QuarkXPress to InDesign

[GenevieveDever]

Can I open a QuarkXPress file created on a Mac in my InDesign on my PC?

[James Gifford—NitroPress]

There is some continuity, as older versions of ID could open certain file types created by certain QXP versions.

I suggest you simply try it.

If not, there are both conversion apps (which may be too pricey for a one-shot job), and services. A few of the folks on here have multiple older systems in play just for this kind of conversion as well.

[Peter Spier]

It would have to be a decades old Quark file...

Support for direct opening quark ended with Q version 5 or 6, I think, and was dropped after InDesign CS6, if I remember correctly.

[Mike Witherell]

Yes, up to Q version 4.1 and up through InDesign CS6, as I recall.

[BobLevine]

Late to the party here, but all versions of InDesign can open Quark 3.x and 4.x files. It was Pagemaker files that were dropped after CS6.

That said, I believe that new versions of XPress can export to IDML.

[Frans v.d. Geest]

That said, I believe that new versions of XPress can export to IDML.

By @BobLevine

No not save/export as IDML, just open IDML...

[BobLevine]

How Will You Use the New IDML Export, GREP, and Fonts Palette in QuarkXPress 2024? | Quark

IDML Export

Import and Export have been upgraded. However, what is huge in QuarkXPress 2024 is that you can now export IDML. IDML is an interchange format designed originally for InDesign, but now adopted as a semi-standard interchange format for Desktop Publishing.

Not only can you save for InDesign and Affinity users, and for webservices that require IDML, you can also save for earlier versions of QuarkXPress that read IDML.

IDML saves at the level of ‘things common to everyone’. So, for example, if you are saving something with text shading, the text itself will come across, but, since applications don’t support text shading to the same extent, the shading itself disappears. 

Using IDML gives you maximum data integrity and structural compatibility. Your style sheets will come across, but they may not look the same, for example because of the recipient not having the same fonts installed. If you want to maintain the exact look of a document, export as PDF instead. Earlier versions of QuarkXPress back to 2016 can import this, though few other packages can.

Affinity Publisher also has this capability.

[Frans v.d. Geest]

😳😱🤯 Well, I be damn*d! I must revisit that QuarkXPress some day 😁

But as far as Affinity concerns, no, Affinity for sure can NOT export to IDML...

[BobLevine]

I was just skimming the Affinity site and read too quickly.  Of course, you're correct. Sorry for any confusion.

[Brad @ Roaring Mouse]

What version? InDesign can open 3.3.- 4.1 file from either platform (works well, btw). If you have newer than that, in addition to selling utilities to convert newer Quark files to InDesign, markzware also has a conversion service where they do the work for you priced according to the size of the file. That might be a better option for you if you just have one or two files. I had them do a client's huge Publisher file for me a few years back and was very satisfied with the results.

If it's QXP 6.x or less I can probably give it a try for you as I have an old Q2ID plugin on an old Mac system here.

[Dave Creamer of IDEAS]

Check out Markzware's OmniMarkz software.

https://markzware.com/products/omnimarkz/

(Warning--not inexpensive.)