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DIane5FF520083867
Participant
August 3, 2021
Answered

Using CS4 InDesign files in new Creative Cloud

  • August 3, 2021
  • 2 replies
  • 1217 views

I have Adobe CS4 on an older computer which is probably going to fail at some point. I would like to subscribe to the Creative Cloud on my newer desktop and be able to use the files I created on the older system. Will the new Cloud convert the CS4 files to the new format, as a Legacy kind of thing?

This topic has been closed for replies.
Correct answer Laubender

Hi Diane,

before "killing" the old machine do two things from all of your InDesign CS4 documents:

 

[1] Export them to the IDML exchange format

[2] Export them to PDF/X-4 with no downsampling of images and no conversion of color

 

You can do this automatically in batch with a script by Peter Kahrel using InDesign CS4:

https://creativepro.com/files/kahrel/indesign/batch_convert.html

 

Note the option:

[ x ] Include subfolders

 

Why PDFs? If you open a CS4 document in a new version of InDesign there will be some changes in text reflow.

So you need the PDFs at hand to compare the results. Why IDML? Could be that there are slight corruptions in your old documents. IDML could sort this out. Not all, but some.

 

Regards,
Uwe Laubender

( ACP )

2 replies

L
Community Expert
LaubenderCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
Community Expert
August 3, 2021

Hi Diane,

before "killing" the old machine do two things from all of your InDesign CS4 documents:

 

[1] Export them to the IDML exchange format

[2] Export them to PDF/X-4 with no downsampling of images and no conversion of color

 

You can do this automatically in batch with a script by Peter Kahrel using InDesign CS4:

https://creativepro.com/files/kahrel/indesign/batch_convert.html

 

Note the option:

[ x ] Include subfolders

 

Why PDFs? If you open a CS4 document in a new version of InDesign there will be some changes in text reflow.

So you need the PDFs at hand to compare the results. Why IDML? Could be that there are slight corruptions in your old documents. IDML could sort this out. Not all, but some.

 

Regards,
Uwe Laubender

( ACP )

    Abambo
    Community Expert
    AbamboCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    August 3, 2021
    quote

    Why PDFs? If you open a CS4 document in a new version of InDesign there will be some changes in text reflow.

    So you need the PDFs at hand to compare the results.


    By @Laubender

    Many of my ancient documents, created with the now defunct Ventura publisher, can still be used (at least partially) because I have still the then current EPS exports. Mostly, I needed to recover process drawings and when the style is still working, I do not even need to change a dime. So, even the possibility to be able to place an “old” PDF in a new InDesign could help safe hours of work. Yes, you absolutely need those PDF Exports.

    ABAMBO | Hard- and Software Engineer | Photographer
    Derek Cross
    Community Expert
    Derek CrossCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    August 3, 2021

    You can get a free seven-day trial of InDesign CC so you can test the issue.

    (You download the application from the cloud and operate it on your computer in the normal way.)

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