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How to open files created on latest version on the older versions of InDesign

Forum|Forum|6 years ago
May 21, 2019
4 replies
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I am edditing several large inddesign documents that are used by many different people.

I have just upgraded my Inddesign to the CC version 14.02.

The problem is we are not upgrading at the same time for different reasons - sometimes very good reasons like hardware compatibility.

Now nobody can open my files !

I thought maybe it was because they didn´t know how to use the "convert" option when they open so I installed the CC 13.0 version (the only old version I have access to in CC) on my computer to try for myself.

And they are right - none of the files can be converted and opened in version 13.0.

The conversion bar freezes at 33% and then say sorry can´t convert.

I realize the files are big (I have a max file size of 150 MB) They include several pages with placed images but we are talking basic desktop stuff that I could work with in CS2.

No large placed files or anything complicated.

And it is the same problem whether or not the links are embedded.

So they can´t open.

I can save to IDML, yes.

I can´t really use the files because the filesize increases to ten times as much so my files are know 1500 MB and its just too big to work with in our system (150 MB max).

Also it is my understanding that IDML is a format that is equivalent to a CS4 version and it seems very odd that you have to go all the way back to CS4 to communicate between CS 12 or 13 and CS 14.02.

Is there anybody who can help ?

At the moment the only option I can see is to ditch the CC version and return to CS6 - Using sooo many hours converting my files back via IDML.

{Renamed by MOD}

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jane-e

Community Expert

Hi Camilla,

It’s a long shot, but try this: look at the file size, then do a Save As and look at the file size again. This deletes temporary files that InDesign doesn’t need anymore. Then try again. As Uwe says, be sure you images are linked.

camillal71179647Author

Participating Frequently

Hi Jane

Thanks for your help.

This is a good tip in general - i didn´t know that.

My file size decreases by 10-15% so that is progress.

Kind regards,

camilla

Den tir. 21. maj 2019 kl. 23.31 skrev jane-e <forums_noreply@adobe.com>:

How to open files created on latest version on the older versions of
InDesign created by jane-e <https://forums.adobe.com/people/jane-e> in
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L

Laubender

Community Expert

camillal71179647 wrote
…The conversion bar freezes at 33% and then say sorry can´t convert.
…
I can save to IDML, yes.
I can´t really use the files because the filesize increases to ten times as much so my files are know 1500 MB and its just too big to work with in our system (150 MB max).
…

Hi Camilla,

some questions: You say that your conversion bar freezes.

How did you do the conversion?

Did you export your document to IDML and try to open the IDML file with InDesign CC 2018 version 13.0 ?

And while you try to open the IDML file the conversion bar freezes?

If so give InDesign more time doing the conversion.

At what point of your workflow did the filesize of your document increase?

After you embedded all your placed and linked images?

More here: Manage linked or embedded graphics in Adobe InDesign

With InDesign CC 2019 version 14.0.2:

First unembed all placed and embedded images to linked image files, do a Save As to a new document and then package the document using InDesign's Packaging For Print function. An IDML file will be written in that process.

More about this feature here: Package InDesign projects for printing & sharing |

Try to open the IDML file of that package with InDesign CC 2018 version 13 ( or below ).

Regards,
Uwe

camillal71179647Author

Participating Frequently

Hi Uwe

Thanks a lot for your answer.

I am sorry if I am not making myself very clear I will try to do it better.

The problem with the process bar is when I try to open CC2019 document in

CC2018.

There is the dialogue box that says "you are trying ti open a newer version

do you want to convert or cancel".

If I say convert it gives up at 33%. its the same result whether the files

are embedded or linked.

I tried this because it is one of the sollutions to the problem that adobe

recommend.

So this is not possible.

Next thing I tried was saving to IDML thinking I could distribute the IDML

file and everybody could read it.

This is when the filesize increases drastically - BUT I was using the

version with embedded links.

I just tried your suggestion using the linked version and the package

option and the filesize is much smaller.

It looks like the document is the same without any strange errors.

I need to communicate with CC2017.

I only have acces to CC2018 & CC2019 via my CC account. Do you know if it

is possible to ask adobe for access to CC2017 ?

If I can get the CC2017 version I can open my IDML file, save as CC2017,

embed my links again and distribute the file.

