100's of .fla file will will not open anymore... HELP! "An error occurred opening file..."

[marcs61886613]

I have hundreds of .fla files containg projects from previous versions of Animate/ Flash that no longer will open. I get an error message that the file(s) cannot be opened. I can understand perhaps 1 or 2 files being corrupt or damaged but not hundreds. I have even tried backup of the files for which I keep 2 sets. My guess is that at some point some .fla file were not compatible with new program updates. My question is, Is there a way to get access to an older version of Animate/flash so that I may open these files and retrieve my work? Any help would be appreciated. 

The message I get is "An error occurred opening file..."

[kglad]

with animate 2022 (v22.0.2) i just opened a fla from 2007 without problem (on a win 10 computer though, of course, animate no longer supports actionscript 2, or 1), so the problem's not an issue of animate compatibility.

are any other files corrupted in the directory(ies) where the flas are located?

[marcs61886613]

As I said in my post I could see 1 or 2 files being corupt but not hundreds. 

As to your question my files reside on an external drive not in the same directory as Animate CC. Does that matter when opening files?

No there are no other corupt files in the directories where I keep the .fla files. as well.

I've attached a file that has always worked for me in the past yet now I get an error message. Will the attached file open for you? Thanks.

[kglad]

first, note @Mohanaraj 's message and please respond.

second, nothing was attached and there is no way to attach files to these forums.  upload to a file server (like dropbox) and post a link and i'll test for you.

[n. tilcheff]

@kglad 

Please, look here: https://community.adobe.com/t5/animate-discussions/problems-with-an-old-fla-files-as-a-xmas-gift/td-...

[Mohanaraj]

Hi - Are you on Mac and these files are of from pre CS5 version of Flash having binary file format (not the xfl file format)?

Thanks!

Mohan

[marcs61886613]

These are older files. Not sure about cs3. I am using on a Mac. I was able to open these files a late as 2019 in whatever version of the newest Animate was at that time.

Here is a link of a file that I get an error message with. One that would;d open previously.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/embmzn9ne70mwr5/AlanV5.fla?dl=0

[marcs61886613]

ANd another link too another couple of files. Just in case.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/f8no1syh9nib6mw/Ted_anims.fla?dl=0

https://www.dropbox.com/s/3l0kbdppdzxmc58/Props_food.fla?dl=0

[kglad]

it opened for me in animate 2022:

though i did see the expected as1 is no longer supported message:

[marcs61886613]

Thanks for letting me know. At least I know that the files are not corrupt. Any idea what I do now? Could this be a preferences thing?

[n. tilcheff]

Install AA21 and you'll be able to open your files.

https://community.adobe.com/t5/animate-discussions/problems-with-an-old-fla-files-as-a-xmas-gift/td-...

[marcs61886613]

Thank you. I've downloaded 21 and some (not all) of the files are able to be opened. Do you have any luck opening this file?

https://www.dropbox.com/s/1k7nnhukvbv4yir/cartoon_lips_v6.fla?dl=0

Thank you again.

[n. tilcheff]

I could open it in Flash 8 on Windows, but not in CS6.

[Mohanaraj]

@marcs61886613 You will be able to open these files in Animate 2021 on Mac or any version of Animate on Win then save as your file in that version so as to save them in the latest file format. After that these files can be opened on Animate 2022 on Mac as well. 

Thanks!

Mohan

[marcs61886613]

Some open some don't.  I only see one older version animate 2021 on the cloud is there anything older that I might have access to so as to be able to retrieve the older files that can't be opened with the 2021 version. Thank you. 

[n. tilcheff]

@marcs61886613 

As I have posted above, you need Flash 8 to open and convert those super old AS1 files.

And, of course, you won't be able to do it on a modern Mac, since 32-bit applications cannot run on OS newer than Mojave, I believe. You need a Windows computer with much better support of old software. Maybe you can run a VirtualBox with XP on it.

[marcs61886613]

Thank you. I have a virtual Winows box on my computer, however given a quick search for flash 8 I may have have to beef up my virus software. I doubt adobe has a legacy site for this. Haha. Thank you again BTW I am  purchased the 6.5 of EDAPT a few weeks ago. Great stuff you built there! A bit of a learning curve but I am looking forward to the flexibility it offers.

[n. tilcheff]

That is great to hear, @marcs61886613 !

If you like, send me 10 of those old files in a ZIP to the EDAPT email. I will convert them for you.

[_keyframer]

I recently tried opening very old files from an external hard drive with same error so I installed the oldest version of Animate offered and they all opened up fine and I was able to save them.

[Preetha2319]

 when ever light is gone my system automatically turns off..at that time after the current back I tried to open the same file again it is showing like this my total work is gone...usually I will save versions but some times in work busy i forgot..then it happens...so I am searching for this sollution can you help on this pls

[kglad]

set a timer to remind yourself to save your fla's (with increasing version number appended).

[Aiden27308675oqlc]

Hi All - I have the similar issue. I have been working on a .fla file in Adobe Animate. After making a recent update, the file is now greyed out when I try to open it in Animate. When I try to copy the file from a flash drive I get an error that says "One or more items in "SpongeBob Animate.fla" can't be changed because they are in use".  The file size is 25.2 MB so there is data in the file. Can someone help me fix this issue? Greatly appreciated! 

[kglad]

restart your computer and then copy the fla.  or move the flash drive to another computer and retry opening.

if both those fail, try and fix the fla on the flash drive.  first, see if you can rename the fla to a rar.

[Aiden27308675oqlc]

Hi - Thank you.  I tried restarting my computer but that didn't solve anything.  I then opened the flash drive with another computer (Chromebook rather than my Mac) and I was able to copy the file off the flash drive. I copied it as a .fla file and was also able to rename it to a .rar file as well.  What's next.  Thank you so much for your help!  I am a college student have been working on this animation for months this semester.  If this fails I have to complete start over from scratch

[kglad]

oh good.

open the rar in winrar > repair the rar > rename the repaired rar to a fla > try opening the repaired fla in animate.