Opening InDesign CS5 documents in CS3?

[jameskiavi]

I found this helpful article about how to open a CS5 document in CS3.

http://help.adobe.com/en_US/indesign/cs/using/WSa285fff53dea4f8617383751001ea8cb3f-6d4da.html

Unfortunately this does me no good because I need to have CS4 in order to  pull it off. I only own CS3 and CS5. Is there another way to get a CS5 InDesign  document into CS3?

Please help!

[Peter Spier]

Jake_Sid wrote:

I'm sure there must be a way to at least make a plugin to be able to down-save.

Or perhaps a portable program.

I would have a go at making one myself as I have some experience programming, but I don't have a copy of CS3 or CS4.

I really need something that would allow me to down-save... mainly for Flash.

I like a guy with self confidence, but do you seriously think that if it was a simple task (or even complicated, but simple enough to justify spending a month or so of programmer time to solve) someone who writes plugins for a living, or Adobe for that matter, wouldn't have done it? There's no conspiracy at work here to keep you from backsaving, it's all about the econimics and feasability of solving the problem.

Good luck, by the way, with the project. I'm sure you'll find a bunch of people willing to pay you $10 for the plugin when it's done, and maybe even a few willing to pay $100.

[JakeSidSmith]

I personally don't think it'd be as hard as it seems.

Programs like Photoshop and Illustrator let you down-save.

I think it's a possibility that Adobe just didn't give down-saving options in order to force people to upgrade, and gaining themselves more money.

[Peter Spier]

So, you've already said you don't have CS3 or CS4, and yet you're convinced that there is no additional complexity in the CS5 file format, nor is it in any way more complex than a pixel grid (Okay, smart objects, 3-d and adjustment layers add a little complexity). I guess you've not done a lot of work with programming page layout and handling text flow.

Where's the eyeroll icon?

[JakeSidSmith]

You can save down from CS5 to CS4 and from there to CS3...

I'm pretty certain there is an easy way to translate these two actions into CS5.

It's just like saving a CS5 document but without the additional features of CS5 and CS4.

I didn't say it would be easy... but it's definately possible.

[_Jongware_-9BC6tI]

Of course it's possible. Although it's by far not as simple as "save a copy but leave out the Span Column definition".

At least you admit that there are new features in CS4 and CS5, something most complainers seem to overlook ... What should happen when those features are used, then?

If there is no way a CS3 document can even remotely look like its original in CS4 or CS5, should the conversion program then just say so and produce nothing? (Imagine lots of complaints here.)

Or should it discard all new features, and let the user figure things out? (Imagine lots of complaints here.)

Or should it "fake" all new features, and, for example, convert GREP styles to fixed layout? (Imagine lots of complaints here. Also from the would-be programmer -- how would you fake multiple page sizes in a CS3 document?)

If you are still shrugging this off as "so it's a nice challenge for programmers, then", do me a favour and save a Word document as Plain Text. Then try to devise a system where Word's Bold and Italic text formatting, its hyperlinks, page sizes, and margins, its footnotes and endnotes, and its tracking changes get back-saved to Plain Text in such a form that you can edit it as if you're editing the original Word file.

[Fred Goldman]

While I am in agreement with those that wish Adobe would concentrate on new features rather than down saving I very much disagree with Jongware's last post. Jongware, all those problems you brought up were already considered when they made the ability to save from CS5 to CS4 and likewise from CS4 to CS3.

[Jongware]

Fred, I'm returning the favour and I'm disagreeing with you in turn!

The "problems" you mention were solved by Adobe in two ways. First of all, the "downsaves" from CS5 to CS4 and from CS4 to CS3 do not remove CS5/CS4 specific functions. In fact, I'm glad it doesn't because this is Adobe's recommended way of cleaning the debris out of wonky documents. It'd be quite a surprise if part of that cleansing would be the total removal of GREP styles, variables, and-what-nots for your current version!

Second: as you may or may not be aware of, following the release of every new version there always has been an update of the previous one for "forward compatibility reasons". I think that's where the old version gets instructed which new formatting items in inx/idml should be ignored.

[Las_CrucesNMuser]

I would appreciate not being told that I don't need to go back and forth between versions of InDesign.  Each of us works under different circumstances and with a different group of collaborators.  We don't need gratuitous admonitions to "get all the versions" that have ever ever existed in order to operate professionally.  Do these people get paid by Adobe to say such things?

[BobLevine]

Las CrucesNMuser wrote:

Do these people get paid by Adobe to say such things?

Not a dime.

Bob

[Kelly Richards]

Wow, this is a problem! So Bob's solution is to own and install every single version of InDesign ever released. Are all of those previous versions available for purchase should one choose to take his advice?

[BobLevine]

My solution is actually to have every reasonable version. In my opinion that means CS3 and later...and no, you can't buy anything but CS5.5 now, though some resellers may still have CS5 stock.

FWIW, on my laptop I have CS3, CS4, CS5 and CS5.5. I just built a new desktop and only have CS5 and CS5.5 installed. For the few times I'll need the earlier versions I'll use the laptop.

