updating a multipage placed pdf file changes all the links to page 1

[tdjohnsn]

I have a 64 page pdf created in Indesign. 

Each page is just a 2 x 2 inches, so I have placed that file into another Indesign file, 12 pages per page so that I have fewer pages to print and it will be faster to cut out.

When I go to update the link to the 64 page pdf all 64 placed pages change to page one of that pdf. This happens both when I say "update link" when I open the document, and when I don't update when opening and use the Update All Instances button in the links panel instead.

I feel like this has worked just fine in the past which is why I chose this workflow, but it is definitely not working now.

Am I forgetting to press or check something?

[Dave Creamer of IDEAS]

It's working fine for me.

What is your OS and version, what what is your InDesign version. (Exact versions please)

[tdjohnsn]

InDesign 20.2 and OS 15.3.1 and now InDesign has started crashing:

I have restarted my computer, and that didn't help.

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

@tdjohnsn

Do you use Typeface app - font manager?

[tdjohnsn]

I do. Version 3.15.3.

I've have cleared its font cache, but that didn't help.

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

@tdjohnsn

You should disable / remove it.

[Dave Creamer of IDEAS]

Someone, on another post, mentioned going back to a previous version of Typeface. 

Disable it first as @Robert at ID-Tasker mentioned to see if that solves the problem. Then try downgrading it.

[tdjohnsn]

It did not help, my multipage pdf still replaces all the pages with page 1 even with Typeface not installed. I do seem to have solved the crashing problem by resinstalling InDesign.

I'll see if I can find a previous version of Typeface since not having type management software isnt an option, but none of this is solving the PDF link update problem.

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

@tdjohnsn

Maybe your file is corrupted? 

Try IDMLing - export as IDML, open, save with a new name - do not overwrite your original file. 

[tdjohnsn]

That didn't do the trick either. Something about the way that file has recorded what page of the pdf goes where is irretrievably broken. It looks like I am going to have to rebuild it. Fortunately it is just a grid, but placing the 64 pages wasn't fun the first time! 

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

 [...] Fortunately it is just a grid, but placing the 64 pages wasn't fun the first time! 

By @tdjohnsn

For the next time: 

https://community.adobe.com/t5/indesign-discussions/place-a-multipage-pdf-in-indesign/td-p/11343293

Or if those are separate PDF files - for each page - or any other kind of importable graphic files - ImageCatalog script - also included with InDesign. 

[tdjohnsn]

Thank you Robert and Dave for all your help. 

As it turns out, after an entire day of reinstalling software and restarting my computer to trouble shoot this, it turns out it was 100% user error. The horrible invisible kind where you assume something is the way it supposed to be so you don't even look there. My updated file, the one that was supposed to be 64 pages, only had one page in it (I don't know how or why...I'm blaming the cat.) Of course it changed all the pages in the 12-up document to the same page when it updated. A quick re-export and everything is working just fine. 

The Crash was the autoactivation problem, so that is useful information (although I supposed knowing that someone with years of experince can still be a bonehead is useful too!)

[Dave Creamer of IDEAS]

I think we've all been there... 

[tdjohnsn]

I touched base with Typeface support, and while it doesn't help my PDF problem, you just have to disable Autoactivation for InDesign and the crashes clear up. The previous version of InDesign doesn't have that problem, so that would be the answer for anyone who really needs autoactivation. I can live without it until everything is playing nicely again. 

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

@tdjohnsn

You mean Auto activation of Fonts in Typeface for use in InDesign?

[tdjohnsn]

Yes. There is a checkbox to uncheck in the preferences in Typeface. Apparently font activation will be fixed in an InDesign update.

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

@tdjohnsn

A lot of people reported recently - at least on Macs - a lot of problems related to fonts...