Strange problem with import/place image

[jrm21]

InDesign CC 2019 14.0.1

Mac OS X 10.14.3

I am having problems importing an EPS image into InDesign.

I have various layouts with master pages and templates set up. On a regular basis, I have to update a particular graphic (among other elements) in the layout. For years, my workflow involved simply deleting the contents of the old image box and "drag/drop" the new image in place. Both images were the same exact size, so this worked well.

Recently, this has stopped functioning properly. The images involved are EPS files (vector) generated in a 3rd party software.

When I try to drag/drop the image onto an empty image box, the image at first appears in the box. Once I let go of the mouse button, the image disappears from the box and the regular "place" graphic appears. I can then click to place the image on the layout in a new (not existing) box.

The same thing happens if I choose "Place" from the "file" menu. The existing image box will appear to accept the image, but then I get the small image with a cursor, forcing me to place the image in a new box.

Oddly, this only happens with an empty image box. If the box already has an image in it, drag/drop and place work as expected (the new image replaces the old in the image box).

It also only happens with EPS images from one software package. Other images place normally. The images open up with no issue in Illustrator. Once placed on the page, they output/print without any issue. The import issue, however, is killing my workflow.

I realize the problem may be all or partly the fault of the way the other software generates EPS files. Can this be an InDesign issue? What would cause a problem like this? I am contacting the company that makes the other software, but don't know what to tell them about a possible cause.

Any ideas?

[JonathanArias]

dont' work with .eps. open that file in illustrator, go file, save as, and save it as an illustrator file. now place it in you layout. what happens?

[jrm21]

.ai, .eps... doesn't matter. Save it as anything else and it imports correctly.

The only problem is with .EPS generated from Barcode. Opening each file and re-saving isn't a viable option.

[Bill Silbert]

.Eps as a file format hasn't actually been updated since the 1990s. It seems possible that any software that generates such an antiquated file format as its final product just may have become at least partly incompatible with more up to date software and operating systems.

[jrm21]

Interesting. I would have thought a format that has been around so long would have established standards so that it played well with others.

Apparently, that isn't the case. My 53k EPS generated from two different applications (older one that works with InDesign and a new one that doesn't) balloons to 930k when saved as an EPS from Illustrator. Guess that extra 1700% shows there are many different "extras" that can be inserted into a file.

What other standard file formats are there for vector formats? The companies and printers I work with all use EPS -  though it was a standard. I can't switch to Illustrator because it isn't a supported output format in any of the software packages that generate the files I need. I send and receive so many files in EPS format from various clients and suppliers. I had no idea there were compatibility issues or that the format was effectively dead.

[Laubender]

Hi jrm21 ,

what happens if you are using the functions of the Links panel to update the placed EPS graphics?

Select the frame holding the old EPS file, go to the Links panel and do Relink with the new EPS file.

Regards,
Uwe

[jrm21]

"Relink" is not an option for an empty image box.

"Relink" on a box with a different image works as expected, but so does drag/drop and Place. The problem is only with an empty image box.

[Laubender]

Ah, ok. So we should concentrate on empty graphic frames…

Can you post a sample InDesign document with just one empty graphic frame where you cannot place the EPS?

Together with a sample EPS file?

Best use Dropbox or a similar servce and provide a download link.

Thanks,
Uwe

[Laubender]

Hi jrm21 ,

are you sure that the graphic frame you want to place the EPS to does not contain any other contents?

Maybe there was something pasted inside before and moved so that you cannot see its contents anymore?

Regards,
Uwe

[jrm21]

Yes, as mentioned the problem is only evident with empty graphics boxes. If the box contains an image, the new image will properly import through any of the usual methods.

I am positive that nothing is already in the box for three reasons:

1. It happens if I create a new, empty box.

2. It happens if I delete the current contents of a box

3. If the box already contains an image, the graphic will import properly.

I just heard back from the developer of the software that generates the EPS files. They seem to have located the issue. If I open their EPS file in a text editor and remove the "%%HiResBoundingBox" line from the file, the problem goes away. Strange, since other files that also have that line work properly.

I'm not sure what this means or if the developer will make a change in their software.

As requested, I have placed some files in DropBox at this link:

Dropbox - test - Simplify your life

1. InDesign file with a single, empty image box

2. Original.eps - graphic generated by the software that exhibits the problem

3. FIXED.eps - same as #2 with the line removed. This graphic works properly.

[DBLjan]

I can't switch to Illustrator because it isn't a supported output format in any of the software packages that generate the files I need.

Someone told me, you can just rename an Illustrator file from .ai to .pdf, because its basically a pdf – which should be, i guess, better supported, and maybe thats an alternative route for your workflow.

I cant test the files behind our stupid firewall, but since this happens only on 'new' containers: Maybe, is there an object-style involved? What about Import-options of the eps?

[Laubender]

Hi jrm21 ,

just tested your provided files.

Result: I had no problem to place the original eps or the fixed eps file to the empty rectangle.

InDesign CC 2019 version 14.0.1.209 on Windows 10.

Perhaps someone on Mac OS X should try this as well.

Regards,
Uwe

[jrm21]

Thanks for testing. It would be great if someone on a Mac can test this so I can determine if it is a Mac issue or just me.

[dave c courtemanche]

It must be a Mac issue (ID 2019, OS Mojave is my setup). Dragging the original eps does the described behavior. Dragging the fixed eps works as planned. Opening the file in illustrator & resaving as .ai file behaves as planned. I think you just need to batch process your .eps files into .ai files.

[jrm21]

The app developer contacted me (Appsforlife). They are going to release an update to the Barcode software that does not place a "%%HiResBoundingBox" line in the EPS file. This should correct the issue.

Very strange, since EPS files from other software also have that line in the code and work properly. At least they were able to track down the issue and work on an update version of their software.

[Laubender · Accepted solution]

https://forums.adobe.com/people/dave+c+courtemanche  wrote

It must be a Mac issue (ID 2019, OS Mojave is my setup). Dragging the original eps does the described behavior. Dragging the fixed eps works as planned. Opening the file in illustrator & resaving as .ai file behaves as planned. I think you just need to batch process your .eps files into .ai files.

Hi Dave,

thank you very much for testing on Mac OS X.

So I think, we have a bug here.

jrm21 should report it here:

Adobe InDesign Feedback

And after reporting come back to this thread to post the link to the report.

Hm. Maybe I should test older versions of InDesign on Mac OS X as well.

For some reasons I still have OS X 10.11.6 installed so I cannot test with InDesign CC 2019.

Thanks.
Uwe

[Laubender]

Just tested with my German InDesign CC 2018.1 on Mac OS X 10.11.6.

No problem to place the original eps file in the empty frame.

So I assume we see an InDesign CC 2019 bug here that may be related to OS X Mojave.

Why to OS X Mojave? Tried with an old prerelease version of InDesign CC 2019 on OS X 10.11.6 and had no problem placing the original eps file.

Regards,
Uwe

[jrm21]

Per the suggestion here I have filed a bug report at the provided link. System says the report is being processed. Link to the report is here:

Cannot place EPS image in empty box – Adobe InDesign Feedback

That system won't let me include an EPS file, so I couldn't provide a sample. Also, the app developer has issued an update to the software, and the app now generates an EPS file that imports without a problem.

Apparently, it has something to do with the  "%%HiResBoundingBox" line in the EPS file, although I see that same line in other EPS files that import correctly.

[Laubender]

Hi jrm21 ,

I added a comment at InDesign Feedback with a backlink to this discussion.

Also gave a link to your test documents you uploaded to Dropbox ( see your reply 9 here ).

Regards,
Uwe