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3041 Views 4 Replies Latest reply: Sep 30, 2009 7:07 AM by dragonflynz RSS
hengwen Calculating status...
hengwen
15 posts since
May 19, 2009
Currently Being Moderated

Sep 11, 2009 8:43 PM

Can't open INDD files from Bridge or Windows Explorer

I upgraded from CS2 to CS4 in Jan 2009, but didn't uninstall CS2 until yesterday because the program file sizes seemed weird: CS4 was listed as less than 6Mb in the Add/Remove Programs list, while CS2 was shown to be many times that size (gigabytes?). I called support within the first month and was told it would be okay to uninstall CS2, but the tech could not explain the difference in program sizes, so I left it in place until yesterday. Now, neither Bridge nor Windows Explorer recognizes InDesign files. I can still launch the program from the Start menu and Desktop shortcut, and I can open files from within the program. But Bridge says the default  for opening an INDD file is Acrobat...or Photoshop, Firefox or IE. Windows says the same. The INDD icon is no longer displayed in Windows Explorer either. It seems to have vanished from my system. I have tried to re-associate InDesign files with the program through Windows Explorer numerous times to no avail. Operating System: Windows XP Professional on a Dell GX270.

Is the only solution here to uninstall & reinstall InDesign? Any comments or suggestions are appreciated.

  • Peter Spier Community Professional
    Peter Spier
    29,932 posts since
    Aug 11, 2002
    Currently Being Moderated
    1. Sep 12, 2009 6:42 AM (in response to hengwen)
    Re: Can't open INDD files from Bridge or Windows Explorer

    This is a common problem. Uninstalling CS2 removed the file association from the Windows registry. You can manually restore it from Explorer using the folder options and file types, but you'll probably lose the correct .indd version icon for differernt files. Re-installing CS4 should fix everything, but back up your preferences and presets first so you can reload them.

     

    Adobe InDesign CS4 * Setting preferences

  • hengwen User
    hengwen
    15 posts since
    May 19, 2009
    Currently Being Moderated
    2. Sep 12, 2009 5:01 PM (in response to Peter Spier)
    Re: Can't open INDD files from Bridge or Windows Explorer

    Thanks for your reply, Peter. However, as I mentioned, I've already tried numerous times to manually restore the file association through Windows Explorer (folder options & file types). Sorry, maybe i wasn't clear. But InDesign is not listed in the programs to choose from. When I browse and navigate to InDesign.exe to choose it, it still never shows up in the list. Then WE just selects some other random program, like uTorrent, of all things. I had a similar problem with Illustrator CS2 regarding .wmf files that I could never solve until I upgraded to CS4.

     

    So it sounds like I do have to uninstall/reinstall InDesign.  I hope Adobe fixes this problem. Seems silly to have to install it twice to get it to work properly.

  • dragonflynz Calculating status...
    dragonflynz
    2 posts since
    Sep 30, 2009
    Currently Being Moderated
    3. Sep 30, 2009 6:38 AM (in response to hengwen)
    Re: Can't open INDD files from Bridge or Windows Explorer

    Hi,

     

    I'm having the same problem, with two exceptions:

     

    1. A previous version of InDesign has never been installed on this PC before we got CS4.

    2. It tries to open the files in Acrobat (7.0), and then this message pops up:

    Acrobat could not open "....INDD" because it is either not a supported file type or because it has been damaged...  To create a PDF document go to the ...

     

    This is incredibly frustrating.  The only way I can open files is to go through the InDesign "open file" command inside the program.  I cannot open any Bridge files at all (same problem, opens in Acrobat).

    I cannot chose the file type from the file association list as it does not show up on the list no matter how many times I search and choose it from my drive to associate.

     

    ... Is this a registry problem, maybe?

  • dragonflynz User
    dragonflynz
    2 posts since
    Sep 30, 2009
    Currently Being Moderated
    4. Sep 30, 2009 7:07 AM (in response to dragonflynz)
    Re: Can't open INDD files from Bridge or Windows Explorer

    I just fixed my problem, which was indeed a registry issue: for some reason the registry file was for CS3, which is not on my PC so would not open.  I downloaded CCleaner (reputable and safe) went into the registry section and ran a search, navigated to the correct issue and voila! Works perfect.

     

    http://download.cnet.com/ccleaner/?cdlPid=11015563

     

    I reccommend backing up all files before you run this program *just in case*.

     

    Cheers.

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