+        app.ui.dialog = Some(app.ui.told.remove(0));
+    }
 }
 
 /// Closes before running, so a dialog the command opens stays open.
diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/src/dialogs/mod.rs b/crates/ui-egui/src/dialogs/mod.rs
index 40d1ca19..5deb182a 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/src/dialogs/mod.rs
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/src/dialogs/mod.rs
@@ -366,6 +366,7 @@ pub(crate) fn settle(app: &mut VectorcraftApp) {
 pub fn show(app: &mut VectorcraftApp, ctx: &egui::Context) {
     about::show(app, ctx);
     settle(app);
+    confirm::show_waiting(app);
     // The kind of dialog shown last frame: a different one (or none) means this one just opened, and
     // its first field is to take the keyboard focus (`focus_id`, until a field takes it).
     let (shown_id, focus_id) = (egui::Id::new("dialog-shown"), egui::Id::new("dialog-focus-pending"));
diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/src/dialogs/save_options.rs b/crates/ui-egui/src/dialogs/save_options.rs
index 92958d8a..0d5b5a06 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/src/dialogs/save_options.rs
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/src/dialogs/save_options.rs
@@ -268,7 +268,10 @@ mod tests {
         let written = Written::default();
         let w = written.clone();
         let services = Services {
-            download: Some(Box::new(move |name: &str, b: &[u8]| w.borrow_mut().push((name.to_string(), b.to_vec())))),
+            download: Some(Box::new(move |name: &str, b: &[u8]| {
+                w.borrow_mut().push((name.to_string(), b.to_vec()));
+                Ok(())
+            })),
             ..Default::default()
         };
         (with_art(services), written)
diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/src/dialogs/tests_package.rs b/crates/ui-egui/src/dialogs/tests_package.rs
index f9607395..ecd26301 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/src/dialogs/tests_package.rs
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/src/dialogs/tests_package.rs
@@ -95,7 +95,10 @@ fn the_web_downloads_a_zip() {
     let mut app = saved(&dir);
     let got: Rc<RefCell<Vec<(String, usize)>>> = Rc::default();
     let g = got.clone();
-    app.services.download = Some(Box::new(move |name: &str, b: &[u8]| g.borrow_mut().push((name.to_string(), b.len()))));
+    app.services.download = Some(Box::new(move |name: &str, b: &[u8]| {
+        g.borrow_mut().push((name.to_string(), b.len()));
+        Ok(())
+    }));
     app.run("ui.packageDialog", json!({})).unwrap();
     assert!(!frame(&mut app).contains("Location:"), "no folder to choose");
     confirm(&mut app).unwrap();
@@ -124,7 +127,7 @@ fn fonts_left_out_of_the_package_are_named() {
     assert!(detail.contains(gone) && !detail.contains("Source Sans 3"), "{detail}");
     // The web's download says so too.
     app.ui.dialog = None;
-    app.services.download = Some(Box::new(|_: &str, _: &[u8]| {}));
+    app.services.download = Some(Box::new(|_: &str, _: &[u8]| Ok(())));
     app.run("ui.packageDialog", json!({})).unwrap();
     confirm(&mut app).unwrap();
     assert!(app.ui.status.contains(gone), "{}", app.ui.status);
diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/src/dialogs/tests_save_for_web.rs b/crates/ui-egui/src/dialogs/tests_save_for_web.rs
index 164087a9..b13d36f2 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/src/dialogs/tests_save_for_web.rs
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/src/dialogs/tests_save_for_web.rs
@@ -24,7 +24,10 @@ fn app(dir: &std::path::Path, web: bool) -> (VectorcraftApp, Log) {
         ..Default::default()
     };
     if web {
-        services.download = Some(Box::new(move |name: &str, b: &[u8]| l2.borrow_mut().push(format!("download {name} {}", b.len()))));
+        services.download = Some(Box::new(move |name: &str, b: &[u8]| {
+            l2.borrow_mut().push(format!("download {name} {}", b.len()));
+            Ok(())
+        }));
     }
     let mut app = VectorcraftApp::new(Session::new(), services);
     app.run("file.new", json!({"width": 60, "height": 40})).unwrap();
diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/src/dialogs/tests_screen_assets.rs b/crates/ui-egui/src/dialogs/tests_screen_assets.rs
index b052d165..9274b522 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/src/dialogs/tests_screen_assets.rs
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/src/dialogs/tests_screen_assets.rs
@@ -21,7 +21,10 @@ fn app(web: bool) -> (VectorcraftApp, Log, [u64; 2]) {
     let l = log.clone();
     let mut services = Services::default();
     if web {
-        services.download = Some(Box::new(move |name: &str, bytes: &[u8]| l.borrow_mut().push((name.to_string(), bytes.to_vec()))));
