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Question

INDD Opening file issue

Forum|Forum|1 year ago
July 19, 2024
4 replies
982 views

On several INDD files I continue to get a 'plugin error/may be open' error message and the INDD file will not open. The files reside on a server. I've tried copying them to the desktop and opening from there.
I've tried opening from various entry points, i.e. drop down menu, shortcut key, etc. - doesn't work.
I've triend 2024, 2023, and 2022 versions of INDD. No luck.
I also tried the new conversion of PDF to INDD, this did not even produce a spinning wheel as if it was executing any task.
Any assistance?

Also, continue to run into an issue of needing to rename files when trying to save over old versions. INDD will sometimes choose to make certain files READ ONLY. While other files on the same server I can save no problem.
I am up to date with latest INDD.
thanks for any assistance.

Files and libraries

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Robert at ID-Tasker

Legend

@Bret5FAC

What is the size of the IDML file(s) - in MBs? If you can't open them locally - then most likely they are corrupted.

If you have a problem that some files open as "read only" - your network is too slow.

Try changing IDML to ZIP - or adding ".ZIP" at the end - and then opening - this will be final test if they are OK or corrupted - IDML is just a ZIPped package so if it won't open...

creative explorer

Community Expert

@Bret5FAC

What is the size of the IDML file(s) - in MBs? If you can't open them locally - then most likely they are corrupted.

If you have a problem that some files open as "read only" - your network is too slow.

Try changing IDML to ZIP - or adding ".ZIP" at the end - and then opening - this will be final test if they are OK or corrupted - IDML is just a ZIPped package so if it won't open...

By @Robert at ID-Tasker

You cannot just change the extension from IDML to ZIP...it doesn't work that way....it's like saying, I want to change my car from a Honda to a Ferrari, just remove the decal and replace with a Ferrari decal...the car will still drive like a Honda

m

Robert at ID-Tasker

Legend

You cannot just change the extension from IDML to ZIP...it doesn't work that way...

By @creative explorer

ROTFL

The same is with latest DOCX files - they are ZIPs:

leo.r

Community Expert

It's a duplicate post:

https://community.adobe.com/t5/indesign-discussions/file-opening-issue/m-p/14748473#M581566

creative explorer

Community Expert

@Bret5FAC the screenshot says three things to me:

More than one person is working on this file. Meaning they need to save it and close it before you can open it. Because nobody can open the file if it's open on their end (it gets locked to prevent conflicts. This means others can't open it for editing until the first person saves and closes it.). Sometimes, we would need them to quit out of InDesign (force quit it), because it just hangs there. Werid glitch sometimes!
You are saving your files to IDML meaning you can have an older or newer version of InDesign on other computers. So, if I was working on the latest version, and my colleague is using CS3, as long as I save it as IDML, they can still open it. But, some newer features or formatting might not translate perfectly to older versions. This might be the likely culprit. I would save the file as a native InDesign file.
Load the plug-ins. I no longer use plug-ins because of that, especially if am collaborating with others. I may have a Indesign plug-in, but on their end they may not. So, I would need to tell them load one for them to open the document.
New conversion of PDF to INDD? You can export from iNDesign to a PDF. No need to use a third-party plugin for that. Command (Mac) or Control (PC) - E (Export) to Adobe PDF

What happens when you create a new document, can you at least do that without any error messages?

m

Robert at ID-Tasker

Legend

More than one person is working on this file. Meaning they need to save it and close it before you can open it. Because nobody can open the file if it's open on their end (it gets locked to prevent conflicts. This means others can't open it for editing until the first person saves and closes it.). Sometimes, we would need them to quit out of InDesign (force quit it), because it just hangs there. Werid glitch sometimes!

By @creative explorer

IDML files do not create locks. You can't "open and close" IDML file.

You are saving your files to IDML meaning you can have an older or newer version of InDesign on other computers. So, if I was working on the latest version, and my colleague is using CS3, as long as I save it as IDML, they can still open it. But, some newer features or formatting might not translate perfectly to older versions. This might be the likely culprit. I would save the file as a native InDesign file.

IDML file opened in the older version will drop new features - but will still open - as long as isn't corrupted.

But as OP can't open those IDML files - even when copied to a local drive - corruption is the most likely scenario.

Load the plug-ins. I no longer use plug-ins because of that, especially if am collaborating with others. I may have a Indesign plug-in, but on their end they may not. So, I would need to tell them load one for them to open the document.

Whole InDesign is based on plugins - so you can't say that you are not using them.

BobLevine

Community Expert

Just to be clear. IDML only works with CS4 and later.

kglad

Community Expert

in the future, to find the best place to post your message, use the list here, https://community.adobe.com/

p.s. i don't think the adobe website, and forums in particular, are easy to navigate, so don't spend a lot of time searching that forum list. do your best and we'll move the post (like this one has already been moved) if it helps you get responses.

<"moved from cc desktop bugs">

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