Does High Sierra Work with CS4? [Branched - Now LOCKED]

[Skyynet]

InDesign CS4 worked on my Mac until macOS 10.12 Sierra after installation of the old Java 6.

Today I upgraded to macOS 10.13 High Sierra and InDesign CS4 still starts but doesn't show the window contents anymore.

If someone knows a workaround I'll be happy to hear it. I just do dtp for private hobby things so updating to CC is no option for me.

[Nancy OShea]

Did you uninstall CS4 and re-install on top of the NEW OS yet?

Use the CS Cleaner Tool below. 

http://helpx.adobe.com/creative-suite/kb/cs5-cleaner-tool-installation-problems.html

EDIT: I branched this to a new discussion because it concerns a brand new OS.

[likota39]

No, I did not uninstall CS4. In both cases (from Mt. Lion to El Cap, and from El Cap to Sierra) I just did simple upgrade.
I tested all the Suite apps, and they are working flawlessly.

MacBook 2010 with 10 GB RAM, SSD.

[Skyynet]

Hi Nancy,

No I didn't do a reinstall as the program starts fine. It's just its windows which show up without (normal) content. I assume it's a graphics problem which may be caused by the new metal 2 system. Just guessing.

While Photoshop CS6 works fine, I also experienced graphics problems. When I save for web and mouseover a button, the tooltips appear but won't disappear. If I don't find an affordable CS6 Upgrade for InDesign I have to sidegrade to Quark. So sad.

[John T Smith]

Warning about "High Sierra" https://forums.adobe.com/thread/2374891 and possibility that 32bit programs will not run properly

[joesickspack]

I installed CS4 Design Premium on High Sierra (both fresh installations). So far:

Save dialog box in Photoshop is completely messed up.

Indesign not usable:

- Dialog boxes and palettes blank.

- Files open but contents not always visible

- Elements not selectable.

- Scroll bars not operable with mouse

- Etc etc.

Acrobat and Distiller won't open.

[likota39]

Seems there are some issues with High Siearra, while Sierra upgrade is acting fine.

[Skyynet]

Since InDesign CS4 doesn't work anymore on macOS 10.13 High Sierra I did a siegrade to QuarkXPress yesterday. Prize was $399 which is less than what I would have to invest into an update to CS6.

There's a company Markzware which offers a ID2Q converter (they also offer a Q2ID converter) and an online service if one doesn't want to buy the program for $199. The online service charges by MByte and I only had two important and time consuming docs which were converted perfectly within 20h for $35.

I hope my investment lasts for a while. I really would have liked to stay with InDesign but the new "Cloud or Leave" strategy made me leave.

I also hope that my Photoshop CS6 lasts for a while as I really don't want to switch and see no real competitor with its strengths.

[John T Smith]

>new "Cloud or Leave" strategy

You need to aim your blame where it belongs... Apple

Adobe did not change your old program to make it stop working... Apple changed their operating system and THAT is why your old programs won't work, not because of anything Adobe did... Also... every time Apple issues an update, there is the risk that an old program that HAS been working will STOP working... bottom line, old programs require a matching old operating system

[Nancy OShea]

We see this every time Apple rolls out an upgrade. 

Honestly, I never upgrade my OS until I buy a new machine.  I figure, if it 'aint broke, don't fix it.

[joesickspack]

Not blaming anyone. I just didn't and don't want to pay for Adobe's high-priced upgrades and subscription model, neither of which they would have been able to force on everyone if they weren't in a more or less monopoly position for professional graphics software.

I'm a pinchpenny looking for alternatives. Probably go dual boot and keep all my files and fonts on an HFS+ drive.

Meanwhile, those paying through the nose for subscriptions to keep their software always up to date are also SOL, at least for awhile:

Adobe Illustrator and InDesign Not Working Properly with macOS High Sierra - Mac Rumors

[likota39]

Re accusation of Apple.

Apple has every right to improve the system, while Adobe and every other app designer should work together with Apple to solve possible problem that a new upgrade may cause.