+        services.download = Some(Box::new(move |name: &str, bytes: &[u8]| {
+            l.borrow_mut().push((name.to_string(), bytes.to_vec()));
+            Ok(())
+        }));
     } else {
         services.reveal = Some(Box::new(move |path: &str| {
             l.borrow_mut().push((path.to_string(), vec![]));
diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/src/dialogs/tests_screens.rs b/crates/ui-egui/src/dialogs/tests_screens.rs
index 506001ab..4341415c 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/src/dialogs/tests_screens.rs
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/src/dialogs/tests_screens.rs
@@ -21,7 +21,10 @@ fn app(artboards: usize, web: bool) -> (VectorcraftApp, Log) {
     let l = log.clone();
     let mut services = Services::default();
     if web {
-        services.download = Some(Box::new(move |name: &str, bytes: &[u8]| l.borrow_mut().push((name.to_string(), bytes.to_vec()))));
+        services.download = Some(Box::new(move |name: &str, bytes: &[u8]| {
+            l.borrow_mut().push((name.to_string(), bytes.to_vec()));
+            Ok(())
+        }));
     } else {
         services.reveal = Some(Box::new(move |path: &str| {
             l.borrow_mut().push((path.to_string(), vec![]));
diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/cs.tsv b/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/cs.tsv
index 4b35d262..db12bd3a 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/cs.tsv
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/cs.tsv
@@ -3508,6 +3508,8 @@ effect	Regular	Pravidelný
 	Serif / Mincho	Patkové / mincho
 	Changes made since it was last saved will be lost.	Změny provedené od posledního uložení budou ztraceny.
 	Can't open “{name}”.	„{name}“ nelze otevřít.
+	Can't save “{name}”.	„{name}“ nelze uložit.
+	Can't export “{name}”.	„{name}“ nelze exportovat.
 	Downloaded {what}	Staženo: {what}
 	Exported {count} file(s) to {folder}	Exportováno souborů: {count} do {folder}
 	Exported {what}	Exportováno: {what}
diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/de.tsv b/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/de.tsv
index 51b06bad..cf7bb1be 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/de.tsv
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/de.tsv
@@ -754,6 +754,8 @@
 	Do Not Move	Nicht verschieben
 	Do you want to save the changes you made to “{name}”?	Möchten Sie die Änderungen an „{name}“ speichern?
 	Can't open “{name}”.	„{name}“ kann nicht geöffnet werden.
+	Can't save “{name}”.	„{name}“ kann nicht gespeichert werden.
+	Can't export “{name}”.	„{name}“ kann nicht exportiert werden.
 	Document	Dokument
 	Document Color Mode	Dokumentfarbmodus
 	Document Info	Dokumentinformationen
diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/es.tsv b/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/es.tsv
index c9dba867..b04fc1f2 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/es.tsv
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/es.tsv
@@ -768,6 +768,8 @@
 	Do Not Move	No mover
 	Do you want to save the changes you made to “{name}”?	¿Quieres guardar los cambios hechos en “{name}”?
 	Can't open “{name}”.	No se puede abrir «{name}».
+	Can't save “{name}”.	No se puede guardar «{name}».
+	Can't export “{name}”.	No se puede exportar «{name}».
 	Document	Documento
 	Document Color Mode	Modo de color del documento
 	Document Info	Información del documento
diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/fr.tsv b/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/fr.tsv
index cccd38e7..4176af3a 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/fr.tsv
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/fr.tsv
@@ -770,6 +770,8 @@
 	Do Not Move	Ne pas déplacer
 	Do you want to save the changes you made to “{name}”?	Voulez-vous enregistrer les modifications apportées à « {name} » ?
 	Can't open “{name}”.	Impossible d’ouvrir « {name} ».
+	Can't save “{name}”.	Impossible d’enregistrer « {name} ».
+	Can't export “{name}”.	Impossible d’exporter « {name} ».
 	Document	Document
 	Document Color Mode	Mode colorimétrique du document
 	Document Info	Informations sur le document
diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/hu.tsv b/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/hu.tsv
index 89d39aae..ec2e69fd 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/hu.tsv
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/hu.tsv
@@ -485,6 +485,8 @@
 	Calligraphic	Kalligrafikus
 	Calligraphic Brush Options	Kalligrafikus ecset beállításai
 	Can't open “{name}”.	Nem nyitható meg: „{name}”.
+	Can't save “{name}”.	Nem menthető: „{name}”.
+	Can't export “{name}”.	Nem exportálható: „{name}”.
