InCopy v16. Unable to check out this file. It may be in use by someone else ERROR

[#1]

Keep getting this error. Everything is closed and no one is in the Assignment.

Deleted and reassigned, still getting the same error.

Any ideas?

[#2]

Not without a lot more information. Please provide details on your workflow.

Are you using a local network? Cloud service such as Dropbox? Is the InDesign user also on v16? If you mouse over the story do you get a tooltip popup telling you who has it checked out?

[#3]

Yes, both InDesign and InCopy are on v16. Yes, using Dropbox, would that be the issue?

It's saying it's checked out by another user who's not even using the file at all.

[#4]

Now that I look at your screenshot again, it appears that there's a missing link and with everything dimmed back, I doubt anything has been exported properly. First thing to do is make sure that you do not have smart sync enabled for Dropbox. 

Then, please show us a screenshot of the file structure in File Explorer and switch to galley or story view and show us a screenshot there as well as the expanded assignments panel.

Finally, if you want help, I would strongly suggest not waiting three more weeks before coming back here.

[#5]

Thanks Bob! Yes, sorry for the super late response.

Anyway, here are the screenshots. Another info is that InCopy user is on PC, InDesign user on Mac. Could that be an issue as well?

[#6]

Those question marks indicate that the files are missing. Mac/Windows is a non-issue except for fonts.

I would suggest, having the InDesign user delete all of the InCopy content from the file and then delete the files from the folder.

Then bypass the assignments altogether unless you have some overriding reason to be using them. Just export all of the stories to InCopy as unassigned.

[#7]

This is great. Thanks for all your help Bob!

[#8]

>> Any ideas?

Unembed all stories back to InDesign, do indd-idml-indd concersion and try again.