I would export each of the component files in the book to .inx (which in my experience works better than .idml for file cleanup) then resave them with new names (don't overwrite your old files, just in case..). Make a new Book file, add the new files and try the TOC again.

You need to move the pages for all the files into new files as you did for the first one (it might only be one that's the problem, but which one? so do them all). save all of these new files with new names so you aren't overwtiing anything, thenmake a brand new book and add all of these new files into that new book. Hopefully that will solve the problem.

Sorry, my fault. I'm misremembering the procedure for adding the TOC to a book (I only need to do it about once a year). You have to add it to one of the files and check the "Include Book Documents" checkbox.

So are you saying that you can make a TOC if the file is all alone and you don't check the include book docs checkbox, but if you add it to a book it crashes?

In some ways that's actually a good sign, I think. If that describes the situation, it might be as simple as currupt preferences, which is really easy to fix. See Replace Your Preferences

You might not even need to move pages if it works.

You can select each document in the book panel and from the flyout menu choose Replace Document... whcich should allow you to navigate to the correct directory, but I'd be much more inclined to build a brand new book and carefully add the files from the correct locations. I'm not sure, and can't think of a way to really test without creating the new book, whether the problem is just in the existing book file or is generalized.

Did you try making a new user? That's a very good way to test if the problem is in the program or the files, or in your exisiting user account.

You mentioned earlier that you can't export the original files to .idml. That's also pretty disturbing. Does the file you made from the moved pages export to .idml? if it does, that might be a good reason to do them all and use the new versions.

I'm really fried this morning. I did say .inx, and yes, I still stand by that.

Please bear with me.

I'll be going to lunch with a friend in a short while, so there may be a lag, but I'm not abandoning you....

Ah , yes, auto recovery. Try closing those files without saving when ID restarts. Probably won't make a differnce, but it would be good to not be using recovery files or files that have been through the crash and resaved.

It's still sounding like it could be a problem in the user. It would really help if you were to create a new user account and log in with that to test.

I can also take a look here, if you like. We're about at the point where it will be easier for me to figure out waht the problem is if I can see the files. I'll send you an upload link and you can use it or not as you choose.

That means with any luck it's just bad prefs in the original account. Log back in with that user, then follow the directions here: Replace Your Preferences

Lindaholiner wrote:

 

but I never use preferences

You might not have taken the time to customize the prefs to suit yourself, but they are there and you use them. The prefs control how all of the optional choices in ID work, and some choice needs to be made, whether it's the default setting that is chosen when the program is installed, or a differnt option to suit your own work habits.

You should take the time to explore the prefs, you might see some things that you'd like to change to help you work more efficiently.

Twenty Questions is fun, right?

Basically I'm just stubborn and won't let go of a problem.

I think we just have to go back through the same steps again.

Can you open each of the files individually? If so, let's start by exporting each one to .inx, then open that and save as a new .indd file with a new name (do NOT overwrite your old files), then make a new book and add the files again.

Sounds like perhaps one of the styles is corrupt. Do you remember which styles you added since it worked?

We might be able to correct the problem by creating a new style with a different name, but the same definition. Don't copy the old style or base the new one on it -- create the new one from scratch. Then delete the old style and ID will ask you to choose a replacement. Pick the new style, change the styles picked up in the TOC and see what happens.

Is it widely used?

So are you saying that the TOC will work if all the headings have the same style, but assigning any other style to the subheads causes a crash?

Are you still able to do a TOC for each individual chapter if you use two styles?

How many files are in the book?