 	Can't print these settings: see the Summary	Ezekkel a beállításokkal nem lehet nyomtatni: lásd az Összegzést
 	Cancel	Mégse
 	Cancel Key Object	Kulcsobjektum megszüntetése
diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/it.tsv b/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/it.tsv
index 494252d0..b414c815 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/it.tsv
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/it.tsv
@@ -768,6 +768,8 @@
 	Do Not Move	Non spostare
 	Do you want to save the changes you made to “{name}”?	Vuoi salvare le modifiche apportate a “{name}”?
 	Can't open “{name}”.	Impossibile aprire «{name}».
+	Can't save “{name}”.	Impossibile salvare «{name}».
+	Can't export “{name}”.	Impossibile esportare «{name}».
 	Document	Documento
 	Document Color Mode	Metodo colore documento
 	Document Info	Informazioni documento
diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/ja.tsv b/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/ja.tsv
index edb50b54..90b7b3c6 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/ja.tsv
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/ja.tsv
@@ -1223,6 +1223,8 @@
 	Divide Vertically Into	垂直方向に分割
 	Do you want to save the changes you made to “{name}”?	「{name}」への変更を保存しますか？
 	Can't open “{name}”.	「{name}」を開けません。
+	Can't save “{name}”.	「{name}」を保存できません。
+	Can't export “{name}”.	「{name}」を書き出せません。
 	Document	ドキュメント
 	Document Ink Options	ドキュメントのインキオプション
 	Document JSON	ドキュメント JSON
diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/ko.tsv b/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/ko.tsv
index 14070de7..02b1d58b 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/ko.tsv
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/ko.tsv
@@ -1218,6 +1218,8 @@
 	Divide Vertically Into	세로로 나누기
 	Do you want to save the changes you made to “{name}”?	“{name}”의 변경 내용을 저장하시겠습니까?
 	Can't open “{name}”.	“{name}”을(를) 열 수 없습니다.
+	Can't save “{name}”.	“{name}”을(를) 저장할 수 없습니다.
+	Can't export “{name}”.	“{name}”을(를) 내보낼 수 없습니다.
 	Document	문서
 	Document Ink Options	문서 잉크 옵션
 	Document JSON	문서 JSON
diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/pl.tsv b/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/pl.tsv
index 869e2a9b..c98e48a5 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/pl.tsv
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/pl.tsv
@@ -3391,6 +3391,8 @@ effect	Regular	Normalny
 	Serif / Mincho	Szeryfowe / mincho
 	Changes made since it was last saved will be lost.	Zmiany wprowadzone od ostatniego zapisu zostaną utracone.
 	Can't open “{name}”.	Nie można otworzyć „{name}”.
+	Can't save “{name}”.	Nie można zapisać „{name}”.
+	Can't export “{name}”.	Nie można wyeksportować „{name}”.
 	Downloaded {what}	Pobrano {what}
 	Exported {count} file(s) to {folder}	Wyeksportowane pliki do {folder}: {count}
 	Exported {what}	Wyeksportowano {what}
diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/pt-br.tsv b/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/pt-br.tsv
index e5b3e964..c39b61c7 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/pt-br.tsv
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/pt-br.tsv
@@ -692,6 +692,8 @@
 	Divide Vertically Into	Dividir Verticalmente Em
 	Do you want to save the changes you made to “{name}”?	Deseja salvar as alterações feitas em “{name}”?
 	Can't open “{name}”.	Não é possível abrir “{name}”.
+	Can't save “{name}”.	Não é possível salvar “{name}”.
+	Can't export “{name}”.	Não é possível exportar “{name}”.
 	Document	Documento
 	Document Color Mode	Modo de Cor do Documento
 	Document Info	Informações do Documento
diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/ru.tsv b/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/ru.tsv
index 1b92d00d..e4a9a39f 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/ru.tsv
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/ru.tsv
@@ -766,6 +766,8 @@
 	Do Not Move	Не перемещать
 	Do you want to save the changes you made to “{name}”?	Сохранить изменения, внесённые в «{name}»?
 	Can't open “{name}”.	Не удаётся открыть «{name}».
+	Can't save “{name}”.	Не удаётся сохранить «{name}».
+	Can't export “{name}”.	Не удаётся экспортировать «{name}».
 	Document	Документ
 	Document Color Mode	Цветовой режим документа
 	Document Info	Сведения о документе
diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/uk.tsv b/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/uk.tsv
index 91999762..268d1933 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/uk.tsv
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/uk.tsv
@@ -762,6 +762,8 @@
 	Do Not Move	Не переміщати
 	Do you want to save the changes you made to “{name}”?	Зберегти зміни, внесені до «{name}»?
 	Can't open “{name}”.	Не вдається відкрити «{name}».
+	Can't save “{name}”.	Не вдається зберегти «{name}».
+	Can't export “{name}”.	Не вдається експортувати «{name}».