And do this about 20 times and going through 200 pages checking for

errors....

BUT I will have a sollution.

And I will never ever update again

Thanks a lot for your help

Kind regards,

camilla

Den tir. 21. maj 2019 kl. 22.56 skrev Laubender <forums_noreply@adobe.com>:

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Laubender

Community Expert

camillal71179647 wrote
… problem with the process bar is when I try to open CC2019 document in CC2018.

There is the dialogue box that says "you are trying ti open a newer version do you want to convert or cancel".
If I say convert it gives up at 33%. its the same result whether the files are embedded or linked.
I tried this because it is one of the sollutions to the problem that adobe recommend.

Hi Camilla,

what you experienced is a function that only works if you are online.

InDesign's automatic "Simple Saveback" service: Open InDesign documents in previous versions

What your InDesign CC 2018 and the service is doing ( my guess ):

1. Sends your document to an Adobe server in the cloud. Or exports your InDesign document to IDML in the cloud.

2. Opens the document or the IDML with the appropriate version of InDesign Server in the cloud.

3. Saves the IDML on the right InDesign Server version in the cloud to a document.

4. Presents the document as unsaved in your version of InDesign CC 2018

The exact details may be a bit different, but basically it's the same as if you save your InDesign CC 2019 document to IDML and open the IDML file to a new document with InDesign CC 2018.

Obviously something went wrong in the process. The service stalled, maybe because of bandwidth, maybe because the task is too complex, we will never know.

And obviously the same happens with the your approach doing something similar with your desktop versions of InDesign CC 2018 and CC 2019. So please try the method I suggested before and package your document where the images are placed and linked. Don't try this with embedded images.

Thanks,
Uwe

Srishti Bali

Legend

Hi Camilla,

Thanks for reaching out. As mentioned above, IDML is not CS4 version, it is an XML representation of an InDesign document or components. Please refer to this help article (Open InDesign files in previous versions ) for more details on how to open files created in a newer version of InDesign.

Let us know if you have any further questions.

Regards,

Srishti

camillal71179647Author

Participating Frequently

Hi Srishti

Thank you very much for your answer.

I had allready seen the article and It is were my misunderstanding started.

I assumed that when IDML files can be opened in CS4 they could not include

features from never versions and it seemed a long way to go back to

communicate between CC2017 & CC2019.

So what is the IDML ?

Can i expect to convert my documents without data loss ?

Kind regards

Camilla

Den tir. 21. maj 2019 kl. 20.31 skrev srishtib8795206 <

forums_noreply@adobe.com>:

Compatibility between Inddesign CC versions created by srishtib8795206
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T

Test Screen Name

Legend

No, IDML is not the "CS4 version". It's an interchange format which works entirely differently to a regular save.

You NEED to coordinate InDesign updating around the project. Many people keep multiple versions because of different project needs. Conversion to old formats is a desperate last resort, not always successful, and prone to reflow and layout changes, so it needs a careful check after any use; it isn't a way to do back and forth collaboration.

However, Adobe's recent changes to block old releases have thrown into question how to do this at all. But it doesn't change the awful fact that you all need the same version somehow.

camillal71179647Author

Participating Frequently

Hi Jonathan

Thanks a lot for your answer.

Wish i had asked you before updating !! Or that someone else had given me

the heads up.

Now I am in the mess and need a way out.

I need to communicate with the CC17 version.

The way I see it I have no other choice than saving the files as IDML open

them in CS6 (or possibly ask adobe for access to CC17) and save them in CS6

or CC17 .

Should I expect data loss and hours of going through 200 pages comparing

them to the PDF copy ?

Kind regards

Camilla

Den tir. 21. maj 2019 kl. 04.00 skrev JonathanArias <

forums_noreply@adobe.com>:

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L

Laubender

Community Expert

Hi Camilla,

you can directly open an IDML file with InDesign CC 2017.

No need to go to InDesign CS6 first. All InDesign versions from CS4 on can open IDML files.

What will be different is the amount of features that can be read from newer InDesign documents that were exported to IDML.

See my more detailed answer here: Re: heavy file size goes magicly light when saving to IDML file - why?

Regards,
Uwe

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