Corrupt InDesign File. Error Code 4 (Database Error)

[v.bug]

Hey everyone, 

My hard drive disconnected for a split second - not long enough to eject, but it lost connection. Normally, if it ejects all the way, I'm able to reoopen whatever I was working on and wipe my brow free of worry. 

Well, since it didn't eject all the way, it seems the 102 page document I was working on got corrupted... I know, my fault for not making a backup. 

Is there anyway to recover this file? I've tried opening it as a copy, I've tried creating a copy and saving that copy as an IDML. I've tried starting InDesign with a fresh prefences file, I've tried starting InDesign with fresh Recovery Data. Just keep getting Error Code 4 and Database error.

I have to have this file ready for publication tomorrow, which doesn't really help. 😕

I'm on Mac OS 10.13.6.

{Renamed by MOD}

[Test Screen Name]

Have you rebooted or are you still running the same failed InDesign session?

[v.bug]

Hi! I've rebooted InDesign and my computer a few times since then, reconnected and disconnected the hard drive. I tried uploading the file to the Document Cloud and redownloading it – no luck. Tried downloading InDesign on another partition, downloading a new version from the Document Cloud, no luck. 😞 I'm now trying to use a tool called "EaseUs" to recover the file, maybe there's an older version in my hard drive Trashes that I could work with so I'm not starting again from scratch? Hopefully?

I've also tried moving around the preferences and caches folders... Still error code 4. 😕 

I keep seeing stuff about a Markzware being able to help people, but from what I've heard it's $50 to upload the file and $199 to download it back from them. 😕 

[jane-e · Accepted solution]

Hi

In addition to Markzware, you can sent the file to Adobe at this email address (free):
corrupt_indesign_docs@adobe.com

If the file is larger than 10 Mb, you can zip (and password protect) the file and upload to Creative Cloud account (or Dropbox) and email the document link.

~ Jane

[v.bug]

Perfect, thank you so much! I'll email it to them right now. 

[jane-e]

"Perfect, thank you so much! I'll email it to them right now."

Please let us know how it goes, and wishing you the best of luck!

~ Jane

[jane-e]

Also, see this thread: 
https://community.adobe.com/t5/InDesign/indesign-error-file-is-damaged-error-code-4/td-p/10161658

~Jane

[v.bug]

Good afternoon everyone, 

While I was able to retrieve earlier versions of the document through "EaseUS," they were also corrupted. I also got a reply from Adobe this morning in regards to the file: 

"We’ve tried to recover your file, but unfortunately, the document is severely damaged and could not be repaired. We apologize for the inconvenience. If you are not on version 14.0.3 then we would recommend you upgrade to the latest version (InDesign CC 14.0.3) as it is more robust and has enhanced capability to recover corrupt document.

We would recommend to re-create the file from scratch."

Thank you again for all of your help. Looks like I'm back to the drawing board with this one, but I'll take it as a lesson learned. 

[jane-e]

Sympathies are extended as you rebuild your hundred page document. I hope it’s smooth.

Some people number the backups — I like to include the date so I have “file_10282019.indd”, etc, sometimes including am, pm, and eve for really intense documents.

Best of luck, and thanks for the feedback.

~ Jane

[v.bug]

Thank you, I appreciate it. ❤️ Numbering the back-ups/labeling them with the date and time is a great idea!

[Srishti Bali]

Hi there,

Sorry to hear about this. We can take a look and see if the file can be repaired. Please email your InDesign file to corrupt_indesign_docs@adobe.com and we will take a look at the document.

I must also inform that file recovery can't be guaranteed with a 100% success. We'll surely try our best.  

Regards,

Srishti

[v.bug]

Hello Srishti, 

Thank you so much! I sent over the file on Sunday and they told me yesterday the document was too severly damaged to be recovered. 😞 If you wouldn't mind taking a look at it, I could send it to you, too. 

[v.bug · Accepted solution]

UPDATE:

Last week, I asked the Adobe Corrupt File Recovery Department what error they were receiving, just in case it was something different from what I was seeing on my end. It turns out they weren't able to unzip the file. As soon as I sent the unzipped version over, they were able to recover the file as an IDML and sent it right back to me!! I was so excited, I nearly jumped out of my seat. When I had tried saving the file as an IDML, it just didn't go through on my end – but they got it to work and I was able to restore all 102. 

I couldn't be happier. 🙂 

Thanks again everybody for all of your help!

[Jongware]

Wow, you *really* got lucky there! Good job following up to narrow possible causes down.

Just so nobody else falls for this: did you use any special zip software that they might not have been aware of? Did you explicitly state it's a zip file? (Possibly they weren't aware of it because of the file extension.)

[v.bug]

I feel super lucky! 

Not in particular. I'm on a Mac, so I just right clicked the file and hit "compress." The file was saved and compressed on my external hard drive (a WD Elements), but I'm not sure that would make a difference. I sent both the .zip and the .indd over through the Adobe Document cloud. I did say it was a .zip, but I also said that I could send over the unzipped version, if needed. Maybe that caused some confusion?

In any case, I'm glad it worked out. Thank you for asking, that would be great info for others to know!! 🙂