Bob

[Kelly Richards]

OK, out of curiosity, if I were to purchase all of the versions you have, how much would I have to invest? I am a freelance graphic designer and a single mom. This probably would not be feasible for me. I could probably purchase CS3 which is the one my primary client uses but where would I find that?

[BobLevine]

Earlier versions are not available through legitimate channels.

Bob

[Peter Spier]

At this point it would be nearly impossible to find a copy of CS3, but there are a few companies that seem to buy up unused old software and resell it. Be cautious, though about who you deal with and what you buy -- education licenses cannot be transferred, nor can an upgrade without including all versions in the chain.

Upgrades of InDesign, if you already have a license, are around $200, I think, in the US, for a standalone version, but if you have a suite package you have to upgrade the entire suite which runs in the 700 - 1200 range, if memory serves, depending on which package you have. It might be more practical for your clients to upgrade than for you to downgrade, especially if you are willing to pitch in some of the money.

The point to all of this is really not that anyone should be trying to find old versions, but that if you are in business and expect to work with lots of clients with different software, you need to have what they have. Going forward this is not a problem -- you budget for it. Upgrades are pretty predictable for Adobe products. Service bureaus need to be up-to-date early to serve new customers, but designers can hang back a bit. It's just not been smart to skip versions if you have customers who are upgrading without you, and you don't want to uninstall old versions that your customers still use, or work for those customers in newer versions than the ones they have.

It's definitely a problem for new users who haven't had a chance to buy old versions. I wish Adobe would sell downgrade licenses as well as upgrade, but there's not the same incentive. Going forward it looks like .idml may be more version-compatible than the old .inx format, which will make some users happy if there is no longer a need to have intermediate exports to to skip versions (.idml exported from CS5.5 can be opened in CS5.5, CS5 and CS4, while .indd files from CS5.5 cannot be opened in anything earlier), but that doesn't mean it's a replacement for updating regularly. Each version adds features, and if you've used those new features they get lost when you move to a previous version that does not support them. That can have a major impact on a file.

The bottom line is that no business can really survive without re-investing in itself. It's not just those of us who use Adobe products.

[John Hawkinson]

It's been alleged that if you purchase InDesign through Volume Licensing, you can obtain downgrades to CS3. So that's another approach to try.

[Peter Spier]

Good thought for a new purchase, perhaps, but not a lot of help, I think, for anyone who already has a license, and I bet at some point the volume license people will get tired of selling onesies with a downgrade and set a minimum number of seats.

[John Hawkinson]

Maybe. And maybe CS7 will come with free copies of CS5.

[Peter Spier]

Dreamer.

Seriously, the volume license gambit is a good idea. Too bad Adobe doesn't make it obvious to anyone. For the one-user studio the normal channel is to buy a pacaked version form a reseller or a download from the Adobe store. Do you know a way to convert the license?

[Peter Spier]

Kelly Richards wrote:

Wow, this is a problem! So Bob's solution is to own and install every single version of InDesign ever released. Are all of those previous versions available for purchase should one choose to take his advice?

It's not "Bob's" solution, it's THE solution. There are no other viable options. But you only need to own the versions you will need to work with, as long as you don't goof up and save a file in a later version by accident. If you collaborate with CS3 users, but not CS4, there's every reason to have CS3, but none to have CS4 other than to pass .idml files through to .inx, and that's a really bad workflow.

[Robert_Ferrer]

Maybe someone could offer an online service where you could upload your CS5 files and have them converted to CS3 files for a fee.

[Peter Spier]

I believe John DID look into that, and found it was prohibited by the licensing.

There are a lot of us here, though, who will convert one or two files for anyone in a jam at no cost.

[John Hawkinson]

Let's say, rather, that "licensing for such a service appears to be cost-prohibitive at this time." I was avoiding replying on the thread where it came up in the hopes that the situation or circumstances changed...

[Kelly Richards]

Here is my situation: After several years of not working as a graphic designer (I was a full-time mom) I am now working again. I purchased CS5 - just before the release of CS5.5... another story. My primary client is a non-profit organization and they use CS3. I didn't know before purchasing that I would have problems transferring files back and forth. Up to this point we have had to send pdf files for proofing. However, every time there is a comma or period that needs to be added they have to contact me rather than do it themselves. It would be very presumptuous of me to ask my non-profit client to upgrade their software. They too, are getting frustrated with the hassle of not being able to share files.

[Peter Spier]

Well, that is the classic dilemma, unfortunately, but there's nothing anyone here can do to help you. Do they have a suite license or standalone?

Did you buy your copy of CS5 during the 30 day window before the 5.5 announcement? You may be eligible for a free upgrade, and if the client has a standalone, you could both then be working in 5.5 for only a few hundred dollars. If you consider the cost of the time to do the PDF transfers and have you make corrections, this might turn out to be the cheapest option. Upgrade eligibility after new product announcement

[Kelly Richards]

Good suggestion Peter, thanks. I know that Adobe offers some kind of

discount to non-profits but I cannot find actual prices anywhere.