Indesign Version 20.2 freezes when writing an idml.

[kater1204]

 I am using a MacBook Pro 2024. The problem also shows on an older MacBook with an earlier version of InDesign. It happens with various documents, renaming the docs does not help.

I would be grateful for any advice.

[Peru Bob]

I've moved this from the Using the Community forum (which is the forum for issues using the forums) to the InDesign forum so that proper help can be offered.
Scroll down here to see a list of the forums:
https://community.adobe.com/

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

@kater1204

Are you running Package - or Export -> IDML?

There is one more way to fix INDD document - beside IDMLing:

- create new document - best if it will be at least the same page size - then move all pages from the old document to the new one - to the beginning - delete, last empty page - save with a new name. 

But this won't copy unused stuff - styles, colors, etc. 

[kater1204]

Hi Robert,

InDesign freezes at 60% of the process both when I export to idml or when running package.

Best regards

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

Hi Robert,

InDesign freezes at 60% of the process both when I export to idml or when running package.

By @kater1204

Do you have enough RAM? 

If you can share your INDD document with me - privately, please click my nickname - then I can take it apart and try to find the problem. 

[kater1204]

sure, your nickname is Robert at ID-Tasker?

[kater1204]

… and I have 24 GB RAM

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

… and I have 24 GB RAM

By @kater1204

24GB should be enough... 

Yes, my nickname is correct - when you click it - you'll be able to send me a private message. 

But, unfortunately, you won't be able to attach your file directly - you'll have to upload it somewhere first and then send me link. 

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

@kater1204 

Problem solved 🙂

I've used the same technique as described here:

https://id-tasker.com/docs/tutorials/general/finding-whats-wrong-with-failing-epub-export/

But, in your case, after splitting your file into separate, single page files - I was then able to export IDML from each page successfully...

Although, your file was behaving strangely at first - it wasn't refreshing previews of pages, crashed a few times.

Knowing that IDML export from each page works - those were completely new documents - I've done as I've done here:

https://community.adobe.com/t5/indesign-discussions/error-when-exporting-indd-to-pdf/m-p/15283647#M6...

And I was able to export IDML from the new file successfully:

[kater1204]

Thank you so much! Allthough this process definitely is not what I would want to do in my everyday practice 🙂

So, how can I avoid the problem in the future?

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

@kater1204

You're welcome. 

Not sure you can avoid corruption of your INDD files completely - but you need to do Save As with a new name more often - depends on how much you work on your file, how many changes you do - either at the end of the day or at least once a week. 

Then, of course, next time you need to work on the newly saved copy of your file. 

You can add date - "FileName_2025-05-06.indd" - or a number / letter / etc. but date will be much more useful. 

Another bonus - you'll have a backup copy 😉 

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

@kater1204

Excerpt from my other post: 

When you do Save - InDesign just adds Undo History to the "end of the file" - then, when you open your document again - InDesign NEEDS to analyse all those small steps - kind of replicate AGAIN all the changes you've made. 

Which takes time and can lead to corruption. 

Save As with a new name is kind of housekeeping - it gets rid of this Undo History and reorganises internal structure of the INDD file.