 	Document	Документ
 	Document Color Mode	Колірний режим документа
 	Document Info	Відомості про документ
diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/vi.tsv b/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/vi.tsv
index 44dfae0a..63cf26f6 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/vi.tsv
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/vi.tsv
@@ -401,6 +401,8 @@
 	Calligraphic	Thư pháp
 	Calligraphic Brush Options	Tùy chọn cọ thư pháp
 	Can't open “{name}”.	Không thể mở “{name}”.
+	Can't save “{name}”.	Không thể lưu “{name}”.
+	Can't export “{name}”.	Không thể xuất “{name}”.
 	Can't print these settings: see the Summary	Không thể in các cài đặt này: xem Tóm tắt
 	Cancel	Hủy
 	Cancel Key Object	Hủy đối tượng chính
diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/zh-hans.tsv b/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/zh-hans.tsv
index 0ed1c633..6ac0c6a7 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/zh-hans.tsv
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/zh-hans.tsv
@@ -723,6 +723,8 @@
 	Do Not Move	不移动
 	Do you want to save the changes you made to “{name}”?	要存储对“{name}”所做的更改吗？
 	Can't open “{name}”.	无法打开“{name}”。
+	Can't save “{name}”.	无法保存“{name}”。
+	Can't export “{name}”.	无法导出“{name}”。
 	Document	文档
 	Document Color Mode	文档颜色模式
 	Document Info	文档信息
diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/zh-hant.tsv b/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/zh-hant.tsv
index 70e2d1a0..6b769b8a 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/zh-hant.tsv
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/zh-hant.tsv
@@ -741,6 +741,8 @@
 	Do Not Move	不移動
 	Do you want to save the changes you made to “{name}”?	要儲存對「{name}」所做的變更嗎？
 	Can't open “{name}”.	無法開啟「{name}」。
+	Can't save “{name}”.	無法儲存「{name}」。
+	Can't export “{name}”.	無法匯出「{name}」。
 	Document	文件
 	Document Color Mode	文件色彩模式
 	Document Info	文件資訊
diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/src/io.rs b/crates/ui-egui/src/io.rs
index 314462c3..d5dd5b5d 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/src/io.rs
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/src/io.rs
@@ -167,6 +167,29 @@ pub fn report_open_error(app: &mut VectorcraftApp, name: &str, e: &str) {
     dialogs::confirm::tell(app, &message, &crate::i18n::message(crate::i18n::current(), e));
 }
 
+/// A save or an export that didn't write `path`: say so in a dialog that names the file and the
+/// reason and stays until it is closed, as an editor does (#1685). The status bar's line, which
+/// the caller's error becomes, is replaced by the next message, and a document that wasn't saved
+/// must not look saved: it stays modified, and what was at `path` is as it was. Not for a request
+/// an agent sent and waits on: the error is its reply.
+pub(crate) fn report_write_error(app: &mut VectorcraftApp, export: bool, path: &str, e: &str) {
+    if app.ui.answering_control {
+        return;
+    }
+    let name = fileio::file_name(path);
+    let message = if export { tl!("Can't export “{name}”.") } else { tl!("Can't save “{name}”.") };
+    dialogs::confirm::tell(app, &crate::i18n::fmt(message, &[("name", &name)]), &crate::i18n::message(crate::i18n::current(), e));
+}
+
+/// [`write_to`], a failure reported ([`report_write_error`]).
+pub(crate) fn write_reporting(app: &mut VectorcraftApp, path: &str, bytes: &[u8]) -> Result<(), String> {
+    let r = write_to(&mut app.services, path, bytes);
+    if let Err(e) = &r {
+        report_write_error(app, false, path, e);
+    }
+    r
+}
+
 /// [`open_path`] for a file the user asked for, a failure reported ([`report_open_error`]). On
 /// the desktop a document is decoded off the UI thread ([`crate::opening`]): the result is then
 /// `{background: true, status}`, and the document opens in its tab (or the failure is reported)
@@ -239,8 +262,7 @@ pub fn new_from_template(app: &mut VectorcraftApp, path: Option<String>) -> Resu
 /// Web: download `bytes` under `path`'s file name; desktop: write them to `path`.
 pub(crate) fn write_to(services: &mut Services, path: &str, bytes: &[u8]) -> Result<(), String> {
     if let Some(dl) = services.download.as_mut() {
-        dl(&fileio::file_name(path), bytes);
-        return Ok(());
+        return dl(&fileio::file_name(path), bytes);
     }
     services.write.as_mut().ok_or("no file writer")?(path, bytes)
 }
@@ -260,7 +282,7 @@ pub(crate) fn write_named(app: &mut VectorcraftApp, path: Option<String>, name:
             pick_path(app, &FilePick { name: name.to_string(), folder, ..Default::default() })?
