import images failed

[Cathy5F86]

I’m using Indesign 2020 and I’m trying to import images from my mac, i've tried to drag the image from the desktop, File> Place and Command D, all of these don't work, it said import failed.

so i reinstalled the app from creative cloud, still doesn't work.

i also tried to create a new document or working on previous document, all these don't work either.

it worked well a week ago... 

[Derek Cross]

Which OS?
How much RAM and spare disk capacity do you have?
What do you mean "don't work" - is there an error message?

Have you tried resetting your InDesign preferences?

[Scott Falkner · Accepted solution]

What format is the image? Are you sure it is the correct format. People often think changing the extension of a file will convert it to that format. You may be dealing wit h a file with either no extension or the wrong extension. Do you have this problem with all files? All files of a certain format? Or only specific files?

[Cathy5F86 · Accepted solution]

Thanks for replying! I've figured out the problem, it’s because the image format is not compatible with Indesign. i changed the format and it works now.

[Derek Cross]

As a matter of interest what was the format of the image you couldn't Place?

[Cathy5F86]

It's jpeg. I'm not quite sure what this is, the image just turned HEIC into jpeg when I dragged it to the desktop.

[Switch0901]

I realised that my image was HEIC too and I managed to convert it to jpeg but the import still failed.. what can I do?

[Derek Cross]

Did you undertake the process of saving the image to JPG in Photoshop?

[Lily22855480i4co]

how do u do this?

[Scott Falkner]

Are you familiar with the File menu?

[Switch0901]

I mean... I know that to import an image I have to go to File>open?

[Switch0901]

No I didn't... does it only work if I convert it through photoshop

[Switch0901]

@Derek Cross I tried to export as jpg from photoshop, it still can't be imported into indesign

[Scott Falkner]

Explain exactly the steps you took. What command did you use in Photoshop and what options did you use? What happened when you tried to place the file in InDesign? If there are dialogue boxes showing the options you used or the errors you saw include them in your reply.

[ians36619748]

Hi

I am having the same problem, 'import failed'. On my macbook pro no problem but on my desktop machine I get the error message. Same document and same photos. The documents and app are closed on the machine I am not using so its not a conflict there. Any suggestions. Oh I have deleted and reloaded indesign.

Ian

[lisabp]

I am having the same issue. I am on a macOS Monterey 12.3.1 and running Indesign 17.2.1. It seems like ever since I upgraded to Monterey I am having the issue. I am opening the same Indesign files I have used multiple times and the images are all in the same folders and the formats are compatable, but now it says I need to relink them, but when I try to do that it says import failed. I can place them again and it seems to work, but it is very frustrating and time consuming. 

[xhouse]

I'm now having the same issue. Once I updated to Monterey I can not update/relink images without receiving the cryptic "import failed" message. This has to be solved immediately. Many of us have way too many doucments with many images so time-consuming work-arounds are not the solution.

[lisabp]

Completely agree! I figured out if I delete the image from the document and place it again fresh it will work, but that is so time-consuming when working with a long document and multiple times a day. So frustrating!

[xhouse]

I think I figured out my issue. I recently rebuilt my iMac from scratch and set up dropbox to be online only, meaning it's not mirrored on my desktop. Therefore the images that were placed from dropbox are now flagged as missing and when I try to update, the import fails because the file is seen to have no content, ie size of zero k. I have to allow the file to be used "offline"

Maybe this is the same issue you are having. 

[lisabp]

Thank you. That could be it. I do use Dropbox and I have it set up to sync but you’re right it could possibly be that I haven’t used that file in a while, and it’s not synced anymore. I will check. I’ve never had that problem though and I’ve been working like this for years. Thank you for the reply.






Lisa Paully

Lisa Paully Design + Photography
lisapaully.com | 954.947.1188

[Dana27544498lkcl]

Dropbox appears to be aware of this issue and is working on a fix: https://help.dropbox.com/installs/macos-12-monterey-support

[Cathi28554584oyms]

Making Dropbox available offline solved my link error issue. Thank you! 

[megm48197357]

Thank you for posting this! I was having the same issue and you solved it for me!

[franklozano-1111]

So glad it's working for you now. So frustrating when you can't figure it out. And wastes so much energy! 

[franklozano-1111]

I had the same issue and had a different solution for it. I have an M1 MBP and running Monterey 12.3 

For me, I guess to save space, not all my files are ON my drive. I am using DropBox and while I see the file and filename, it's actually showing 0 bites. I have to OPEN the file and it then DOWNLOADS the images to my computer, I see a green checkmark beside it. I then reopen InDesign and it finds those images that did not "appear" to be linked. Even when I tried to import the images, I got the dreaded "failed to import" prompt. So check to make sure your images are actually downloaded to your computer and not just a alias or placeholder first.

Good luck.