InDesign will no longer open PageMaker files

[Kevin Olsen]

I can no longer open pagemaker files (versions 6.5 or 7) with InDesign-- it gives me an error message saying it may not be supported or the plug-in is missing...

I have always been able to open PageMaker files in Indesign with absolutely no problem and then this occurred completely out of the blue.

Any ideas? I've delete prefs, updated to the brand new 2.02 patch and still no change.

[Gus Clemens]

I had same problem when trying to convert Pagemaker files over our network from our server. We solved the problem by copying the Pagemaker file to the working desktop -- then ID converted the Pagemaker files without problem. ID also converts files on CDs without problem. But ID seems to fail in the same way you mention when the file you are trying to convert is not on your machine but on your server (different machine).

[Kevin Olsen]

I've tried files locally, on remote servers and off various drives; however, the problem has yet to be resolved.

[Pat FitzGerald]

I've posted twice before about this problem, but both posts have sunk without trace, other than to have one or two people 'me too'ing. I suppose without everyone offering up their entire configurations and software, it's impossible to tell whether this is a bug or a conflict.

Up until 2.0.2 I had no problem opening PM 7 files - now they simply won't open, and I don't even get a messsage, just the spinning beach ball of death. There doesn't seem to be a solution: my workaround has been to instal InD up to 2.0.1 on another machine, boot it as target disk and use 2.0.1 to open the files I want to convert, saving them onto my work machine so that I can open them from 2.0.1 into 2.0.2. Its hardly satisfactory.

[Kevin Olsen]

Yesterday I opened a PageMaker 6.5 file in InDesign for the first time since the problem started. I tried another PM6.5 file and it doesn't work anymore. I retried the one that did open and it wouldn't open a second time.

My problem pre-dates the 2.02 update. I installed the update in hopes that it would alleviate the problem.

I continue to receive messages saying the plug-in in missing or corrupt or the format may not be supported; the only time I get no message is if I drag the PM file (6.5 or 7) to the ID icon in the dock.

[Kevin Olsen]

Every pagemaker file version 6.0 and up. I can create a blank PM file, try to open it in ID and I still get the error. I've received files from several clients, I've made them on several machines, opened them locally and on remote servers and nothing works.

Like I said... for the first 8 months or so that I used ID2, PM files opened easily and without problem. Then, all of a sudden, things changed for the worse.

[Sandee Cohen]

Kevin,

I know this is an extreme solution, but you should try trashing the ID preferences and then, if you still can't open the PM files, removing all traces of ID and reinstalling the program. I suspect that one of ID's necessary files is corrupted.

[Don Picard]

I think I may have answered one of you earlier messages with a "not me" response. I'm having no trouble at all opening PageMaker 6.5 files in InDesign 2.02 (I haven't tried in on PageMaker 7 files).

Do you have trouble converting even a newly created PageMaker file, with not much in it? This would indicated some systemic problem, as opposed to some corruption in the PageMaker file.

If you can't convert even a new, fairly simple PageMaker file, you could e-mail the PM file to me and see if I can open it. Let me know, and I'll give you my e-mail address.

Don

[Carole Miguel]

One thing that came up in another thread was this problem has been seen when opening a PM doc over a network in OS 10.2.3. I get the same message when I try to open over our small network. But if I drag the file to my hard drive, it opens just fine.

[Kevin Olsen]

Both trashing the prefs and reinstalling ID2 failed to alleviate the problem; however, I had to archive and install the entire system for another reason and that cured the problem.

[David Kramer]

I had a similar problem, but solved it by copying the file to the local drive. I had been trying to convert it over a network.

[Carole Miguel]

Well, I just dragged a PM document from the network drive to my local drive and it will not open in ID2. And yet another PM file will open from my local drive. Hmmm.

[Don Picard]

Carole,

Have you tried reopening the PageMaker file In PageMaker and doing a Save As? Or running the Diagnostic Recompose on it (in case corruption in the recalcitrant PageMaker document is causing the problem)?

Don

[Carole Miguel]

Don:

I didn't try openiing it in PM, but will. What, however, is a Diagnostic Recompose?

[Gene Trujillo]

Carole,

<http://pagemakersupport.adobe.com/adobeknowbase/root/public/pm1144.htm>

explains it.

Gene

[seanlewis]

I finally called Adobe on this and found out that I need to do a few things:

(1) "save-as" the file with a new name and with a ".pm" extension - and preferably on your own local computer;

(2) with InDesign closed, trash its "Defaults" and "Saved Data" files from your Users>Library>InDesign>Preferences folder location (I might have that order messed up but you'll find them);

(3) open ID again and then locate and open the afore-mentioned PageMaker file.

It worked for me!

[KD Southwood]

Looks like it might be something corrupted with ID. Here's my story:

Under 10.1.5 on a G4-400, ID 2.0.2 crashed everytime trying to open up the PM file. I did the diagnostic recompose, downsaved it to 6.5, did save as, etc. with no luck. Crash - crash - crash.

On a whim, I went to another machine (a PowerComputing clone running 9.1) and tried to open up the same file - success!