Suddenly I get an error message and crash every time I open a file

[EltonJohnisPlumpandDreamy]

Just recently, I've found that every time I try to open one of my saved files in the newest version of Ae, I get a crash message and the program closes.  I've attached a screenshot of the error I'm seeing.  This was brought on when I mistakenly tried opening a project saved with an older version of Ae (13.8, I think), and I clicked "ok" on the button that says this file has to be converted to the newer version, etc.  That's when the crash error first happened.  After that, I couldn't even open other projects saved in the current version of Ae without a crash.  I'm on MacBook Pro, OS X Sierra, and using the newest Ae version.  This has happened once before, and trashing my prefs is what fixed it.  But I'm very confused on why this is happening in the first place.  Ae should be able to convert and open projects created in older versions, correct?  Is it okay to be trashing my prefs every time this happens?  This is very scary, as I have deadlines to meet and any sort of crashing issue makes me nervous.  Thank you for any advice/insight people may have regarding this!

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[ToolfarmJP]

Hello,

It sounds an annoying issue. What version did you make the original project file by? It is usually converted automatically to the newer version. If the original version is pretty old, I would recommend you convert it by AE v12.x or so and then reconvert it by AE v13.

[EltonJohnisPlumpandDreamy]

The original was in 13.8, otherwise known as CC 15.3, and I'm now working in the latest version.  It's weird because I used to be able to open projects from 13.8 inside the newer one, but now it gives me that error.

[ToolfarmJP]

Hello,

I googled the error message. Someone else encounters the same error. But no workarounds are mentioned. Some say it is related to the version of Mac OS. If you have other versions of Mac OS, you try to use one of them.

[Kevin-Monahan]

Still experiencing this issue, gomerpyle? Let us know if you have solved it or not.

Thanks,
Kevin