Blaming all on Apple is just avoiding any action on Adobe‘s part to work with Apple and find a solution. It is quite possible that the solution is rather a simple one.

Consequently, one can conclude that Adobe is more interested in getting upgrade money for higher CS and not the way around.

[Jongware]

You realize your argument works the other way around too? Adobe has every right to improve their software as well! You really believe they must provide compatibility – both forward and backward – for new, improved, high-speed, high-memory versions on legacy Apple OS versions? How far back, then? How can they provide 21st century features when it must be able to run on 20st century hardware?

What about the software – must they update Adobe Illustrator 88 so that it may run on High Sierra?

If your answer to all of the above is "well yes, because I paid them for the software!" then consider this: if Adobe had thought of this scenario, they would have charged you quite a lot more.

[likota39]

Well, here is another view based on your correct statement: ”Adobe has every right to improve their software as well!”

To an end user, Adobe ‘works‘ for Apple; not the opposite. Therefore, Adobe has some obligations to their users… well, to extent of their choice/policies.

Having in mind that Apple gives avery Apple software developer chance to work together with them, it is up to a developer to accept this cooperation or not.

[BobLevine]

Your logic is so ridiculous, I don't know even know where to start. Both Apple and Adobe are companies that are in business to make money. They depend on paying customers and quite frankly the entire subscription model is necessary because of "customers" like you.

Just because you paid for CS4 doesn't entitle you to perpetual upgrades.

[likota39]

Users who paid hefty price for their software should express here their opinions.

There is no reason at all that any software company cannot offer paid updates to their customers, if an OS upgrade allows that. Paid updates are a good business practice.

So if I understand correctly, while Adobe is quiet about this, let‘s blame Apple.

[BobLevine]

I'm not blaming Apple. They make their own business decisions and at a certain point backward compatibility becomes a hindrance to forward progress.

I'm blaming users such as yourself that think that software and operating systems are somehow not connected to each other and you can just choose one from column a and one from column b.

You got your money's worth out of CS4.

[likota39]

BobLevine: …”I’m blaming users such as yourself that think that software and operating systems are somehow not connected to each other and you can just choose one from column a and one from column b.

You got your money's worth out of CS4.”

This I find to be unnecessary offensive reply.

I have no problem with either Apple or Adobe, and my comments reflected that.

However, you have crossed a fair comments treshold.

[BobLevine]

Your comments reflect blame on Adobe for this. Now, it’s entirely possible that English is not your first language and there is a misunderstanding somewhere but that doesn’t change the facts.

You bought that software many years ago and if you were still running on a system that it was designed for it would still be working.

[dev_willis]

BobLevine's intention in these threads seems to be to tell everyone to give up, nothing is possible, and everyone's problems are their own fault for not giving Adobe enough money. If you say that you got it working he will doubt your honesty and tell you that even if you did there's no way anyone else could possibly get it working and you should stop trying to share your knowledge and experience with others.

[Doug A Roberts]

did you get InDesign CS4 working on High Sierra?

[dev_willis]

I haven't tried. I'm on Windows. I was just working as a natural language Google interface for a Mac user who has run into this issue. I think he's going to try to roll the update back.

[rob day]

This is hardly a new problem—it's just bad practice to upgrade an OS without first considering the cost of needed software upgrades. The idea that if I pay upfront for an application it should run on any future OS is silly—that's never been true. I was happy with Quark 4, paid $800 for it and still have the installation disks, but it wont install or run on any version of OSX.

[BobLevine]

My point is and has been that if you want to run software, it should be done on a supported system. Complaining about how much you spent on software 10 years ago is irrelevant if you want to run it on a new operating system.

Finally, what I have pointed out in the past is that anyone who is fortunate enough to have it working should be prepared for the next update to kill it. If you'd like to stick around and help these folks, I'm sure they'd be grateful.

[dev_willis]

You're right, of course. I was just struck by the negativity. I shouldn't have said anything though. It's not my business.