How to make InDesign warn you about overwriting a PDF that is open?

Report · Apr 05, 2024

I just started a new job so I have a new Creative Cloud and I'm having an issue with PDFs updating when I overwrite them.

At my last job, whenever I tried to export from InDesign to overwrite a PDF, it would warn me if that PDF was already open so I could go and close it and then overwrite the file.

With my new set up, I noticed that I am able to export and "overwrite" PDFs that are currently open, but then when I go to open the PDF, it's still the old verison without changes.

Ideally, I'd like a warning if I already have the PDF open so I can avoid this.

I've dug around in settings of all the apps, finder, and even system settings and I can't find anything. I've used a Mac at both jobs. Last job, some of my programs were not up to date because we had plug-ins that wouldn't cooperate so I'm wondering if it's just a version issue.

Report · Apr 06, 2024

I've noticed this before too - and it's purely a Mac thing reading an old cache or something like that. It's super annoying thing with Macs.
I often move a folder out of the WIP folder into Complete folder - but then saving a file I can see the old folder in the WIP (I only have 1 folder in my WIP at all times and move to complete when done).

But the folder is not there. It's just not - even though the OS tells me it is.

I haven't looked into too much - but I think it's a Finder cache issue other than anything else.

My solution to this
reboot the Mac often.

Report · Apr 06, 2024

At my last job, whenever I tried to export from InDesign to overwrite a PDF, it would warn me if that PDF was already open so I could go and close it and then overwrite the file.

With my new set up, I noticed that I am able to export and "overwrite" PDFs that are currently open, but then when I go to open the PDF, it's still the old verison without changes.

Ideally, I'd like a warning if I already have the PDF open so I can avoid this.

By @Katie364111881f96

Interesting... First, I don't remember InDesign ever warning me about overwriting a PDF (or any other file) specifically because the file is open. InDesign does warn me, as it always did, about overwriting an existing PDF file (regardless if it's open or not).

If I'm overwriting an existing PDF file that's open, the changes made in InDesign are written in the PDF. That is, if I close the PDF file (obviously, without saving if any changed are made there), then reopen it, then it's the new version written from InDesign.

Or are you describing a different scenario?

Report · Apr 08, 2024

I had warnings for both scenarios. If I had the PDF open and tried to save over it, I'd get a warning along the lines of "you cannot save this file because it is already open" - basically if that is a setting somewhere that I can turn on, I would like that feature.

Report · Apr 08, 2024

I've only every seen that on Windows - on a Mac I can overwrite a file that's open.

Report · Apr 08, 2024

what app do you have your PDFs open in? is it just Acrobat?

Report · Apr 08, 2024

Yes just Acrobat.

Report · Apr 08, 2024

Yes just Acrobat.

By @Katie364111881f96

well then regardless of the warnings you do or don't receive i don't have explanation for this. when you overwrite a file, it normally should be overwritten even if it's open.

but when you export to PDF from InDesign, do you at least receive a standard system warning on attempt to overwrite an existing file?

Report · Apr 08, 2024

Yes I receive the warning. The issue is that if it the PDF is already open, even if I OK the overwrite, the changes I made in InDesign do not take effect.

Report · Apr 08, 2024

Did you not see my reply earlier???

Report · Apr 08, 2024

Where are the files stored? There's been issues in the historically with some non-Mac file servers and NAS interfering with this behaviour (i.e. they don't give the same feedback to ID that the file is open). That being said, I am not experiencing the same issue here, whether I save the PDF locally or on a NAS. What version of OS are you on?