         }
     };
-    write_to(&mut app.services, &path, bytes)?;
+    write_reporting(app, &path, bytes)?;
     Ok(path)
 }
 
@@ -516,8 +538,10 @@ fn write_plan(app: &mut VectorcraftApp, plan: SavePlan) -> Result<Value, String>
         }
         .map_err(|e| e.to_string())
     };
+    let failed = target.clone().unwrap_or_default();
     let then = move |app: &mut VectorcraftApp, r: Result<Value, String>| {
-        let r = r?;
+        // Not written: the document keeps its file, format and modified state, and the user is told.
+        let r = r.inspect_err(|e| report_write_error(app, false, &failed, e))?;
         // The document may have closed meanwhile: the file is written all the same.
         done.complete(&mut app.session, uid);
         let path = r["path"].as_str().unwrap_or_default().to_string();
@@ -602,8 +626,9 @@ pub fn export(app: &mut VectorcraftApp, format: Option<&str>, path: Option<Strin
         Ok(out)
     };
     let enabled = app.session.prefs.background_export;
-    let mut r = background::run(app, enabled, label, None, work, |app, r| {
-        let r = r?;
+    let failed = target.clone();
+    let mut r = background::run(app, enabled, label, None, work, move |app, r| {
+        let r = r.inspect_err(|e| report_write_error(app, true, &failed, e))?;
         let what = match r["files"].as_array() {
             Some(files) => format!("{} files", files.len()),
             None => r["path"].as_str().unwrap_or_default().to_string(),
@@ -673,7 +698,7 @@ pub(crate) fn run_to_file(app: &mut VectorcraftApp, id: &str, ext: &str, mut par
         Some(p) => p,
         None => target_path(app, None, ext)?,
     };
-    write_to(&mut app.services, &path, &bytes)?;
+    write_reporting(app, &path, &bytes)?;
     Ok((path, v))
 }
 
@@ -768,7 +793,7 @@ pub(crate) fn export_files(app: &mut VectorcraftApp, id: &str, params: Value) ->
     } else if let Some(download) = app.services.download.as_mut() {
         for (name, data) in &returned {
             let bytes = vectorcraft_format::base64_decode(data).ok_or("the export returned unreadable data")?;
-            download(name, &bytes);
+            download(name, &bytes)?;
         }
         let what = match returned.as_slice() {
             [(name, _)] => (*name).to_string(),
@@ -830,6 +855,91 @@ mod tests {
         assert!(app.ui.dialog.is_none());
     }
 
+    /// #1685: a save or an export that can't write its file says so in a dialog that names the
+    /// file and the reason and stays until it is closed; the document stays modified and keeps
+    /// the file it had. An agent's request only gets the error, and a message that arrives while
+    /// another dialog is open waits for it to close.
+    #[test]
+    fn a_save_that_cannot_write_is_reported_in_a_dialog_that_stays() {
+        let refuse: crate::WriteFn = Box::new(|p: &str, _: &[u8]| Err(format!("{p}: Access is denied. (os error 5)")));
+        let mut app = VectorcraftApp::new(Session::new(), Services { write: Some(refuse), ..Default::default() });
+        app.run("file.new", json!({"width": 100, "height": 80})).unwrap();
+        app.run("shape.rectangle", json!({"x": 10, "y": 10, "width": 30, "height": 20})).unwrap();
+        let unsaved = |app: &VectorcraftApp| {
+            let st = app.session.doc().unwrap();
+            (st.is_dirty(), st.path.clone())
+        };
+        for (command, path, message) in [
+            ("file.save", "/docs/Poster.vectorcraft", "Can't save “Poster.vectorcraft”."),
+            ("file.saveAs", "/docs/Poster.vectorcraft", "Can't save “Poster.vectorcraft”."),
+            ("file.saveCopy", "/docs/Copy.vectorcraft", "Can't save “Copy.vectorcraft”."),
+            ("file.exportAs", "/docs/Poster.png", "Can't export “Poster.png”."),
+            ("file.export.pdf", "/docs/Poster.pdf", "Can't save “Poster.pdf”."),
+        ] {
+            let e = app.run(command, json!({"path": path})).unwrap_err();
+            assert!(e.contains("Access is denied"), "{command}: {e}");
+            let d = app.ui.dialog.take().unwrap_or_else(|| panic!("{command}: a dialog says so"));
+            assert_eq!((d.kind.as_str(), d.str("message").as_str()), (dialogs::confirm::MESSAGE, message), "{command}");
+            assert_eq!(d.str("detail"), format!("{path}: Access is denied. (os error 5)"), "{command}");
+            assert_eq!(unsaved(&app), (true, None), "{command}");
+        }
+        // An agent waiting on its request gets the error as its reply, and no dialog.
