InDesign crashes immediately when trying to open an important idml file

[davidk48448725]

Using InDesign 2020, but a file that was created in InDesign 2019, the IDML file contains a lot of linked images, but the program crashes immediately when I try and open the idml file. Really hope someone can help as it is a very important file for us. 😞

[BobLevine]

Why don't you open the INDD file?

[davidk48448725]

There isn't one 😞   I had been following an old mentor's advice that IDMLs were more universal / cross-version compatible. The project was only ever saved as an idml. Projects since have been saved as indd, but for this important project I only have the idml.

[BobLevine]

Try opening it in 2019.

[davidk48448725]

Exactly the same crash issue in 2019 unfortunately 😞

[davidk48448725]

Is there anyone else who can possibly assist on this?

[Matteo5FA0]

I have the same problem. Only on specific file.

[Eugene Tyson]

https://helpx.adobe.com/indesign/kb/troubleshoot-file-issues.html

There's an email link at the bottom.

[rayek.elfin]

I tested this in InDesign 2021, and the import is stuck at the missing fonts dialog. I had to force-quit InDesign.

Ironically, Affinity Publisher opened the IDML file without a hitch within seconds.

 

[Peter Spier]

How large is the file?

[Matteo5FA0]

1.103 Mb, too small to blame the size

[Laubender]

Speculation:

Perhaps 1.103 Mb is too small to be a valid IDML file.

Could be that it was not exported properly.

What's your operating system?

What you can try:

IDML is a container file format. Basically something like a zip file containing files and folders.

A strong indication that the file is damaged: Unzipping will throw an error message.

How to unzip an IDML file:

Make a duplicate of the IDML file, rename the suffix idml to zip and unzip the file.

Hm…

You could also put the IDML file on Dropbox or a similar service and post the download link so that we can look into the case.

Thanks,
Uwe Laubender

( ACP )

[Matteo5FA0]

This is dropbox link:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/qrbk05lu435qz2r/04_IBARI_00_IT-en_gb.idml?dl=0

I have tried to unzip but I don't have found any mistake.

[Laubender]

Just tried to open your IDML file in InDesign 2021:

Crash after the following message that fonts are missing; the list was not completed before the crash:

Unzipping is possible without an error.

Could be a bug.

designmap.xml shows:

product="16.1(20)"
DOMVersion="16.1"

FWIW: The IDML file was not exported with InDesign 2019.

"16.1(20)" is InDesign 2021.

Perhaps it will help to open it in previous versions? But I doubt this will help.

All tests done on Windows 10.

Regards,
Uwe Laubender

( ACP )

[Matteo5FA0]

Exactly what happened to me.

The file was exported by a CAT software by a translation of an IDML that I made with Indesign 2021. After translation this is the result.

[patriciah31384962]

We found the same issue with an IDML file provided by our translation company (original file was created by us and did not cause any issues. What I did notice was that it InDsign crashed the moment the missing fonts were defined and just before it crashes I could see that the file contained Type 1 fonts which are no longer supported by Adobe (which is quite annoying when working with older files to be honest).
Perhaps this could cause the crashes?

Patricia Huisman

[Dirk Becker]

A first deeper look: the composer is confused by the frame fitting options of an inlined text frame, likely one on a master spread. I've tried random shots at related properties in the IDML but had no luck, this would require more investigation. Since each test run costs serious CPU time / thumb twisting - mainly consumed by the set up and composition of those large tables before you even get to the trouble spot - I'll leave it here.

[Matteo5FA0]

Thanks for your effort!!

[Matteo5FA0]

Good job Dirk, that wos the problem. Thankz a loto of !

[Laubender]

Dirk said: "… the composer is confused by the frame fitting options of an inlined text frame …"

Hi Dirk,

that reminds me of a bug where InDesign 2020 and 2021 is crashing when a text frame is anchored to text and the anchored frame has auto-height ( top position ) enabled and the text is forced to the baseline grid:

Anchored textframe with auto-sizing/auto-adjusting "height" causes InDesign 2020 to freeze
Matthias Fritsch, January 09, 2020

https://indesign.uservoice.com/forums/601180-adobe-indesign-bugs/suggestions/39398323-anchored-textf...

Regards,
Uwe Laubender

( ACP )

[Dirk Becker]

Wow, you read and remember all those bug reports?

Ah, I see that one has quite some trail. You can hear the rattling sound of the Bartwickelmaschine.

From the code side I can also understand how noone yet has dared to solve it.

[Laubender]

A note to myself.

This bug was fixed in 2021.

Ravi Kiran (Senior Lead Quality Engineer, Adobe InDesign) said on July 14 2021:

"Fix is available in the latest update of InDesign – 16.3.2 on Mac and 16.3 on Win.
Please update your copy of InDesign to the latest available update via CCD app."

Regards,
Uwe Laubender
( Adobe Community Expert )

[Laubender]

Hi Matteo,

now that Dirk identified a possible cause for the crash, how did you resolve the issue?

Regards,
Uwe Laubender

( ACP )

[Matteo5FA0]

I am waiting for confirmation from the translation office but it seems solved.