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

[Evan---]

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?

[Peter Spier]

You can try the blind export script at Adobe Community: InDesign 6 is crashing when attempting to open a particular document. All others ar...

[SanyamTalwar · Accepted solution]

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

[rawfoliophotography]

Has there been any progress on this issue?  I cannot recover my file at all.... I did regular saves throughout its creation and didn't get an error code 5 until, of course, the last save which apparently lost all of my hard work.  Help would be appreciated!

[BobLevine]

If it’s corrupt, it’s corrupt.

I can’t help with this but I can give you some advice to avoid ever having it happen again: http://boblevine.us/why-i-always-save-files-in-dropbox-and-why-you-should-too/

[rawfoliophotography]

very sad face over here….and coffee officially brewing for a long night of rebuilding!!  I was pretty sure that was the response I was going to get.  I appreciate your quick response.

Stay Creative!  JR

[email signature removed by moderator]

All Things Creative.

[SanyamTalwar]

Hi,

There are multiple factors both internal and external to InDesign application that can lead to document corruption. However, I can take a look and see if the file can be repaired. 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

[kathyc6426758]

Is this offer still valid? We're having corruption issues.

[SanyamTalwar]

Please send the document to the above email id

[Susanthornbury]

How quickly do you respond? Sent 3 files last night and wondering if I should just rebuild for a deadline...

[Steve Werner]

Don't expect immediate responses from the Adobe staff. You'll likely have to rebuild for your deadline.

[Group Origin DMCC Team2]

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).'

When i save the file to out sever, its damaged always,

but when i save to my external hard disc there is no issue

any proper solution?

[michiela43415725]

Could I send you my file to?

[alexandram46232552]

In my situation I had the same thing happen to me I don't think this is the fix for everybody however when I got that error code I then tried to copy the files to my desktop. Then realized that my E-drive hadn't been unlocked and once I unlocked it and tried re-opening the files the corruption went away...

[lancem25316445]

If InDesign allowed Version saves this wouldn't be as much a huge problem as it seems to be. Competing software allows the last 10 (or more) saved versions to be stored as fully saved version of the document. This has saved countless hours of frustration by simply loading the last saved version, resulting in a loss of only 10-15 minutes of work.

[BobLevine]

Work in a Dropbox or OneDrive folder and you’ll have versioning.

[kiran66042421]

I have the same problem - this only started happening after installing the InDesign updates. It happens often (at least a couple times per week). Only my files aren't actually corrupt. "Error: Code 4 - File corrupt" messages pop up when I either try to save an open file or open an existing file -  but if I restart InDesign and reopen the file, it's fine. So it seems to be a problem with the software, not the way the files were created. Hope this problem gets fixed soon!

[malloryg73680390]

I'm working on a 2-day old computer with a brand-new CC subscription. I've got an InDesign document that I saved normally, with no error messages last night. After experiencing some glitches with InDesign this morning, I saved my file, restarted and am getting "Error: code 5" with no idea how to salvage the files. Adobe. What is going on?

[Srishti Bali]

Hi All,

We are very sorry that you ran into this issue. As mentioned above, please share the files at corrupt_indesign_docs@adobe.com

We will try our best to recover them.

Regards,

Srishti

[ginas53714870]

Experienced same problem yesterday. Brand new 2018 MacBook Pro and the most updated indesign CC.

May have been a server disconnect as when I went to save, wheel of death. Restart computer, error 5 corrupt.

[Srishti Bali]

Hi Gina,

That could be a possibility, would request you to please share your files on the above-mentioned email address and we will try our best to recover it.

Regards,

Srishti

[Bevi Chagnon - PubCom.com]

An easy way to minimize file corruption/damage is to either:

1. Save it as a new copy:  File / Save As and give it a new name. This rewrites the file's code and can often prevent those tiny little "glitches" that can creep into a file.
2. Overwrite the existing file: File / Save As and overwrite the existing file. Again, rewrites the file's code.

We do this at the end of every day when we're packing up for the evening, or whenever we're ending work on a file during the day. Works like a charm; we rarely have a damaged file to deal with.

FYI, the plain File / Save doesn't give you a clean file. It just tacks stuff on to the end of the code.

[Srishti Bali]

Hi Bevi,

Thanks for sharing this workflow.

Regards,

Srishti

[Mirumir42]

Hi!

I have a corrupted file with the same error code. It happened while a computer crash and I have no copy of it. If it's possible can I also send you my file? Maybe there is still a chance to repair it...

Thanks in advance

Olga

[Group Origin DMCC Team2]

I think problem not our Indesign file, problem from linked photoshop file, if you check the photoshop link... 99% one of photoshop link is damaged, that links are making problem,

"Could not open “2017-11-26-2144-ACWA_A7R__DSC0273.psd” because it is not a valid Photoshop document."

what is the way to fixing photoshop link? 

[Laubender]

Open the PhotoShop image in PhotoShop and resave it to a new name.

Then place it again.

Regards,
Uwe Laubender

( ACP )