Which format to use for saving an InDesign file?

[Doughty_Varnedoe2259]

I created a file in InDesign using my own Adobe.com account. I need to send this file to my son to open on a version of InDesign at his university. Which format do I save the file in to do this? Thanks!

[leo.r]

IDML. This will ensure they'll be able to open the file even with earlier InDesign versions than yours.

[Peter Spier]

As @leo.r says, but you also need to understand that opeing a .idml file in an older version may not show exactly the same things you see.

First, any features in the version you use tht are not supported inthe older version will be lost, and second, differences in the text engines between versions can cause the text to reflow, and this may not happen until a sory is touched in some way. This text reflow can also hapopen when opeing a file in a newer version than the obne in which it was saved, so if that's important the file must be checked carefully.

If at all possible it is always best to share files in the same version.

[Willi Adelberger · Accepted solution]

Package the file with INDD, IDML and PDF and send the whole package. IDML could changen massive, so the first try should always be an INDD, if an IDML is needed to open, he can check the differences with the PDF.