Indesign crashes when adding alt text in Object Export Options

[Melissa28342575hwnn]

I've had this problem for months and keep hoping that an Indesign update will fix the bug, but with no luck. Whenever I use the Object Export Options tool to add alt text to my images for creating an accessible PDF, the app crashes. Sometimes it works if I just add text to one image at a time and close the dialog inbetween, but if I try to move from image to image, it always crashes. It's so frustrating! Anyone else have this issue?

I'm on Mac Ventura 13.0.1 and Indesign v18.4.

[Eugene Tyson]

Without more specific info I can only offer the basic steps for fixing 

If a document is not behaving well then try 

File>Export 

Choose IDML

Open the IDML in InDesign
Save the file as a new InDesign file with a new name
See if the issue persists.

----

Try resetting your preferences:

Windows: Start InDesign, and then press Shift+Ctrl+Alt. Click Yes when asked if you want to delete preference files.
macOS: While pressing Shift+Option+Command+Control, start InDesign. Click Yes when asked if you want to delete preference files.
A dialog will appear asking to delete the InDesign Preferences, select 'Yes' on this dialog.
Further info and instructions here if needed:
https://helpx.adobe.com/in/indesign/kb/indesign-preferences-support-file-locations.html

-----

Reinstalling rarely fixes everything - you can do a complete reinstall using the
Creative Cloud Cleaner Tool https://helpx.adobe.com/creative-cloud/kb/cc-cleaner-tool-installation-problems.html

[Melissa28342575hwnn]

What more specific info would be helpful?

I know the document-specific solution won't work because it's not a document-specific problem. This happens with all of my documents.

I tried resetting the preferences. At first I thought it had worked because I was able to put in Alt text, but then it crashed after four images.

I've already tried reinstalling in the past.

😞

[Eugene Tyson]

Can you share a sample document and step-by-step methodology to repeat the process? 

[Melissa28342575hwnn]

Here's an example of one of my newsletters that I have to make accessible. Here's what I did:

1. Clicked “Object > Object Export Options”

2. Clicked on the big photo across the top.

3. In the Alt Text tab, chose “Custom” from the drop down menu

4. Typed alt text.

5. With the Object Export Options dialog box still open, clicked another photo.

6. Indesign crashes.

[cliffleonard]

Did you ever get this sorted out? I'm having a similar problem. All my software is up to date.

[Rishabh_Tiwari]

Hi,

Sorry to hear about the trouble. We'll need to test this on our end so can you confirm the exact version of InDesign & OS and if it is happening with a specific file or multiple files? We'll try our best to assist you.

Thanks

Rishabh

[Melissa28342575hwnn]

I never did get it sorted out, and I tried all the suggestions. My software is up-to-date also, and it's done it for at least the last six versions of Indesign. So frustrating! The only workaround I've found is to close the Object Export options box after each alt text entry, instead of clicking on another one.

[Melissa28342575hwnn]

Adding that I'm on Mac OS Ventura. Indesign is v 19.3. This happens with multiple files, not just one.

[Rishabh_Tiwari]

Thank you for confirming. I tested this on ID 19.3 and macOS Sonoma, and it's working. Will it be okay for you to share a small video capturing the complete workflow and the crash so that we can investigate this further. Once the app crashes, please collect and share the system logs by adding them to a shared location like Google Drive or DropBox and share the link through DM by clicking on my name. 

Thanks

Rishabh

[Rishabh_Tiwari]

Glad to hear that! Feel free to reach out if you need further assistance.

Thanks

Rishabh

[cliffleonard · Accepted solution]

My issues turned out to be caused by a corupt file. When InDesign Packaged my files and saved them to a new folder it currepted the new indd file it created. Fortunately I found the original file from a year ago and was able to salvage it and have succesfully added accessability standards to the file.

[kelly35783167ky61]

Hello, was this issue ever resolved? I am now encountering the problem for the first time ever. When I choose Object Export Options from the Object drop down menu, the program crashes. This is a significant problem, as I can't complete the 508 accessibility coding for my documents. This happens now with multiple documents, it's not document specific, and it wasn't happening just yesterday. My OS is Sonoma 14.1.2. Thank you for your help.

[leo.r]

My OS is Sonoma 14.1.2.

By @kelly35783167ky61

First, update to the latest Sonoma, macOS 14.5.x Earlier versions caused various issues in InDesign. Will it make a difference?

[kelly35783167ky61]

Thank you for your suggestion. I don't actually know how to update the system. I chose to re-install InDesign 19.3 using creative cloud. This seems to have solved the problem for now.  It's just strange because the Object Export Options dialogue box was working fine before. I'll try to update my system...