Crashing cross references

Report · Sep 08, 2023

I'm having a similar problem to this: Re: Cross-References constantly crash ID 18.3 - Adobe Support Community - 13839607

I have a book with 20 sections, about 200 pages. It works like gangbusters until it doesn't, then it crashes files when they open and takes a couple with them. I've become an expert in workarounds: working off my C drive, turning off preflight, deleting preferences and caches, opening copies, saving as IDML. I was able to move pages from one of the associated sections this morning before the usual suspect crashed me.

The "broken" chapters are just broken when I open them; I can only escape by closing or ending the task (it causes the high usage CEP HTML engine issue). I've recreated a couple of chapters several times; they are the ones with the most cross references. Sometimes when they crash I find that I have opened a seemingly unrelated chapter

I'm not able to install things on my laptop without IT help. Any ideas or suggestions about the order in which I try fixes would be appreciated. I'm at the finish line and was fixing cross-reference links in my PDF when I started this crash cycle over again. (What I love about InDesign is all through this, the book itself is still acting nicely, updating pages and producing a lovely PDF.) I suppose I could jerry rig the links in the PDF if it comes down to that. But I'm hoping someone with more experience than I have will have a better solution.

I'm on Windows Enterprise 10, 22H2, with 32 GB Ram, InDesign 18.5, using WordsFlow.

Thanks,

Shawn

Report · Sep 10, 2023

This wouldn't be usual. Incredible you can't do anything without IT help - in that vein - IT should sorting this issue for you.

I'm not sure where the issue is coming from - maybe wordsflow - I just don't know enough about the workflow or how things are going for you in terms for crashes.

Report · Sep 10, 2023

Incredible you can't do anything without IT help - in that vein - IT should sorting this issue for you.
By @Eugene Tyson

It's rather normal in corporate environment - users are extremely limited what / how they can install additional software.

Report · Sep 11, 2023

There isn't wide-spread use of Indesign in our company. Our group is the only group using Wordsflow, and I'm the only one with a project in it right now, as well as being the more experienced ID user (although I haven't used it regularly for at least 10 years). The other group using it does small documents. IT will do a little bit of research, but I've discovered it helps if I provide them some guidance on where to start. Not the perfect set up...

Report · Sep 10, 2023

I would also look at WordsFlow as a culprit.

But in order to be sure - you would need to uninstall InDesign - using CC Cleaner tool, remove all InDesign related Folders - then install InDesign again.

My friend, even after uninstalling WordsFlow - had some strange leftovers in the Import options...

Report · Sep 11, 2023

The thing that's most preventing me from uninstalling ID or naming WordsFlow as the culprit is how smoothly things go once I fix a problem. Like today I relinked a bunch of cross refs going to an old section. Now I'm unable to even open one of the sections I fixed (so I can't even move pages from it or open as copy or IDML).

My next action, after a stiff drink (JK: it's a work day) is to accept all changes in the linked Word files, maybe see if that helps. What works is re-laying out the chapter and replacing it in the book. Trying to figure out if it would be easier to get help deleting and reinstalling InDesign or to keep working with the chapters to make sure all the cross refs are from the correct files.

Report · Sep 14, 2023

Hi @shmersh61,

Sorry to hear about the trouble. Can you please share a few more details like:

-The version of InDesign & OS.

-Can this be reproduced on a specific file or multiple files?

-If it happens again, can you share the files and system logs? If yes, please add the file and system logs on a shared location like Google Drive or DropBox and share the link through DM by clicking on my name.

Thanks

Rishabh