indd v16 2021 does not overwrite 2020 documents

[bczukker]

I have upgraded to 2021 version and now when i open a 2020 file and 'save' it takes me to windows file explorer, to a folder i did not open the document from, and i have to surf explorer back to my folder and then overwrite my older 2020 indd file. very annoying and time consuming. i have thousands of documents. i am in 100s each day. isnt that what 'Save As' is for?

Is there a preference i am not seeing to set indd to just 'Save' ??

I have tried uninstalling 2021 but now it doesnt recognize 2020 documents (even when i apply "use this app for all indd") help!

[Barb Binder · Accepted solution]

'save' it takes me to windows file explorer, to a folder i did not open the document from, and i have to surf explorer back to my folder and then overwrite my older 2020 indd file. 

This is a safeguard to protect you from accidentally overwriting the 2020 file. It has been in place for years. InDesign changes the file format for each major upgrade and files created in 2021 can't be opened in 2020 with converting them back to the 2020 format. This way, if you decide to return to 2020 for whatever reason—and it sounds like you want to—you can still open those files directly, without conversion. 

As for 2020 not recognizing the 2020 docs, I would first try to fix the file association (it sounds like you tried), then I'd reinstall 2020 from the CC desktop app.

~Barb

[bczukker]

no i do not want to return to 2020, i want to use the current version, but i want to be able to save without all the hassle. i went through this many times over the years and it always frustrates me. would be nice if it was optional.