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Participating Frequently
September 1, 2024
Question

Indesign files open (or become) write protected

  • September 1, 2024
  • 2 replies
  • 1350 views

When opening Indesign files on a (smb) file share the files become or open write protected. The idlk file is generated in the directory and then disappears (closed).
The only way to save the files is „save as...“ with a different file name. That's not acceptable if you work as a on large projects.

We exprience the same behaviour on all Macs accessing files on a Windows share using smb for a long time. Files open write protected. There were several updates on Indesign and MacOS but the problem is still there.
We checked all permissions etc. on the file server, user permissions etc. Everything is fine. Changed from afp to smb - no difference. Tried smb-share on different OS. All the same.
I checked and tried everything I found on this problem but nothing solved the problem...

Is there a solution in the meantime?

This topic has been closed for replies.

2 replies

Robert at ID-Tasker
Legend
September 8, 2024
Participating Frequently
October 2, 2024

Hi, we did some testing on the network and server infrastructure. Everything ok. We tested the following:

The problem still exists. It can be reproduced with the following scenario and can probably be broken down to an Indesign problem: If you connect two Macs via network (in which they are the only participants) and configure one as a server (file sharing of a folder) and the other as a client with Indesign CC 2024, files in the shared folder open sporadically and “normally” or “read-only”. In case of repetitions, one and the same file is opened normally in some attempts and as read-only in other attempts. The behavior has been verified on several clients.
This minimal installation rules out the server, network and infrastructure problems mentioned so far from my point of view if this does not even work.
Other servers (Windows Server, Linux both via afp and smb) show the same behavior.
How can I contact support with this problem? Is there a possibility?
Any idea?

 

Robert at ID-Tasker
Legend
October 2, 2024

Unfortunately, it doesn't rule out server / network / infrastructure. 

 

What kind of a router / switch do you use to connect both Macs? 

 

What is the connection speed? 

 

Is there anyone else connected to the same switch / router? 

 

Robert at ID-Tasker
Legend
September 1, 2024

Your connection to the server is too slow - latency / lag is too high. 

 

InDesign is extremely sensitive to this and that's why it opens the file but as read-only. 

 

Participating Frequently
September 2, 2024

Many thanks for the tip. I recorded the response times via ping for a long time today. The response times are 0.4 ms on average without major deviations. The clients are connected with 1Gbit, the server (SSD storage) with 4 x 10Gbit.
The throughput is generally not slow (read/write up to 100 MB/s).
How can I find out if latency is the reason for the problem?

Robert at ID-Tasker
Legend
September 2, 2024

Can you somehow "shorten the distance" to the server? Connect more directly? 

 

You can have as many gigabits as you want - it's the "response time" that matters.

 

I don't know if 4ms is too slow for InDesign - but try to open the same INDD file saved to your local drive.