This file is already open by another user- I am the only user

[lesliet33133611]

I am unable to open a file from the initial InDesign screen of recent documents. The message is "This file is already open by another user.." I am the only user as it is my personal iMac using Catalina. I am using the current version of InDesign 15.0.1. Also I keep having to relink many of my images although they have not been moved. This has been going on for some time. Can someone please help identify the problem?

[Frans v.d. Geest]

Check for any Lock files, ilck files that are 0 kb. Trash those. Try to use File/Open to navigate to the file and open it that way. Resave the file, try using a Save as.

[Test Screen Name]

The problems may be connected.

1. Does your Mac sometimes crash (stop working, needs switching off and on) while using InDesign?

2. Does InDesign sometimes crash (go away with a message, loses open documents)?

3. Do you save to your own iMac's disc, an external disk, a local network share or a cloud service?

[lesliet33133611]

No, no, and I save to my own hard drive plus an external hard drive.

[BobLevine]

Are you saving to a Dropbox or Onedrive folder?

[lesliet33133611]

No.

[defaultunrmk6r10zel]

I am having the same issue -  I get the same error message when I am pulling up any inDesign file from my dropbox account. I have uninstalled and reinstalled and not sure what to do from here. 

[AnneMarie Concepcion]

I'm assuming you've also rebuilt your InDesign preferences and deleted the cache?

If it's been going on for a while, it sounds like it could possibly be an OS permissions error. Follow the steps here to reset permissions on your Home folder: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT203538

AM

PS: To rebuild prefs, quite InDesign, then hold down all 4 modifier keys (Command, Control, Shift, Option) while you start the program again. Keep the keys held down until you see "Delete Preferences?" and then click Yes (or Delete)

To rebuild the InDesign cache, quit out of InDesign and find the Home > Library >  Caches > Adobe InDesign folder, and delete that folder. (You will need to hold down the Option key when opening the Go menu in the Finder to see the Library choice appear, they hide it by default.)

[lesliet33133611]

Thanks for your reply. Here is what I was able to do:

OS permissions — reset them following the guide.

Rebuild prefs—done.

Rebuild cache— Unable to do. I have no Library folder under Home. I do have a Library folder under Macintosh HD but the Caches folder does not have an InDesign folder.

Ideas?

GG

[AnneMarie Concepcion]

To see your Home > Library folder, which is hidden by default:

1. Go to the Finder
2. Hold down the Option key
3. Open the Go menu while you're holding down the Option key
4. The Library folder will appear in that list. Choose it.

For ease of use in the future, add the Library folder to your Finder sidebar. 

The Caches folder, containing one for Adobe InDesign, is in there.

[lesliet33133611]

Hooray! Just reopened InDesign, opened a working doc, checked links—all good, and the working file appears in the initial screen after relaunch—and I can open it!!!

Kudos to you for your detailed help!

GG

[AnneMarie Concepcion]

great news! I'm happy to hear that.

[lesliet33133611]

Oh no! It has happened again! I can live with the intermttant ability to open recent files from the initial opening screen, BUT this link thing is driving me crazy. In the links panel all appears fine, but looking at actual images, there are the same 8 images that initially appear okay when opening the document, but quickly revert to a shaded box or shape. Should I post this issue separately or does the community think it is related?

I am losing so much time trying to troubleshoot this! Help!

[AnneMarie Concepcion]

You will see shaded/gray boxes when you:

1) start with a working InDesign file that shows image previews

2) export to IDML in a different folder (not the same as the original INDD)

3) open the IDML in ID.

Could that be the problem? The grey boxes appear because since the new file is in a diff location, it can't find the links, and IDML files don't retain low-res previews as do INDD files which can't find links.

If this is the problem, select the Link/s in the Links panel and relink to the original art files. You should see previews of all the images as normal. Save the document. Quit ID and reopen that new document. All should be copacetic.

AM

[Frans v.d. Geest]

Or, maybe Fast view is turned on, instead of normal or high quality? Sometimes people hit a shortcut by accident that changes the view, in that case they also see grey boxes...

[Test Screen Name]

"I have no Library folder under Home." Yes, you do. Everyone with a Mac does, but it's hidden by default.

"I do have a Library folder under Macintosh HD" That's a different one.

In Finder use Go > Go to Folder. Type (or copy/paste)

~/Library/Application Support

Type it exactly like that, starting with a tilde (~) and including one space.

[susanr13780671]

I am having this problem. I deleted the cache from the library and the in/Design preferences. I am using DropBox. Is there somehting else to do?

[soudeh298986767og7]

I also have the same problem and I cannot open my file. this is really important for me

[Peter Spier]

Did you look foer and delete any .idlk files in the same folder as the .indd file?

[HARSHIKA_VERMA]

Hi All,

We see a lot of visits to this post in April 2024. I am assuming this issue came up after the recent release of 19.4. If so, please upvote this uservoice page: https://indesign.uservoice.com/forums/601180/suggestions/48363590.

Please follow the latest community post for updates: https://community.adobe.com/t5/indesign-discussions/alert-is-shown-on-opening-documents-in-indesign-...

We would like to inform you that this is a known bug, and the team is investigating it. For now, please try the workaround below to unblock yourself and let us know if that helps.

Workaround: Use ID 19.3 or Open the file in the previous version, resave it, and then open it in ID 19.4.  

Please stay tuned to the uservoice page for updates on this bug.

Thanks,

Harshika

[Jim24141391l9ds]

Thanks. The workaround solved the problem for me. How will I know when the bug is fixed?

[Sarah7776]

Also had to revert to 19.3 in order to get the file to behave. Please advise timeline for resolution. 

[Jason Gareth29225744a0kk]

This has been a nightmare .. unable to work on my uni assignments, my documents locked for a number of days.

Luckily i've just found this!

It would be great if, when this error occurs, a button could be added to resolve the issue (delete the idlk file) ... although I tried to search for this mysterious file extension and couldn't fina any.

Fingers crossed reinstallingt the previous version will help.

Cheers

[Bola157F]

Hi,
I read here- https://indesign.uservoice.com/forums/601180/suggestions/48363590

that the fix of the issue is now available in the latest InDesign 2024(v19.5.0.084)

My problem with this same issue seemed to appear after I upgraded to vrs. 19.5 (2024).
I downgraded to 19.3, and I still got the same "No permission/document already open message", so I reinstalled the 2024 version and still no luck.
What has worked so far?
I tried opening an idml file, and it opened fine, so
- I made a copy of the problem file,
- and changed the INDD extension to IDML.
- I then tried to open the IDML file, and it worked.
- I "saved as" with a different name, quit Indesign, and reopened the new file.
So far, it appears to be working fine.

Anothet thing I've tried is to make a duplicate of the problem file, and simply open the copy. 

Hope someone finds this useful.
Regards.