Can't open or place an EPS file in InDesign

[bigmacbrown]

I've read thru the threads, tried File>New then Place>file and I get this error message.  Suggestions?

[Steve Werner]

How was the EPS file created? What version of InDesign? What operating system?

[bigmacbrown]

eps file was created by the graphic designer at the agency i'm using.

version of indesign = 2017.0 release.  have only had it for a few weeks.

OS = Windows 10

Thanks,

Mac

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[Steve Werner]

I meant, what kind of EPS file is it? What program created it? InDesign should be able to place an EPS file unless it has been damaged.

[bigmacbrown]

Sorry.  The designer just said he created them in indesign 2017 cc, which

is exactly what I am trying to open/place them with

Thanks,

Mac

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On Fri, Mar 3, 2017 at 10:35 PM, Steve Werner <forums_noreply@adobe.com>

[Laubender]

Hi Mac,

just for testing :

1. Do a backup of your EPS

2. Start Acrobat Distiller that comes along with Acrobat Pro DC and drop the EPS to Distiller to create a PDF.
If there is an error message in Distiller's info console, post this here. Maybe that would make it more clear.

If no error is created and a PDF is written open the PDF in Acrobat Pro and inspect if you will be able to use what you see.

Come back here if you are unsure what Distiller settings would be the best.

Also: Open the EPS with TextEdit.app and have a look at the contents of the file.
You could post a screenshot of the EPS opened in TextEdit here.
Maybe that will give us a hint what's going on.

Regards,
Uwe

[Sandee Cohen]

Can I strongly suggest that the OP not take a screen shot or post all the text from opening the EPS in a text edit app as that is going to be thousands of lines of PostScript.

[Laubender]

https://forums.adobe.com/people/Sandee+Cohen  wrote

Can I strongly suggest that the OP not take a screen shot or post all the text from opening the EPS in a text edit app as that is going to be thousands of lines of PostScript.

I hope, that I did not recommend exactly this.
A screenshot of some of the first lines would be sufficient.

Regards,
Uwe

[Willi Adelberger]

Don't use an EPS. Tell your designer that he should not use EPS anymore.

Ask, that he should send you a PDF/X-4. If he has InDesign, as you wrote, he has to export a PDF/X-4 from InDesign to place in other programs.

Your EPS has either the wrong extension or is damaged. But I recommend to avoid EPS.

[Test Screen Name]

If it was made in the same version of InDesign you should sgare a packaged INDD file. That will be editable; a PDF and an EPS will be uneditable graphics.

[bigmacbrown]

When I try to open EPS files in photoshop I get this error message

Thanks,

Mac

[Moderator note: personal data removed]

On Fri, Mar 3, 2017 at 10:25 PM, Steve Werner <forums_noreply@adobe.com>

[Sandee Cohen]

Do you know what the file is supposed to be? A logo? A photo? An illustration from PSD? Or a vector drawing from AI?

Try opening in Illustrator.

[Migintosh]

Also (and just FYI), you can't open an eps with InDesign. It's a graphic file format, so you need to place it (as soon as we can help you figure out how to do that) the way you would place other types of graphic images.

[Steve Werner]

> Sorry.  The designer just said he created them in indesign 2017 cc, which

is exactly what I am trying to open/place them with

Why would the designer take something created in InDesign CC 2017, and intended to be opened by you in InDesign CC 2017, save the file as an EPS file? It should just be saved as an InDesign (.indd) file, and open it in your copy of InDesign.

[Sandee Cohen]

I have a feeling that the designer created something like a logo or chart or map or something that he/she didn't want the OP (layout/production) to be able to change.

But, the designer has gotten "stung" by the eps getting corrupt (or saved incorrectly).

Obviously the layout person needs to have the designer change the format of the exported file.

However, as has been my experience with outside agencies, the designers there are reluctant to send native files to lowly production people as they are afraid their precious work will be modified. (Sarcasm included as I've had a bad morning.)

[Eric Dumas]

I had a similar situation with a customer.

Their design house sent weird eps files so the customer could not take over the design or edit them without paying the design agency.

Contractually, they fulfilled their obligations by sending the eps (workable or not).

If the design house created an InDesign file, that's what they should send you. Check the agreement signed with them

[bigmacbrown · Accepted solution]

Thanks to all for your help and guidance.  I really appreciate your help.  Turns out it was an iD10t issue.  I was trying to place the files in a zipped folder and when I moved the folder from a zipped folder to my desktop I was able access all of my files.  Sorry to waste everyone's time.

[Eric Dumas]

No time wasted, just good to learn from new challenges.

[Sandee Cohen]

Not wasting time at all. These are the "gotchas" that we have to remember for the next time.

[Laubender]

Yes.

Now, that this is on the table I can remember, that one of my students once opened an InDesign document within a zipped container on Windows 7, I think. And of course was not able to save it.

Regards,
Uwe

[Jongware]

Did your designer maybe use "Save as" to change the name to ".eps" whilst still saving as a regular InDesign file?

[Sandee Cohen]

Have you tried placing a different EPS file? One created by Photoshop? One created by Illustrator? One created by InDesign? It's very possible that it is your copy of InDesign that is behaving badly.

[BobLevine]

InDesign EPS files are notorious for use for anything other than archaic print workflows. Trying to place or open them often results in this type of behavior.

Try distilling it into a PDF.