Runtime error, then freeze

[Typothalamus]

Just had a runtime error, then a complete freeze. Can it mean the file's become corrupted? Occurred right after deleting a set of two images grouped together. Haven't tried opening it again after a force quit via the task manager. Backing up the file as it exists now. Please advise. Perform a 'rinse' by exporting to IDML and then back into a normal ID file? Thank you.

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

If you can still open your INDD file - yes, you should do IDMLing ASAP - of course do not overwrite your original INDD file. 

Or try this: 

http://kasyan.ho.ua/indesign/all/blind_open_and_idml-export.html

[Typothalamus]

This is the largest ID file I've used to date, after compiling it from 50 separate files, reaching 180MB. I've been working with the large, complied filed for a week, with no issues, but constantly soing Save As and not Save, while also keeping links up-to-date. These are measures to avoid corruption, as I undertand. Exporting it to IDML now, and it occurs to me that IDMLing – which always takes a surprisingly long time, and this time will be far longer with this large file – perhaps shouldn't take this long, and it's maybe an indication of something amiss? It normally completes, but it's already been over 10 minutes for this file. Waiting...

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

Opening IDML - can take A LOT OF TIME - especially, if you've a lot of linked graphics - all previews need to be created from scratch... 

[Typothalamus]

Yes, it's been over an hour and it's still working. The destination still shows as 0KB, as usual, and the open file in ID has an (*) next to the title on the tab. Before IDMLing but after the issue appeared, the file was quickly backed up on a separate drive. 

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

1h isn't that long 😉 I would let it finish...

[Typothalamus]

Yes, it took a lot of time, but got it into an IDML finally. It came up as "Untitled". Question now – I immediately began working on it a bit, then realized: was I supposed to have exported back out of the IDML? I had hit save, then save as, and retitled it (it's a normal ID file now) and seems to be fine, but have I missed a key part of this 'washing' by not exporting back out of IDML?

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

@Typothalamus

No. IDML is a "raw" form - it's a ZIP with bunch of XML files inside.

The standard procedure is to export as IDML then open then Save As INDD and work as usual. 

IDMLing is just a last resort - in case of corrupted file - to fix it. 

There is no need to do it on a regular basis. 

IDML file can also be created when you do Package. 

[Eugene Tyson]

I recently completed 10 projects with 350MB of embedded links, had to IDML them in 2025, reopen in 2022, and the process was surprisingly quick.

I’m not sure why it's taking so long in your case, normally, exporting to IDML and reopening should be straightforward. When you export to IDML, it’s essentially a different file format. When you open it in InDesign, it rebuilds the file, and you save it as a new INDD file.

If the process is dragging, it might be due to  complex structures (e.g., lots of tables, nested styles, or deeply linked objects), corrupted element somewhere in the file, system resources being maxed out (check RAM usage while exporting).

That said, now that you’ve successfully saved it as a new INDD, you’re good to go, there’s no need to export again.