GitHub Desktop: "This file is empty"

Question

The file naaclhlt2016.tex is not empty on the client or in the repository, however GitHub Desktop displays "This file is empty". What could explain this?

The file naaclhlt2016.tex is present on GitHub repository:

git status:

It creates conflict when I try to sync:

Answer 1

After discussion, if the change of the tex file is only in term of metadata (and not actual file content change, after a latex recompilation), the GitHub Desktop might be unable to display any change.

Since it detects no change even though the git status list this file, it falls back to a "this file is empty" message.

Answer 2

In addition to the @VonC response.

To dissmiss this alert

Git desktop

1. unselect all changed files

2. select only the "this file is empty" files

3. try to commit

4. Git will display a commit error, saying that you can't do that. After closing the modal, Git should delete the files from the changes list.