Framemaker 12 crashes when trying to open file.

[kquick23]

Using Framemaker 12 trying to open file and it crashes giving me a log.  I need to know if this file can be saved.

[Jeff_Coatsworth]

Yes, the crash log is saved in a hidden folder specified in the error message - it's only comprehensible by Adobe engineers though (that's why they ask you to send it into them). Is your FM version completely up to date? What are you doing that creates the error? Does it happen consistently?

[kquick23]

I am just trying to open it so I can make some updates.  It won't let me open.  I have been able to open all other files.

I am trying to get in contact with someone from Adobe to help me.  I went to website and Framemaker is not even listed so I somehow was directed to this forum.

[Jeff_Coatsworth]

You're just starting up the FM12 program and it throws an error? Was it working before? If so, what's changed? If not, have you tried loading updates by manually going to the Downloads page - Adobe - FrameMaker : For Windows

[kquick23]

No I am trying to open an existing frame file and it crashes.  I am currently running on the most updated version for Framemaker 12.

Other Frame files are opening just fine.  I just need to know if there is a way to save this file.  I don't want to have to recreate it.

[Jeff_Coatsworth]

If it crashes upon opening, it might be pooched - see if you have a .backup copy or .auto or .recover version that you might use to salvage content out of into a new stable file. There's also a trick called a "heroic open" that sometimes will work - search the forum for instructions.

[kquick23]

I had no luck finding this heroic open in the forums.

[Jeff_Coatsworth]

Found it - [thanks Fred Ridder] -

"Heroic open" is an escape-key command that causes FrameMaker to ignore any of the conditions that normally cause warnings or messages during the open process, and therefore allows you to open files that have certain minor forms of corruption. You must have a blank .fm document open first. Then the command is Esc, o, H (meaning Escape, lower-case O, and capital H pressed *in sequence* rather than in combination).

[kquick23]

Yeah that didn't work. 

[Jeff_Coatsworth]

Any backup or recover versions you can try and salvage content out of?

[kquick23]

No recovery file and we had to stop using the backup files as our server space was getting too limited.

[Jeff_Coatsworth]

AFAIK there's no way to turn off the automatic creation of .backup files in FM - I'd be interested to know how you did that.

I suspect you're going to have to start from scratch. You must have at least one undamaged backup version to start from?

[kquick23]

Edit>Preferences

Uncheck Automatic Backup on Save.

[Jeff_Coatsworth]

Sorry, I was confused - it's the ability to direct the .backup files to another location that can't be done (AFAIK).

But - disk space is cheap, why would you turn that off anyway?