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hare-in-moon
Known Participant
February 10, 2026
Answered

What does the "document conversion" after an InDesign upgrade do to my documents?

  • February 10, 2026
  • 4 replies
  • 99 views

After an INDD upgrade I am warned that “unconverted documents in <file.indb> will need to be converted when updating numbering or synchronising …” What does this conversion do? Is it likely to affect text flow around placed images, or create text box overflows? 

    Correct answer Peter Spier

    It could very well result in text reflow, (text composition engines change with each new version) and more insidiously it won’t necessarily happen right away, but only when you touch a text frame for editing, which means you might not see it.

    Personally, if you are deep into this project, I would recommend that you reinstall the older version (assuming it’s only one version back) if you deleted the old version on installation of the new one, and finish the project in the older version, which is probably more stable than the latest anyway.

    Most of the experienced users here will tell you, first of all, to turn OFF automatic updates and to leave old versions installed until you know for sure that you will never need them again.

    4 replies

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    Community Expert
    Eugene TysonCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    February 12, 2026

    The “conversion” itself doesn’t redesign the document, it updates the internal file format so the newer version of InDesign can interpret it. The important detail is that text composition data isn’t always recalculated immediately.

    In practice, layouts usually remain identical until something forces recomposition (editing text, updating numbering, syncing a book file, changing styles, etc.). If the newer version has small changes in the composition engine, hyphenation, or font handling, that’s when slight reflow can appear.

    This is why long-form publishing workflows tend to freeze InDesign versions during production not because conversion is unsafe, but because even tiny line-ending differences can cascade through a long document.

    A common safeguard is to keep a packaged copy or PDF of the approved version and run a quick preflight after conversion to check overset text or flagged issues before continuing work.

      Willi Adelberger
      Community Expert
      Willi AdelbergerCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      February 10, 2026

      New versions bring new features, Old functions are reproduced often with a different algorithm to make new functions compatible. If the text engine is improved text might reflow slightly different, but only if the text is edited.

      Converted documents cannot be opened from older InDesign versions.

        Peter Spier
        Community Expert
        Peter SpierCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
        Community Expert
        February 10, 2026

        It could very well result in text reflow, (text composition engines change with each new version) and more insidiously it won’t necessarily happen right away, but only when you touch a text frame for editing, which means you might not see it.

        Personally, if you are deep into this project, I would recommend that you reinstall the older version (assuming it’s only one version back) if you deleted the old version on installation of the new one, and finish the project in the older version, which is probably more stable than the latest anyway.

        Most of the experienced users here will tell you, first of all, to turn OFF automatic updates and to leave old versions installed until you know for sure that you will never need them again.

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          hare-in-moonAuthor
          Known Participant
          February 11, 2026

          Thank you for your advice, genuinely -- I’ve never allowed auto-updates on anything I actually need for precisely this reason.

          The project is an annual academic journal I’ve been typesetting (first in Quark, then InDesign) for at least 20 years. I saw the warning splash screen when I opened up the 2025 .indb to review my notes for design changes for 2026 and it occurred to me that I have no idea what that ‘conversion’ entailed and what it might do to existing documents; my guess was that it might alter flow although I hadn’t realised it might not affect things until I touched the frames. I’m running Indd2026 now so that should see the current volume to press in September.

          I can still open the articles from 20-odd years ago; when I’m bored I could do that and try to spot changes due to the conversions. Not that there is much point, this is the nature of digital, it’s not paper. 

          Abhishek Rao
          Community Manager
          Abhishek RaoCommunity Manager
          Community Manager
          February 10, 2026

          Hi @hare-in-moon,

           

          Thanks for reaching out. The document conversion message simply means InDesign is updating the internal file format, so your documents are compatible with the newer version. This process is technical in nature and is designed to preserve your existing layout, text flow, and formatting, so it should not normally affect text wrap or cause overset text. Once converted and saved, the files should work normally.

          If you’re concerned about any potential corruption, you can save the file as IDML in the current version and then open it in the newer version. This often helps clear hidden issues.

          If you notice any unexpected layout changes after conversion, please share your OS and InDesign version and let us know. I’ll be happy to look into it with you.

           

          Looking forward to your update.
          Abhishek

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          hare-in-moonAuthor
          Known Participant
          February 11, 2026

          Hi Abishek, 
          I’d already understood that this is a technical matter, and it makes sense that the process will try to preserve existing layouts, etc. Note that if I did have to update InDesign while the project was underway I’d absolutely be very concerned about potential ‘corruption’^1. As I commented to another reply, I do not allow auto-updates on any of my Adobe products because I do not want to have to deal with possible changes to documents in the middle of a project: the proof approved by the client must be what I send to press. I doubt Adobe would compensate me or my client if the printed document does not match the proof.  

          InDesign is capable of flagging text overflows and some other issues; perhaps the conversion warning splash screen could warn users  to check for flagged issues after conversion? Or perhaps Adobe should advise users to finish large projects before allowing updates? 

          1: It’s not actually corruption, is it? It’s not random interactions: any problem is the direct result of specific changes to the file format made by Adobe.

          thank you,

          sarah

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