Indesign crashing when I try to add, delete, or move a page

[enicholsdesign]

Hi there - Currently working with a 58 page document, and all of the sudden I'm not longer able to add, delete, or move pages. It instantly crashes. I've tried opening a copy - saving with a new name. I've restarted entire computer, and program, multiple times. Not sure how to fix???

MacOS Catalina - v 10.15.2

Adobe Indesign - 15.0.1

There is a deadline on this project so I would appreciate any help!

[Barb Binder · Accepted solution]

Hi enicholsdesign:

Is it just one file or the program causing the crashes?

If it is just that one file—do you have a back-up that you can restore? Or see Identify and troubleshoot file issues. https://helpx.adobe.com/indesign/kb/troubleshoot-file-issues.html

If it is all files—see Rebuilding Preferences and Cache Files. https://www.rockymountaintraining.com/adobe-indesign-rebuilding-preferences-cache/

~Barb

[David Popham]

Have you tried saving as IDML and then opening the resulting IDML file?

[enicholsdesign]

Thank you!! That solved the issue, I wasn't aware of that trick. So very thankful for the help.

[Joely]

Was it a NEW/Fresh file to do the 58 pages or an old one? Try saving to IDML as the others said.

Sometimes Images/Fonts use problems – what was the step BEFORE the trouble started?

[enicholsdesign]

So very thankful for the help - saving as IDML worked. Very much appreciate the advice!

[Barb Binder]

Great! Glad you are back on track. 

~Barb

[supersillyus]

Good to know, but can this be actually fixed by Adobe? That’s just crazy. 

[David Popham]

Don't know the history of the file for this particular question, but this often happens with older files that get used and re-used over and over. They can get corrupted by continually resaving, adding and deleting content, using on different computers on different operating systems and software versions and different workflow environments, maybe even a power outage, system crash or server crash. Junk builds up. I can only speak from my own experience, but using a template whenever I start a project rather than re-using files has prevented this issue for me.

[anastasi5]

I'm having this problem, too.  And I've been transferring this document between my office PC and Mac Mini at home.  I rebuilt the document on my office PC on my last workday, but as soon as I placed new pages created with my more updated version of InDesign from home, I had the problem of the whole thing freezing when I tried to delete a couple blank pages.  I tried saving as an IDML file, and updated my office PC's version of InDesign.  EUREKA!  

Thanks everyone!