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Evan---
Participant
February 13, 2014
Answered

What causes damaged InDesign Files (Error code: 5)?

  • February 13, 2014
  • 23 replies
  • 68348 views

In the past month our designers have had two indesign files go corrupt. Indesign doesn't give any errors while saving the document, but the next time the file is opened the error message 'Cannot open "FileName.indd". The file "FileName.indd" is damaged and cannot be recovered (Error code: 5).'

We don't need to recover these particular files but I would like to know how to prevent it!

Here's our enviornment:

  • 27" iMac late 2013
  • OS X Mavericks 10.9.1
  • InDesign CC - 9.1
  • File server is Windows 2008 R2 - files are opened and edited directly on the server through OS X's "connect to server" SMB share.
  • Damaged documents have not been massive - both under 10MB.

Are damaged files a frequent problem that you have experienced? Or do we just have really bad luck?

    Correct answer SanyamTalwar

    Hi,

    Please email your InDesign file to corrupt_indesign_docs@adobe.com and I will take a look at the document.

    If the file is larger than 10 Mb, you can zip (and password protect) the file and upload to Creative Cloud account (or Dropbox) and send us the document link.

    Regards,

    Sanyam Talwar

    23 replies

    Show previous replies
    E
    Community Expert
    Eugene TysonCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    February 14, 2014

    Aside from what causes the crash and files to become corrupted.

    Have you backed up your server on a daily basis?

    When does the corruption happen? You have the files on the server. I presume they are worked on over several days. Or is it files that are created and worked on, then saved and then you can't reopen them?

    At what point during your workflow does the corruption happen?

    Also you've said it happened with two files? It hasn't happened with any other files. What is unique about these two files compared to any other files you have worked on?

    For your immediate problem, I don't have a solution but rather a suggestion:

    For now, if your team could use File>Export (or later versions of InDesign File>Save As) and choose IDML.

    Save these files somewhere local. And these could serve as backup files.

    IDML files are light-weight versions of Indesign files, they're basically XML compacted documents.

    E
    Evan---Author
    Participant
    February 14, 2014

    Thank you all for the responses.

    I'll talk with the designers and see if there was anything weird with fonts or images they used in the files.

    Eugene, here's the work flow for the two files that have gone corrupt.

    • Designer creates a new inDesign file (uses linked image files - no "cheap" or corrupt fonts).
    • Works on it for 2-3 hours, saving direcly to the file server. No indication when saving there are problems.
    • Opens the file the next day and gets the error message - "file damaged and cannot be repaired".

    The server backs up every night, however in these cases it backs up the same damaged file.

    Are there any downsides to saving out as an IDML document? Are there formats or features that are lost?

    Willi Adelberger
    Community Expert
    Willi AdelbergerCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    February 14, 2014

    IDML can cause several and severe changes in the document. In the past I have experienced following problems, but not with every export:

    1. If I have object overriden from the master page and deleted those objects have reappeared on those pages.
    2. Bleed frame got twice so wide as the whole page was. Before only 3mm.
    3. Text frame ofset vealues got mixed up.
    4. Chages of Paragraph Styles: Numbers of lists diesapeared, other paragraph styles got numbered lists.

    Some more, but I cannot remember in detail now any more. You have to compare to an old version if you have to use the IDML path.

    A
    Anonymous
    February 14, 2014

    An InDesign file could be corrupt or damaged if any of following unexpected behavior occurs while working on that file.

    • Above all
    • System crashes
    • Power outages
    • Software conflicts
    • Low disk space
    • Viruses cause
    • Un-expected system shutdown

    The best part is that Indesign has an automatic document recovery option that can prevent corruption in the most of the corruption cases.

    L
    Community Expert
    LaubenderCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    February 14, 2014

    And when working from a Server:

    • Above all
    • Shutting down the Server ( leaving InDesign in the rain ;-) )

    But maybe that will fall in the "Un-expected system shutdown" category…

    Uwe

      Willi Adelberger
      Community Expert
      Willi AdelbergerCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      February 13, 2014

      Damaged files are not a common problem. I work also with Mac OS X 9.1.

      We connot know what the particular problem is, but things are often done wrong to cause a problem. It could be:

      • Embedded image files instead of linking.
      • Complicated files (no styles, manual text wrapping)
      • Problems with a font (cheap fonts, free fonts)
      • Font management programs
      • Importing corrupted files
      • Always saving, never saving as … (you should save as… avery file from time to time)
      • Problems on the hard drive (use file utility from another drive than the normal HD to repair permissions and repair disk, hold down alt key when the mac is started, then you can start it from the recover partition)
      • and a lot things more …
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