Indesign Document Keeps Crashing

[chiiise]

Hey!

I've managed to create a quite heavy document in InDesign with lots of paragraph styles and master pages. Now suddenly it just crashed. I can open the file but as soon as I try to touch anything or resave the spinning wheel comes up and then it crashes. The file is about 110MB and I haven't linked the files or the fonts.

I've tried restarting the computer, the software, tried another computer and tried deleting recovery data but nothing works. I'm desperate since this is a 300pp book I really don't want to redo all the work.

Any ideas?

Thanks!

[winterm]

First things first. You should start with telling us your OS and ID versions. In the meanwhile:

1. Start InDesign, ensure Live Preflight is OFF, Pages panel closed.

2. In Open Document dialog, tick Open As: Copy radio button (default is Normal).

3. When Untitled doc opens, immediately save it under a new name. Don't do anything before this, especially don't try to scroll through pages.

This simple trick might fix minor corruptions (if they are minor).

And one more thing. Saying 'I haven't linked the files', hopefully, you don't mean all links are embedded? Because embedding is a straight way to where you are now: unstable crashing file. Sooner or later.

**

110 MB is not that much for complex ID file. When all is done correctly.

[chiiise]

Hi Thanks for your feedback!

The issue happened on my work computer first (it has InDesign 2017 and I don't know the OS) So I took the file home to try on my computer, OS X Yosemite Version 10.10.5 and Indesign CC the most recent version.

Because I took it home the images are not linked, so its about 800 images 'links to sources that are missing', also missing all fonts.

But I had the same issue at work, even though all links and fonts are there.

I don't get to the stage where I can save, I open the document and then the wheel starts spinining and it crashes. So I can't resave it.

[winterm]

Well, it seems you've got a problem...

There is some tools to recover damaged ID docs, you can try, but don't expect much... unless you're really lucky.

http://kasyan.ho.com.ua/indd_recovery.html

http://cyberohub.blogspot.lt/2017/02/indesign-repair.html

https://redokun.com/resources/batch-convert-idml-file

Alternatively, you could try email your InDesign file to corrupt_indesign_docs@adobe.com and possibly they will take a look at the document.

Your file is larger than 10 Mb, so you should zip (and password protect) it and upload to Creative Cloud account (or Dropbox) and send them a link to the document.

In this thread https://forums.adobe.com/thread/1405222 OP successfully adhered this offer.

Also you may find some ideas to try in this thread

And finally, Markzware offers (paid) File Recovery Service: http://markzware.com/products/file-recovery-service/

[chiiise]

Thanks for your help, I will have a look at those and see what I can do! Otherwise I guess I'll just have to redo it...

[amanm5143]

Hey chiiise​,

Instead of opening the document directly, Go to InDesign-->File-->Open-->Select the file you want to open and before opening the file, change Open As from Normal to Copy and then Open the file. It tries to do away with the unsual errors. This thing definitely works for all the those files which gives the pop-up box: Can't open InDesign document. The solution was provided by an InDesign expert who had worked on InDesign development.

Let's hope it works for you as well.

Regards,

Aman

[winterm]

Exactly this is suggested in the very first post. Why duplicate?

[amanm5143]

winterm​ I apologize for the duplicate solution. You had already offered this in a different way. All credits to you!

[positionnormal]

You are very sensitive aren't you?

[chiiise]

Thanks! I tried this but still the same issue. It will open the document but will freeze as soon as i move the cursour key

[winterm]

Yes. Opening as a copy is a good trick and the first thing to try. Sometimes it works, sometimes, unfortunately, not. It all depends on an actual nature of corruption.

Now you can try other methods mentioned or redo everything from scratch. Only you can decide which way is shorter.

Whatever, the best all-time recovery tool is a decent up-to-date backup. Now you learned it a hard way

[sandral102360]

Having same issue.

[Srishti Bali]

Hi Sandra,

Thanks for reaching out. If I get your query, a particular InDesign file is making InDesign crashing. I would request if you can share a few more details like:

• A brief description and workflow of the issue.
• Is it crashing while opening the file or while working on it?
• Does it crash while using a specific tool or feature?
• Would you mind sharing the file with us?
• Where the file is saved (Network Drive/ System HDD/ Shared Folder on System /External HDD)?

Regards,

Srishti

[BobLevine]

If you’re really on 10.10 you DO NOT have the most current version of InDesign CC.

CC2018 requires 10.11 at a minimum.

[Srishti Bali · Accepted solution]

Hi Sara,

There are multiple factors both internal and external to InDesign application that can lead to document corruption. However, we can take a look and see if the file can be repaired. Please email your InDesign file to corrupt_indesign_docs@adobe.com and we will take a look at the document.

If the file is larger than 10 Mb, you can zip (and password protect) the file and upload to Creative Cloud account (or Dropbox) and send us the document link.

Regards,

Srishti