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Jillian Barnes
Known Participant
November 5, 2016
Question

IDML file won't open

  • November 5, 2016
  • 1 reply
  • 8333 views

Hi, I've exported an INDD file to IDML (because I'm having lots of issues exporting the INDD file to PDF... and it's suggested that the INDD file be converted to IDML and then back to INDD to help with the PDF issues). Anyway, I am able to export the file the IDML just fine, but when I attempt to open the file I get the Mac colourful circle of death and the file doesn't open. I've feel like I've waited a good long time but it just won't open. The Activity monitor indicates that Indesign is not responding. Is there anything else I can do to get the IDML file to open? I'm using Indesign CC 2015 and macbook pro 10.11.6 El Capitan.

Thanks

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    1 reply

    Willi Adelberger
    Community Expert
    Willi AdelbergerCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    November 5, 2016
    1. Can you upgrade to CC 2017 and try it with the current version?
    2. If not, can you update to the latest version of CC 2015?
    3. Did you try to delete preferences?
    4. Are you working on the server or local?
    5. Can you open the original file again and create a package for print and include IDML, move the whole package to the local drive and open the IDML from there?
    J
    Jillian BarnesAuthor
    Known Participant
    November 5, 2016

    Apparently I just had to wait about 45 minutes for the file to open. I guess i figured it would open in the first 0-5 minutes but that ball kept spinning and I left it for a while and it finally opened. Thanks for your help.

    Peter Spier
    Community Expert
    Peter SpierCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    November 5, 2016

    It should have opened right away. The only time I've seen behavior like this is when there were a lot of pasted vector objects, but pasted or embedded rasters would probably do it too. Do you have a lot of imagery that is not linked, but is pasted or embedded? If so you should fix that. It's likely to cause file corruption down the road.

    Trouble exporting to PDF can be an indication of a bad image or a text problem, too. See Adobe Community: File Crashing on Output - printing/PDF/other  for troubleshooting tips.

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