Save/Save as are greyed out, as well as undo and redo. Key commands don't work either.

Report · Jan 26, 2022

I'm running InDesign 2022 17.01 on a Macbook Pro 2019 OS Monterey V 12.1.

I use indesign on this computer every single day with no issues, but today, I am unable to save my projects or use undo/redo. I restarted indesign earlier to address the undo/redo problem and it worked for a while, but eventually was disabled again. At the time, I was able to save my files so I felt comfortable restarting the program. But now, both save and undo/redo are disabled. I was however able to succesfully export, which requires saving. Very strange.

other things that may or may not be related:

- Text boxes in one of my projects are creating duplicate edges and I have to double click them for the text to readjust inside the new parameters. Usually the text adjusts while I drag the box. This is only happening on one of my projects open, while the other is normal.

- Zooming with my fingers on my trackpad is randomly disabling and I have to relaunch the program to fix it. Zoom on trackpad works in other windows on my computer and in other Adobe Programs while this is happening.

As I was typing this, the program went unresponsive after I attempted to package my file as a work around to not being able to save. I got a pop up that said "InDesign is shutting down. A serious error has been detected."

Report · Jan 26, 2022

Update: My work was not recovered after this crash

Report · Jan 26, 2022

It sounds like it may be a corrupted InDesign file

Start by shutting down your computer. Try reopening InDesign by itself. If it opens, try opening a different InDesign document. If it opens successfully, try reopening the original InDesign document. If it opens, save it as an IDML file (File > Save As > InDesign CS4 [or later]). Reopen the IMDL file and save it. This may be able to recover the original file.

If you're having problems with every file, try restoring your InDesign preferences and caches following these instructions:

Adobe InDesign: Rebuilding Preferences and Cache Fileshttps://www.rockymountaintraining.com › adobe-...

Good luck!

Report · Feb 01, 2022

Hi there,

We are sorry to hear about your experience. I hope the issue is resolved by now. If not, please update to InDesign v17.1 released globally today and let us know how it goes.
If you don't see the v17.1 update, please try the steps suggested in this help article (https://helpx.adobe.com/in/creative-cloud/kb/creative-cloud-application-recognizing-available.html).

Regards,

Anshul Saini

Report · Apr 21, 2023

WHEN IS ADOBE GOING TO FIX THIS ISSUE??!!
This keeps happening.
I'm on v18.1 with OS 13.2.1 and still having the same issue!I don't seem to remember ever encountering this before CC.
___________________________________________________

One loss-less solution (as mentioned in previous threads) that seems to work is exporting the file as an IDML file.

It's a hassle, but seems to work so you can restart the program.

Report · Apr 21, 2023

Hi @Obie Harrup III ,

We're so sorry to hear about the trouble. In this main thread, it's mentioned that the issue is with saving the file & Undo/Redo, so are you experiencing both issues? If yes, can you confirm if this is happening with a specific file or multiple files? Would you mind updating InDesign to the latest version which is 18.2.1 and let us know if you're still experiencing the issues?

Thanks

Rishabh

Report · Apr 21, 2023

Thank you for the quick response.
Yes, I'm experiencing both issues irregardless of which file I'm working on.
I've just updated InDesign and my system software.

We'll see if this issues continues.

Report · Apr 21, 2023

Still having the same issues.

This is the 3rd or 4th time this morning the program has done this.

Report · Jun 07, 2023

I've been encountering this issue for several years with different versions of the application. It happens seemingly at random and is extremely annoying. From what I can tell this has been a known issue and it's frustrating there's been no resolution,

Report · Feb 26, 2024

I have the same issues. As soon as I change the document the Save , Save as, Check in, Save a copy, Undo and Redo menu entries are greyed out. I found no way to fix this. This is annoying: I used this document as a kind of template and now I can't work with it anymore. What a mess!

