Old Indesign versions not available except for $$$ now. [Trying to open PageMaker 5 file]

[buzzalong1]

After wasting 30 minutes of my valuable life with an ignorant CS rep, I realize now that I have to pay (AGAIN) for an older version (which I paid for over 30 years).  I have an old file from 2003 without an extension so not sure what version will open it.   Does anyone have an old version that could possibly upgrade this file for me?  

[Pariah Burke]

Any version of InDesign will open any previous version's files. I've opened InDesign 2.0 (2001) files in InDesign CC 2024.

Try setting the extension to .INDD and opening it in your current version of InDesign. If that doesn't work, change the file extension to .inx and try again. If THAT doesn't work, open the file in Notepad (Windows) or TextEdit (Mac) and look toward the top of the file for information about what kind of file it is.

[buzzalong1]

Well, no.  None of those things work.  Is InDesign CC 2024 somehow different from regular old Indesign 2024 (20.0).  I'd love to see how you opened a 2.0 file in 20.0.  Adobe can't tell me it's possible.

[Pariah Burke]

Your wish is my command. Here's a video of me doing exactly that just now... Sort of. The oldest INDD I had access to on this computer is from 2003, so that was InDesign version 3 (CS) rather than 2.0 that made the file.

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/dvf0wnpgjcymruejxjmq0/InD-2024-opens-ID-2-file.mp4?rlkey=34oifo46xnd2...

If you can put your InDesign document on some cloud storage (e.g. Dropbox, Google Drive, OneDrive, etc.), I'll be happy to try to open it and convert it to a more modern InDesign version. Do you want 2025, 2024, 2023, or 2022 version? Private message me the location, and I'll try to convert it during business hours (Pacific time) tomorrow, Friday, 2024-11-22.

Incidentally, when I said "InDesign CC 2024" I meant the same version you're talking about. InDesign is part of Creative Cloud, so that's the CC. There's no difference other than the way people refer to it.

[buzzalong1]

Try this ... wow, Adobe is being user-hostile today.  https://drive.google.com/file/d/1NFYWHf7JlnRP6tBwkmncP0MZCSYj8OaQ/view?usp=share_link

[BobLevine]

Without an extension? How do you know it's an InDesign file? Have you tried to add the INDD extension?

What happens when you try? Do you get an error message? If so, what is it?

[jmlevy]

I have an old file from 2003 without an extension

Are you sure that it is actually an InDesign file?

If you want to share your file, someone (including me) can have a look.

Edit: @BobLevine was faster than me…

[buzzalong1]

Thanks - I'm attaching below.  It did not have an extension so I added .INDD.  I've tried doing that to open it, but no good.  I'm guessing it's version 7.0.

[BobLevine]

And please, as I asked already, what happens when you try to open those files?

[buzzalong1]

Trying again ... Thanks - I'm attaching below.  It did not have an extension so I added .INDD.  I've tried doing that to open it, but no good.  I'm guessing it's version 7.0.

[BobLevine]

If you're replying by email, you cannot attach files. You need to come back to the web community and attach them here.

[buzzalong1]

I'm very sorry - I appreciate your help.  No matter what file extension I use, I get this error.  I'll TRY uploading a screenshot, but wasn't having any luck uploading the file ... sigh.    The file is shared at this address if you want to try to open it there.  https://drive.google.com/file/d/1NFYWHf7JlnRP6tBwkmncP0MZCSYj8OaQ/view?usp=share_link

[jmlevy]

I've tried to open your file. It's absolutely sure that it is not an InDesign file. I was able to open it in a text editor and I saw some references to Acrobat and Distiller, but it is also impossible to open it with Acrobat.

[buzzalong1]

It's mistaken ... but maybe it's an old pagemaker file?  But don't think so ... I'm SURE it's either pagemaker or ID ... positive.  You're getting the same results I did.  Do you mind trying another similar one?  The upload feature isn't being very friendly.  I've added a .INDD extension to the file - but it was saved with no extension.  Maybe try .p65 or something?

[buzzalong1]

I can't see that annoying adobe uploaded the file.  I'm so grateful for any help you offer ...  try it here.  

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1VBJU71FQNYV36BldcblWGdkwjHhXbpzn/view?usp=share_link

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

@buzzalong1 

How do you want your file back?

[buzzalong1]

You can trash it … thanks
Sent from my iPhone

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

You can trash it … thanks

By @buzzalong1

?? 

[Per Berntsen]

I opened the file in a plain text editor, and it appears to have been created in PageMaker 5.0.

If I remember correctly, InDesign CS6 was able to open files from PageMaker 6.52, but not from older versions.

In that case you'd have to open the file and save it in PageMaker 6.52, and then open and save it in InDesign CS6, which again would let you open it in a current version of InDesign.

Do you have an old computer with PM 6.52 and Id CS6 installed?

You would have to give the file the correct extension for PM 5.0 before trying to open it. (the extension for PM 6.52 was p65)

[buzzalong1]

Thank you - I believe you have the right answer.  I'm going to recommend adobe hire you ... they need some serious help.

[James Gifford—NitroPress]

Well, if you tell a support persion "I have an InDesign file that won't open," that's the problem they will try to solve. Tech support is not very flexible and their help tends to be linear.

This forum is for broader help and problem-shooting. But even we can't turn an old file of some random type into an INDD compliant one. )

[buzzalong1]

Thanks for the thought - I'm not meaning to be argumentative with your kind help, but putting this here so maybe Adobe will see it.  My question to the CS person was "how do I download old versions of ID?"  Like I have been able to do for many years.  Even their links directing to help had zero information on ID.  

[BobLevine]

There is no way to get those old versions and in this case, it won't do you any good anyway.

CS6 was the last InDesign version that could open PM files and that was limited to PM6 or later. An additional complication is that in order to open the PM5 file in PM 6, 6.5 or 7 you would have to open it on the same platform it was created on.

That means if it was Mac file (and without a file extension, I would guess that to be the case) you're going to have to find someone with a very old Mac that has PM 6 or later installed.

[Brad @ Roaring Mouse]

"An additional complication is that in order to open the PM5 file in PM 6, 6.5 or 7 you would have to open it on the same platform it was created on."

This is incorrect. InDesign doesn't care about the platform. That only applies to converting between versions of PM between the platforms.

As for the lack of extension on the Mac files, adding one is not necessary. One only needs to open the file using the  File > Open >  Enable : All Documents. If it's a file version (in this case PM6.0) that InDesign can open, it will work, Mac OR PC.

[BobLevine]

Brad, I wasn't referring to InDesign. The discussion was about Pagemaker and getting a PM file to version 6 or later to open in InDesign. The only way to do that is to open it in a later version of PM which has to be on the same platform.

Of course we've now ascertained that the file in question is a PM6 file so that point is moot.