Open file from within Indesign shows all pdf, not indd

[rickself]

When I want to open a file from within InDesign, I see all the PDF's but I have to search for the actual InDesign file. How do I change the options? I don't want to open a PDF from withn Indy. If I want to open a PDF, I'll use Acrobat or Illustrator. Very annoying and time consuming.

InDesign version 20.5

Mac Sequoia 15.6.1

[Abhishek Rao]

Hi @rickself,

I get how that can be frustrating. When you go to File > Open, InDesign by default shows all file types it can handle, including PDFs. To narrow it down to just .indd files, you can use the Enable or Format dropdown at the bottom of the Open dialog and select InDesign Documents. Once you set that, InDesign should remember your choice for the next time. Please give that a try and let me know if it works as expected for you. Moreover, please confirm the detials of the OS as well. 

Best, 

Abhishek

[rickself]

InDesign version 20.5

Mac Sequoia 15.6.1

There are no such options in InDesign Open froim within the App.

[leo.r]

There are no such options in InDesign Open froim within the App.

By @rickself

Sorting the file list by Kind is probably the best option in this case.

[BobLevine]

I don't have a Mac to check but yes, you can choose file types in Windows.

[leo.r]

I don't have a Mac to check but yes, you can choose file types in Windows.

By @BobLevine

Interesting... Nope no such thing on Mac. Would be nice.

[BobLevine]

Here's how it works:

[rickself]

Great…on a PC

[BobLevine]

For the most part, the application works exactly the same across platforms but there are a few differences that are tied to the operating systems. This is apparently one of them.

[Peter Spier]

Or maybe its time to reset the prefs...

Also not a Mac user, do it would be nice to get a response from someone who is as to whter this is really true.

[tonks_the_auror]

Hi, 

Mac user here. When I go to File > Open from inside InDesign, this is what I see:

Honestly, I never noticed this before, and I work on both platforms.

[Eugene Tyson]

in the search window type in ".indd" without the quotes

You may have to define the search parameters/settings to search within that folder. 

Mac OS and Finder is ludcriously annoying. 

[leo.r]

Also not a Mac user, do it would be nice to get a response from someone who is as to whter this is really true.

By @Peter Spier

Yeah we don't have this luxury on Mac.

[Joe_Goldberg6988]

In the Open dialog box, look for the dropdown menu labeled Files of Type (Windows) or Enable (macOS).

Change it from “All Readable Documents” to InDesign Documents.

InDesign will then only list .indd (and optionally .idml/.indt) files.

Unfortunately, InDesign doesn’t “remember” this choice permanently across sessions. A common workaround:

Always open InDesign files via File → Open Recent or from Bridge (which filters more cleanly).

Or keep your working files in a dedicated folder separated from exported PDFs.