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sperry1975
sperry1975
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File Association

Aug 21, 2012 12:03 PM

When I had InDesign CS 5.5 installed I was able to associate *.pmd files with InDesign so that I could open the page maker files in InDesign by double clicking the *.pmd file in Windows Explorer, but since installing CS 6 I have been unable to associate or connect that extension with InDesign. Therefore the only way I can open pmd files in InDesign is to drag and drop them into an open indesign program or go to file open from InDesign. Does someone know how I can get this file associated properly????? I've noticed it seems to have something to do with the fact that InDesign's ".exe" file is located in "Program Files (x86)" and not the standard "Program Files".

2457 Views   19 Replies   Latest reply: sperry1975, Aug 22, 2012 8:05 AM
 
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  • sagar-khanna
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    1. sagar-khanna,
    Aug 21, 2012 12:08 PM   in reply to sperry1975
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    You can associate the file by

    1. Right click any *.pmd file

    2. Open with >> choose default program

    3. Choose ID in the list of application

    4. Check always use this program..

    5. Cick ok

    This will associate *.pmd with ID

     
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  • Bob Levine
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    2. Bob Levine,
    Aug 21, 2012 12:15 PM   in reply to sperry1975
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    The (x86) folder is for 32 bit apps. While I can’t eliminate anything I don’t see why that would be an issue.

     

     

     

    Bob

     
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  • sperry1975
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    3. sperry1975,
    Aug 21, 2012 12:18 PM   in reply to sagar-khanna
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    No, that's the problem, since InDesign is in the Program Files (x86) folder it wont associate. I did "browse", found the InDesign executable, located in the (x86) folder to associate it with, and that did not work either.

    I've also tried reinstalling InDesign but with no change occuring.

     
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  • sagar-khanna
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    4. sagar-khanna,
    Aug 21, 2012 12:26 PM   in reply to sperry1975
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    Are you able to associate any other file to ID? Just try to temporarily associate a .pdf file to ID and see if it does.

    I am able to associate a file to ID CS6 in (x86) folder and when I double click it invokes ID.

     
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  • sperry1975
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    5. sperry1975,
    Aug 21, 2012 12:33 PM   in reply to sagar-khanna
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    Good question sagar-khanna, I tried associating a .pdf as you suggested and no it didn't work. Has the same problem.

     
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  • Bob Levine
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    6. Bob Levine,
    Aug 21, 2012 12:34 PM   in reply to sperry1975
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    Turns out I had some old PMD files and I just associated them with InDesign CS6 with no problem.

     

     

     

    Method: right click the PMD, choose open, choose select application, browse to InDesign.exe.

     

     

     

    Bob

     
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  • sperry1975
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    7. sperry1975,
    Aug 21, 2012 12:36 PM   in reply to Bob Levine
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    As I've mentioned before I've tried associating it just as you did Bob, but it wont associate.

     
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  • Peter Spier
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    8. Peter Spier,
    Aug 21, 2012 12:36 PM   in reply to sperry1975
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    Does your account have admin rights?

     
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  • sperry1975
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    9. sperry1975,
    Aug 21, 2012 12:39 PM   in reply to Peter Spier
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    Yes

     
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  • Peter Spier
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    10. Peter Spier,
    Aug 21, 2012 12:44 PM   in reply to sperry1975
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    Maybe try booting to Safe Mode and see if it works there?

     
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  • sperry1975
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    11. sperry1975,
    Aug 21, 2012 12:49 PM   in reply to Peter Spier
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    I may try that though I doubt it will work. In the mean time I'm trying a 3rd uninstall and reinstall. Maybe it will work on the 3rd try since it didn't on the 2nd. If that doesn't do it then I will try the safemode idea.

     
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  • sagar-khanna
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    12. sagar-khanna,
    Aug 21, 2012 1:00 PM   in reply to sperry1975
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    Check the registery key in regedit.

    Type 'regedit' in run and goto

    HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT -> APPLICATIONS -> Indesign.exe -> shell -> open -> command.  The key there should have your default location to open the program.

     
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  • Dov Isaacs
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    13. Dov Isaacs,
    Aug 21, 2012 1:15 PM   in reply to sagar-khanna
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    Not Necessarily!!!!

     

    InDesign uses a shell extension (an actual executable Windows component) in Windows to control the icon display and opening .INDD and other InDesign files. Each version of InDesign installs a replacement version of this shell extension (that's why if you can get unexpected results if you install an older version of InDesign after a newer one). The normal registry entry may not do what you want.

     

              - Dov

     
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  • sperry1975
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    14. sperry1975,
    Aug 22, 2012 6:58 AM   in reply to Dov Isaacs
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    I have now re-installed the entire creative suite 6 for the 3rd time and what did I find... it didn't fix the problem.  I have the option of associating Dreamweaver, Illustrator, Photoshop, Acrobat, etc. but NOT InDesign. I try browsing for it like I've done so many times before, but no luck. I also noticed that this time things have even gotten worse in that icon associations for packages like Photosho CS 6 (64bit) are not appearing connected on the task bar when the program is opened.

     
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  • Peter Spier
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    15. Peter Spier,
    Aug 22, 2012 7:01 AM   in reply to sperry1975
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    Did you run the clean tool before reinstalling?

     
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  • sperry1975
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    16. sperry1975,
    Aug 22, 2012 7:08 AM   in reply to sagar-khanna
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    sagar-khanna

    I tried to do as you suggested and noticed something interesting. The registry file is associated with or linked to CS5.5. So that tells me that in all 3 cases of installing the program InDesign CS6 never bothered to update that registry entry. I'm going to try to change it to CS6 right now then see if it will associate properly . . . . OK IT WORKS!!!!! CHANGING THE RESGISTRY FILE DID IT.

     
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  • sperry1975
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    17. sperry1975,
    Aug 22, 2012 7:09 AM   in reply to Peter Spier
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    The clean tool? Which clean tool are you refering to Peter?

     
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  • Peter Spier
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    18. Peter Spier,
    Aug 22, 2012 7:54 AM   in reply to sperry1975
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    CS Cleaner Tool for installation problems | CCM, CS6, CS5.5, CS5, CS4, CS3

     

    One of the things it does is clean out the old registry entries that sometimes get left behind from an uninstall and cause trouble.

     
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  • sperry1975
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    19. sperry1975,
    Aug 22, 2012 8:05 AM   in reply to Peter Spier
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    Peter,

    Which cleaning program are you refering to?

     
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