I work with Windows 11 and Indesign 19.01. 64

Report · Feb 26, 2024

The second Windows restart did it. This is my lucky day. Obviously 😉

Report · Feb 26, 2024

Someone may have already posted this work-around but just in case:
What seems to help is before you restart the program or your computer, see if Indesign will let you export to an IDML InDesign Markup format. It seems to work well. So far, it has proven to prevent work loss when the save options are greyed out.

Report · Oct 31, 2023

this just happened to me too. Windows 10 - Indesign 19
Perhaps it is when you are saving your indesign files to a shared cloud service - this has caused issues for me in the past. And I think this time it seems to again (dropbox).
Perhaps try saving your files locally that isn't share cloud connected. Then when you have finished with them move to the cloud if need be.

Report · Oct 31, 2023

Update - nope thats not the cause. Still happening when working on local files.

Report · Mar 15, 2024

hi this is still happening!! just worked on a mega file of 500+ pages and I can't save any of the updates!!! it's hours of work!!!

it started glitching with the text being slow, then not able to undo and then all the actions for SAVE/ SAVE AS are greyed out!!! this is really really bad @Adobe!

Report · Mar 15, 2024

hi this is still happening!! just worked on a mega file of 500+ pages and I can't save any of the updates!!! it's hours of work!!!

then not able to undo and then all the actions for SAVE/ SAVE AS are greyed out!!!

By @Marcella24156187um26

First, try to export to IDML then open IDML.

Also, if it means that you didn't save your file for hours then make a habit to save often.

Report · Apr 17, 2024

Yes, just experienced this for the first time, lost hours of work to this strange phenomenon. It seams to only affect a specific document, saved in a older version of ID, pleace look into this Adobe, and fix it!

Report · Apr 17, 2024

Yes, just experienced this for the first time, lost hours of work to this strange phenomenon. It seams to only affect a specific document, saved in a older version of ID, pleace look into this Adobe, and fix it!

By @Nico-Bjørg

InDesign is keeping unlimited Undo history - from the moment you create/open your file till you close it.

Unfortunately, this Undo history is preserved in the file - but unaccessible when you close your file.

You can hit CTRL+S every few minutes / a lot of changes - but in order to completely purge this Undo history - you need to do SAVE AS with a new name - do not overwrite your orignal document - at least once a day.

It will reorganize your file a bit and make it open and work faster.

So called IDMLing is a way to fix INDD file and purge all the unnecessary data completely - but doesn't have to be done every day.

Report · Apr 17, 2024

hi this is still happening!! just worked on a mega file of 500+ pages and I can't save any of the updates!!! it's hours of work!!!

it started glitching with the text being slow, then not able to undo and then all the actions for SAVE/ SAVE AS are greyed out!!! this is really really bad @Adobe!

By @Marcella24156187um26

Try to split your document into smaller chunks and then use Book feature.

Report · May 21, 2024

It's still happening!!!

I cannot save my file or redo/undo is greyed out as well. I cannot click 'save as..' neither.

I lost my hours of work for the second time...

Report · May 21, 2024

It's still happening!!!

I cannot save my file or redo/undo is greyed out as well. I cannot click 'save as..' neither.

By @Lovelle267528063hgq

Can you Export as IDML?

Report · Oct 21, 2024

This just happened to me. 2 hours of work down the drain because i cannot freaking save. It won't even save on exit. WTMF...

Report · Oct 21, 2024

This just happened to me. 2 hours of work down the drain because i cannot freaking save. It won't even save on exit. WTMF...

By @Amanda36502508dzsz

Please check this recent similar discussion:

https://community.adobe.com/t5/indesign-discussions/command-z-greyed-out-in-indesign-2024/m-p/149169...

It has links to other discussions on the subject (although I'm not sure they include a definite solution to this serious issue.)

Report · Oct 21, 2024

This just happened to me. 2 hours of work down the drain because i cannot freaking save. It won't even save on exit. WTMF...

By @Amanda36502508dzsz

Even export as IDML isn't / wasn't available?