+        app.ui.answering_control = true;
+        assert!(app.run("file.save", json!({"path": "/docs/Poster.vectorcraft"})).is_err());
+        app.ui.answering_control = false;
+        assert!(app.ui.dialog.is_none() && app.ui.told.is_empty());
+        // Under another dialog (a background save that fails later) the message waits its turn,
+        // once, and is drawn when that dialog is closed.
+        dialogs::confirm::ask(&mut app, "Delete the swatch?", "", "edit.undo", json!({}));
+        for _ in 0..2 {
+            report_write_error(&mut app, false, "/docs/Poster.vectorcraft", "the disk is full");
+        }
+        assert_eq!((app.ui.dialog.as_ref().map(|d| d.kind.as_str()), app.ui.told.len()), (Some(dialogs::confirm::KIND), 1));
+        app.ui.dialog = None;
+        for _ in 0..2 {
+            let ctx = egui::Context::default();
+            crate::theme::install_fonts(&ctx);
+            let mut out = ctx.run_ui(egui::RawInput::default(), |ui| dialogs::show(&mut app, ui.ctx()));
+            out.textures_delta.clear();
+        }
+        let d = app.ui.dialog.as_ref().expect("the message is shown, and stays");
+        assert_eq!(
+            (d.kind.as_str(), d.str("message").as_str(), d.str("detail").as_str()),
+            (dialogs::confirm::MESSAGE, "Can't save “Poster.vectorcraft”.", "the disk is full")
+        );
+        assert!(app.ui.told.is_empty());
+    }
+
+    /// #1693: a browser download that can't be started is a failed save: the document stays
+    /// modified and without a file, and Save Changes doesn't close it.
+    #[test]
+    fn a_download_that_cannot_start_leaves_the_document_unsaved_and_open() {
+        let started = Rc::new(RefCell::new(false));
+        let ok = started.clone();
+        let download: crate::DownloadFn =
+            Box::new(move |_: &str, _: &[u8]| if *ok.borrow() { Ok(()) } else { Err("the browser refused the download".into()) });
+        let mut app = VectorcraftApp::new(Session::new(), Services { download: Some(download), ..Default::default() });
+        app.run("file.new", json!({"width": 100, "height": 80})).unwrap();
+        app.run("shape.rectangle", json!({"x": 10, "y": 10, "width": 30, "height": 20})).unwrap();
+        let unsaved = |app: &VectorcraftApp| {
+            let st = app.session.doc().unwrap();
+            (st.is_dirty(), st.path.clone())
+        };
+        let e = save(&mut app, SaveMode::Save, &json!({"path": "Poster.vectorcraft"}), false).unwrap_err();
+        assert!(e.contains("the browser refused the download"), "{e}");
+        assert_eq!(unsaved(&app), (true, None));
+        // Save Changes › Save: not saved, so not closed.
+        let (i, uid) = (app.session.active_index().unwrap(), app.session.doc().unwrap().uid);
+        app.ui.dialog = Some(crate::state::Dialog::new(crate::unsaved::KIND, json!({"index": i, "uid": uid, "name": "Poster", "then": "close"})));
+        app.session.doc_mut().unwrap().path = Some("Poster.vectorcraft".into());
+        assert!(crate::unsaved::confirm(&mut app).is_err());
+        assert_eq!((app.session.documents().len(), app.session.doc().unwrap().is_dirty()), (1, true));
+        // Once the download starts, the save counts.
+        *started.borrow_mut() = true;
+        save(&mut app, SaveMode::Save, &json!({}), false).unwrap();
+        assert!(!app.session.doc().unwrap().is_dirty());
+    }
+
     fn bytes_of(app: &mut VectorcraftApp, cmd: &str, p: Value) -> Vec<u8> {
         let v = app.session.execute(cmd, &p).unwrap();
         vectorcraft_format::base64_decode(v["dataBase64"].as_str().unwrap()).unwrap()
diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/src/lib.rs b/crates/ui-egui/src/lib.rs
index e3e953cc..012decbf 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/src/lib.rs
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/src/lib.rs
@@ -188,7 +188,9 @@ pub type PickSave = Box<dyn FnMut(&FilePick) -> Option<String>>;
 pub type ReadFn = Box<dyn Fn(&str) -> Result<Vec<u8>, String>>;
 pub type WriteFn = Box<dyn FnMut(&str, &[u8]) -> Result<(), String>>;
 pub type Inbox = Arc<Mutex<Vec<(String, Vec<u8>)>>>;
-pub type DownloadFn = Box<dyn FnMut(&str, &[u8])>;
+/// Starts a browser download of the bytes under a file name; an error when it couldn't be started
+/// (the save or export then fails as a refused write does: #1693).
