Can't open InDesign 5.5 file in CS5.5

[JetsyKetsy]

We've received a set of InDesign files from a designer which has been created in CS5.5.  I just tried to open the indd file on our production laptop, using InDesign CS5.5 and I'm getting an error message 'CannotConvertNewerDocument'. 

I can't understand why this might be happening - I've tried searching forums but can't seem to find anyone else with the same issue.  Has anyone else come across this?

The laptop is running Windows 7.

Thanks

[BobLevine]

Because it’s a CS6 document, not a CS5.5 document.

Bob

[Peter Spier · Accepted solution]

As Bob says, it's CS6. Your computer doesn't have CS6, so Windows tells you its CS5.5 because that's the only thing it knows.

Either upgrade to CS6, or ask your supplier to export the files to .idml for you.

[JetsyKetsy]

Thanks for the speedy reply but that's not the case.  It's not a CS6 document.  Unless the designer, with CS5.5 was able to save the file as a CS6 document?  When I inspect the properties of the file, it also confirms it's a CS5.5 document.

[BobLevine]

Did you not read Peter's post? Your computer knows nothing of CS6 so it tells you it's a CS 5.5 file but it's CS6.

Bob

[JetsyKetsy]

Right - sorry, I missed that part of Peter's post.  I'll investigate further with the designer.

Thank you Peter for the helpful instruction re how to solve the problem, if that turns out to be the issue.

[Prashant_Bhatnagar1]

You can use Bridge to inspect the file version, the metadata of the file will let you know the exact version. Just open the indesign file in Bridge and inspect metadata.

[JetsyKetsy]

Excellent advice!  I keep forgetting to mine Bridge for the metadata.  Thanks so much for that - no longer any need to wait for the designer to get back to me 🙂

[Peter Spier]

Since I have CS6 installed on all my boxes now I can't verify if Prashant is correct, but I beleive he is. For those without Bridge, Jongware has written a script that will identify the version for you: Adobe Forums: [Ann] Identify Your InDesign File

[uplook-usa]

Another application I have used (back when running several different versions of CS progams simultaneously) was SOXY. This application recognizes the different versions of the file types, and does not open all INDD, AI,  documents only in the latest version (when you double-click a document), but opens them in the correct version (or based on how you set the preferences). May be helpful to printers etc who work with clients using different versions of Indesign or to a lesser degree, Illustrator.

[Sosoof]

Hey there,

I'm getting the same message, 'CannotConvertNewerDocument', but in this case it's my own file! I created it some months ago and I did NOT update my Adobe version in the past half year. How is this possible? And how can I solve it?

[BobLevine]

Are you sure you didn't download a CS6 or CC demo and save it in there?

[Sosoof]

Yes, I'm sure...

[BobLevine]

If you want to put it in a dropbox folder and post a link I'll take a

look at it here.

[Sosoof]

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/b07q8kl2z7skwfe/E1DDdmvceL

As Prashant adviced above, I opened the file in Bridge to check which version it is. It does not only say that it's a CS6 file, but it even says that I created it in Windows...

[BobLevine]

Meaningless unless you have CS6 installed.

Give me a few minutes to look at it.

[BobLevine]

Absolutely saved as CS6:

Here's your IDML file which should open fine. https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/2548785/ABSINT9vaknr.idml

[Sosoof]

Thank you very much!
I still don't understand how this is possible, since I clearly remember saving it on my own Macbook in CS5.5. But now it's solved, I won't have to think about it anymore anyway, haha. Thanks again!