Issues Saving InDesign Documents to External Drive and Book on MacBook Pro M1 Max

[Stephen26682603nwxn]

I am working locally on a MacBook Pro with M1 Max Pro on Monterey version 12.6 using InDesign 2023 18.0

I created a Book and have created documents to add to the book. Both are saved on an external hard drive. I had no problems with InDesign 2021 with these same activities last year in October.

When I try to add the documents to the book, I get an error message telling me that the documents are locked and cannot be added to the book.

When I edit my documents, I am unable to save or save as. When I save, it refuses and gives me an error message suggesting that the documents are open in another app and suggests that I save as. When I save as, the error message  save that an attempt was made, but the document appears damaged.

I have tried to revert to previous versions without success. I cannot either amend old files or create new ones.

I tried also to download InDesign onto Windows 11 that I am dual booting without success.

This problem has completely stalled progress on my project for days.

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[Steve Werner]

Just to be clear, a Book file InDesign CC 2023 requires that all its documents need to be updated to InDesign CC 2023 format. Have you dont that?

[Stephen26682603nwxn]

Yes. I deleted off olf versions of InDesign and created a test book and documents with Indesign 2023.

[Rishabh_Tiwari · Accepted solution]

Hi @Stephen26682603nwxn ,

Sorry to hear about the trouble. Could you please try the steps shared below:

1. go to System Preferences -> Security & Privacy -> Accessibility -> Unlock in lower left -> Add desired Adobe Softwares -> Make sure they are checked
2. Next, scroll in the left column to "Full Disk Access" -> Add desired Adobe Software -> Make sure they are checked
3. Lock in the lower left
4. If open, software will need to be quit and restarted for changes to take effect.

Let us know if this helps or if you need any further assistance.

Regards

Rishabh

[Stephen26682603nwxn]

Richabh:

Thank you. Everything seems to be working.

Stephen

[Rishabh_Tiwari]

Glad to hear that @Stephen26682603nwxn Feel free to reach out if you have any other questions or issues. 

[Liz D]

Hi I have the same problem and have followed the steps above to no avail. I work off a server and my latest version of indesign 2023 keeps opening files as read onle. Please help as this is really interferring with my work flow. Thanks.

[Dean27672471wbrl]

I have this problem since updating to v.18. I'm working on a Windows PC, working locally from a server. Some files (not all) open as Read Only. What is even stranger is that if I close and open the same file again it opens as Read/Write.   

[Kevin Lee 40]

We're also seeing this problem on Windows, we've found that we must close the file, then select File / Open - choose the file and open 'Copy' - (not Normal or Original) - this new file can then be 'saved as' a new file which in turn can be opened, modified, and saved OK.  This does only seem temporary, if we exit InDesign and restart the problem comes back in that the new files open sometimes open [Read-only].

[miykah]

Is there a PC equivalent to this?

[ladislas10]

I followed the solutions of Rishabh, but it didn't work for me.
Important info. The problem only occurs when I save the file on the external drive, it's working when I save on the computer.

Error says the file is damaged but it's not, when I save it on the computer there's no problem at all.

The read-only remains even after checking the authorizations in prefs + full disk access.
Problem happened when I switched from a 2018 Mac intel to a M2pro macbook pro and did the data migration on it. Can you help solve the problem please?

[Abhishek Rao]

Hi @ladislas10,

I’m sorry to hear you’re having trouble saving documents to an external drive and book on your Mac. I understand how frustrating this can be, especially when it disrupts your workflow.

Could you please provide a bit more detail about the issue? Specifically:

1. Have you tried saving to a different external drive or location? Please tell us more about the directory you are saving to such as if it is an internal/external drive or cloud-synced folder(like google drive/dropbox or saving to icloud)? Reference: (https://support.apple.com/en-us/109344)
2. Are you using InDesign latest version? 
3. Are you experiencing this issue with all documents or just specific ones?

We will wait to hear back from you. 

Thank you, 

Abhishek Rao