+pub type DownloadFn = Box<dyn FnMut(&str, &[u8]) -> Result<(), String>>;
 
 /// Opens a URL in the system browser.
 pub type OpenUrlFn = Box<dyn FnMut(&str)>;
@@ -778,7 +780,10 @@ impl VectorcraftApp {
             let reply = req.reply.clone();
             // Guarded per request: a panic must not drop the channel (taken out of `self` above).
             let roots = self.automation_roots.clone();
-            let outcome = match file_access::confine(roots.as_ref(), || vectorcraft_engine::guard::catch_panic(|| control::handle(self, ctx, &req))) {
+            self.ui.answering_control = true;
+            let answer = file_access::confine(roots.as_ref(), || vectorcraft_engine::guard::catch_panic(|| control::handle(self, ctx, &req)));
+            self.ui.answering_control = false;
+            let outcome = match answer {
                 Ok(outcome) => outcome,
                 Err(msg) => {
                     self.picks.recover();
diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/src/opening.rs b/crates/ui-egui/src/opening.rs
index 99fb9c23..62f4ef08 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/src/opening.rs
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/src/opening.rs
@@ -68,8 +68,14 @@ pub fn start(app: &mut VectorcraftApp, path: &str, bytes: Vec<u8>) -> Result<Val
     Ok(json!({ "background": true, "status": status }))
 }
 
-/// Open the files that are ready (each frame).
+/// Open the files that are ready (each frame). Not while a dialog is open: a document that opens
+/// becomes the active one, and the dialog's OK acts on the active document (#1694: Save As
+/// options confirmed after another file had finished opening saved that file's art under the
+/// first one's name). The files wait, their status line too, until the dialog is closed.
 pub fn poll(app: &mut VectorcraftApp) {
+    if app.ui.dialog.is_some() {
+        return;
+    }
     let mut i = 0;
     while let Some(p) = app.opening.pending.get(i) {
         let r = match p.done.try_recv() {
@@ -108,6 +114,32 @@ mod tests {
     use super::*;
     use crate::Services;
 
+    /// #1694: a file that finishes opening while a dialog is up waits for it to close, so the
+    /// dialog's document stays the active one.
+    #[test]
+    fn a_file_ready_while_a_dialog_is_open_waits_for_it_to_close() {
+        let mut app = VectorcraftApp::new(Session::new(), Services::default());
+        app.run("file.new", json!({"width": 100, "height": 80})).unwrap();
+        let (first, before) = (app.session.doc().unwrap().uid, app.session.documents().len());
+        app.ui.dialog = Some(crate::state::Dialog::new(crate::dialogs::save_options::KIND, json!({"path": "/art/First.vectorcraft"})));
+        start(&mut app, "/art/Second.vectorcraft", vectorcraft_format::save(&vectorcraft_doc::Document::new(120.0, 80.0), false)).unwrap();
+        let t0 = std::time::Instant::now();
+        while t0.elapsed().as_millis() < 400 {
+            poll(&mut app);
+            std::thread::yield_now();
+        }
+        assert_eq!((app.session.documents().len(), app.session.doc().unwrap().uid), (before, first), "still the dialog's document");
+        assert_eq!(app.opening.pending.len(), 1);
+        app.ui.dialog = None;
+        let t0 = std::time::Instant::now();
+        while !app.opening.pending.is_empty() && t0.elapsed().as_secs() < 30 {
+            poll(&mut app);
+            std::thread::yield_now();
+        }
+        assert_eq!(app.session.documents().len(), before + 1);
+        assert_eq!(app.session.doc().unwrap().path.as_deref(), Some("/art/Second.vectorcraft"));
+    }
+
     #[test]
     fn a_file_read_off_the_ui_thread_opens_as_one_read_at_once() {
         let mut app = VectorcraftApp::new(Session::new(), Services::default());
diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/src/panels/library_panel.rs b/crates/ui-egui/src/panels/library_panel.rs
index dc2f1aab..00ca76fb 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/src/panels/library_panel.rs
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/src/panels/library_panel.rs
@@ -646,8 +646,13 @@ mod tests {
         // The web downloads the file under that name.
         let downloads = std::rc::Rc::new(std::cell::RefCell::new(vec![]));
         let dl = downloads.clone();
-        let services =
-            crate::Services { download: Some(Box::new(move |name: &str, _: &[u8]| dl.borrow_mut().push(name.to_string()))), ..Default::default() };
+        let services = crate::Services {
+            download: Some(Box::new(move |name: &str, _: &[u8]| {
+                dl.borrow_mut().push(name.to_string());
+                Ok(())
+            })),
+            ..Default::default()
+        };
         let mut web = VectorcraftApp::new(Session::new(), services);
         web.run("file.new", json!({"width": 100, "height": 100})).unwrap();
         web.run("ui.saveSwatchLibrary", json!({})).unwrap();
diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/src/panels/links.rs b/crates/ui-egui/src/panels/links.rs
index 5250c854..329d9d88 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/src/panels/links.rs
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/src/panels/links.rs
@@ -155,11 +155,12 @@ pub(crate) fn go_to(app: &mut VectorcraftApp, id: u64) {
 
 /// Write embedded image `id` to a picked file (the web downloads it) and link it there.
