InDesign File Crashing on Open: No Recovery and Fails to Load

[slowswim]

Hi, I have an InDesign file that recently turned south.  I can open InDesign, navigate to the file and attempt the open the file, but the bar will fill only about 3/4s of the way before InDesign crashes suddenly.  InDesign crashes a subsequent time if I open the program too soon there after.  I am able to open InDesign a third time without restarting my computer.  I can attempt to recover the file this time but InDesign crashes a third time suddenly.  I will repeat the process again only alter it in an attempt pursue another troubleshooting avenue.  Any help would be grately appreciated.  The file is approximately 134Mb.  Thank you.

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[AlanGilbertson]

The first step in handling this kind of problem is to restart your OS and try again.

If no joy, delete your InDesign cache. In Windows it's under C:\Users\username\AppData\Local\Adobe\InDesign\Version 19.0\en_US\Caches. On mac, it's /Users/username/Library/Caches/Adobe InDesign/Version 19.0/en_US/Caches.
Delete everything in the folder.

If those steps don't handle the problem, reset your InDesign preferences. Hold down Ctrl+Opt+Cmd+Shift (Mac) or Ctrl+Alt+Shift (Win) and click to open InDesign. Choose "Yes" when InDesign asks if you're sure you want to delete preferences.

Usually, that's all you need. If you need more, let us know.

[slowswim]

Hi Alan, Thank you for the response.  Yes, I have restarted.  I have also uninstalled 2024 version and reinstalled it prior to posting.  I tried your suggestion of deleting the cache.  This met with the same results above -immediate crash when trying to open the file.  I then tried resetting the preferences.  I am still waiting for InDesign to open aftter the reset.  It's been about 5 mintues.  I don't think this one is going ot work either.  I am unsure what to do next.  Thanks again.

[leo.r]

what are your InDesign and operating system versions?

[slowswim]

I am working in 19.5.  I have also tried opening it in 18.5.4 and converting it.  This does not result in a crash but rather just gets stuck opening the document after the converting process.  Thanks for the response!

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

@slowswim 

Looks like your file is corrupted.

You could try this script from @Kasyan Servetsky:

http://kasyan.ho.ua/indesign/all/blind_open_and_idml-export.html

[slowswim]

Hi Thank you, Robert.  I am unsure how to perform this script.

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

Here is info how to install it:

https://creativepro.com/how-to-install-scripts-in-indesign/ 

Info what to do next - is under the screenshot. 

[Peter Spier]

While it's certainly worth a try, I doubt that's going to work if opening in a previous version failed since that's essentially a conversion to IDML in the cloud...

[slowswim]

Thanks, Robert.  This did not work.  I also had someone else try to open the document on a separate computer.  This ended in the same result.

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

Thanks, Robert.  This did not work.  I also had someone else try to open the document on a separate computer.  This ended in the same result.

By @slowswim

Same or a different platform? 

[slowswim]

same platform (pc). same version 19.5.

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

same platform (pc). same version 19.5.

By @slowswim

Same configuration? 

Have you tried opening just INDD file - or all links and fonts are available as well? 

Can you try to open your file on a computer - but WITHOUT same fonts and WITHOUT links present? 

Sometimes, corrupted font or link can be a problem. 

[slowswim · Accepted solution]

Hi everyone,  First, thank you for all of the responses.  They have been encouraging and insightful.  Second, I have been trying for most of the day to continue to troubleshoot the issue.  I have used older file date that were also unstable/corrupt as testing sites to try your suggestions.  While these did not yield fruitful results,  I have had a small bit of luck.  The file as I mentioned in the original post is a litle over 134Mb.  It also has over 500 images linked to it.  I have been working on the file for over two years.  I have yet to have any issues with the it until the other day. 

The issue I believe came when I started copying and pasting text from a Google doc into the InDesign file.  The Google doc file had text I had accumulated over time, meaning the text could have come from many many other sources.  My theory is the copying from the Google doc into the InDesign was bringing over junk for lack of a better words.  Over a period of many copy / pastes, the InDesign file just didn't like it and became unstable.  It started crashing and went downhill quickly -to the point where it would not even open.  That is obviously just an armchair perspective of someone who knows very little.  I do, however, tend to push file stability places they don't really want to go. 

Now to the bit of luck.  The day I started noticing the instability of the file, I saved multiple copies out as I continued to edit the document.  Eventually (and very quickly) the file became so unstable it wouldn't open.  These earlier files were also giving me issue to open which I found odd.  But today I tried opening one in particular in a previous verison of InDesign (18.5.4).  It worked.  I  was able to "convert" the file and save it off.  The conversion messed with the linked images quite a bit and I lost quite a bit of work because of it being an earlier file date but it a start.  I have been working with the file all evening and it appears to be stable.  I am able to open the file in the most recent InDesign and I have save a few extra copies along  the way for extra precation.  I've also been taking thee text I was copying into the file previous mention and "cleaning it" by giving it a prescribed style to hopefully mitigate any clinging junk. If anything comes back, I'll reach out.  Otherwise I did want to say thank you everyone again for their time and assistance.  cheers, john

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

@slowswim

That's great go hear.

If you work a lot on your file(s) you should do Save As with a new name at the end of the day - and then work on this new copy the next day.