 pub(crate) fn unembed(app: &mut VectorcraftApp, id: u64, name: &str) {
-    if let Some(dl) = app.services.download.as_mut() {
+    if app.services.download.is_some() {
         if let Ok(v) = app.session.execute("links.unembed", &json!({ "id": id }))
             && let (Some(name), Some(bytes)) = (v["name"].as_str(), v["dataBase64"].as_str().and_then(vectorcraft_format::base64_decode))
         {
-            dl(name, &bytes);
+            // A download that can't start is said like any file that can't be written.
+            let _ = crate::io::write_reporting(app, name, &bytes);
         }
         return;
     }
diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/src/panels/tests_asset_export.rs b/crates/ui-egui/src/panels/tests_asset_export.rs
index 9b978e83..ace9b6cc 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/src/panels/tests_asset_export.rs
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/src/panels/tests_asset_export.rs
@@ -21,7 +21,10 @@ fn app(web: bool) -> (VectorcraftApp, Log, [u64; 2]) {
     let l = log.clone();
     let mut services = Services::default();
     if web {
-        services.download = Some(Box::new(move |name: &str, bytes: &[u8]| l.borrow_mut().push((name.to_string(), bytes.to_vec()))));
+        services.download = Some(Box::new(move |name: &str, bytes: &[u8]| {
+            l.borrow_mut().push((name.to_string(), bytes.to_vec()));
+            Ok(())
+        }));
     }
     let mut app = VectorcraftApp::new(Session::new(), services);
     app.run("file.new", json!({"width": 200, "height": 100})).unwrap();
diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/src/shortcut_editor.rs b/crates/ui-egui/src/shortcut_editor.rs
index 612f1370..7602867b 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/src/shortcut_editor.rs
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/src/shortcut_editor.rs
@@ -485,10 +485,7 @@ pub fn run_command(app: &mut VectorcraftApp, id: &str, p: &Value) -> Option<Resu
                 // Its save dialog is open: the file is written when it answers.
                 None if app.file_dialog_open() => Err("cancelled".into()),
                 None => match app.services.download.as_mut() {
-                    Some(dl) => {
-                        dl("VectorCraft Shortcuts.json", &bytes);
-                        Ok(Value::Null)
-                    }
+                    Some(dl) => dl("VectorCraft Shortcuts.json", &bytes).map(|()| Value::Null),
                     None => Ok(v),
                 },
             }
diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/src/state.rs b/crates/ui-egui/src/state.rs
index e4eb10a0..1fc6f089 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/src/state.rs
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/src/state.rs
@@ -306,6 +306,14 @@ pub struct UiState {
     pub dock: bool,
     pub view: ViewFlags,
     pub dialog: Option<Dialog>,
+    /// Messages to show in a dialog once the open one is closed (`dialogs::confirm::tell`), in
+    /// the order they came.
+    #[serde(skip)]
+    pub told: Vec<Dialog>,
+    /// A control request is being answered: its caller gets what fails as its reply, so no
+    /// dialog says it too (`io::report_write_error`).
+    #[serde(skip)]
+    pub answering_control: bool,
     /// Toolbar group whose flyout is open.
     pub flyout: Option<usize>,
     /// Last tool shown for each toolbar group (flyout selection sticks).
@@ -681,6 +689,8 @@ impl Default for UiState {
             dock: true,
             view: ViewFlags::default(),
             dialog: None,
+            told: vec![],
+            answering_control: false,
             flyout: None,
             group_tool: vectorcraft_tools::TOOL_GROUPS.iter().map(|g| g[0].id.to_string()).collect(),
             status: String::new(),
diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/src/tests_nativeoptions.rs b/crates/ui-egui/src/tests_nativeoptions.rs
index aec94be4..59b8c91d 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/src/tests_nativeoptions.rs
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/src/tests_nativeoptions.rs
@@ -86,7 +86,10 @@ fn the_web_save_as_dialog_shows_the_native_options() {
     let written = crate::tests_svg::Written::default();
     let w = written.clone();
     let services = crate::Services {
-        download: Some(Box::new(move |name: &str, b: &[u8]| w.borrow_mut().push((name.to_string(), b.to_vec())))),
+        download: Some(Box::new(move |name: &str, b: &[u8]| {
+            w.borrow_mut().push((name.to_string(), b.to_vec()));
+            Ok(())
+        })),
         ..Default::default()
     };
     let mut app = crate::VectorcraftApp::new(vectorcraft_engine::Session::new(), services);