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• • January 25, 2017 at 2:22 am #91570
    Rivkah Lewis

    Member

    I’m working on a cookbook. Each section sits in a book file.
    I was updated the TOC on section 5 and ID crashed.
    I restarted and auto-recovery brought up everything that was open. When I looked at my book panel, section 4 – which was not even open at the time of the crash – showed a red “document cannot be found” icon.
    So I clicked on it and lo and behold – in my folder with all the ID files – section 4 is GONE!
    I searched my computer for it, but to no avail.
    I saved the files, shut down ID and restarted and now the book file is empty and section 4 is completely no where to be seen.

    The layout itself will take me hours to redo, but in addition to that, we’re on the final round of changes, so I would need to layout and then go through 4 pdf’s of proofreader/author corrections. And the book is supposed to go to print.

    Can anyone help me out?

  • January 25, 2017 at 2:30 am #91571
    Rivkah Lewis

    Member

    One more thing – in case this makes a difference: in the folder, there is an ID lock file called ~dinner for two lun~k-(-_(
    The missing file is the Lunch section, so I am assuming this had to do with that.

  • January 25, 2017 at 7:16 am #91576
    David Blatner

    Keymaster

    I don’t know how InDesign could delete a file, even in a crash. That is very strange. Seems like the file must be somewhere. (Though maybe search your Trash.) Also, it’s possible that the file became invisible. (Mac and Windows OS allows for invisible files.) But of course, maybe it really is gone, which would be horrible and sad. I love using the Crashplan software because it backs up files as I work so they can be recovered. Or, if the file was in a dropbox folder, the dropbox also backs up multiple versions that you can download from their website (even after it is deleted).

    • January 25, 2017 at 4:00 pm #91598
      Dwayne Harris

      Member

      Speaking of Dropbox, I know a designer who works directly on files on Dropbox (including the fonts and placing art). Makes it a pain in the butt when we have to redo the permissions so we can work on the file. I’ve repeatedly told her to just it for backup, don’t work on it directly from there.

      I backup a half-dozen times a day to a folder on my desktop and our server. And I’m always hitting apple + s to save.

      I work with some people who will work for hours and not save a single time. I’m like “apple + s” should be automatic. I probably do it every 5 or 10 seconds.

    • January 26, 2017 at 5:26 am #91604
      David Blatner

      Keymaster

      Dwayne: Interesting… we work on files that are saved in dropbox all the time. The only problem we have is when two people try to work on the file at the same time, accidentally. But permissions don’t seem to be an issue. What kinds of problems have you run into?

    • January 26, 2017 at 5:42 am #91606
      Dwayne Harris

      Member

      David–the issue isn’t so much files that are copied and saved to Dropbox. It seems when someone works directly off of Dropbox (sort of like working on files on a server across the network).
      When we receive those files (copied to our hard drives) we get a permissions error–we can read only.
      It’s a simple enough fix–just get info on the folder and change to read & write.
      ID files were locked, so were the fonts, the art, etc. Everything.
      Like I said–changing permissions on the local computer the job was on worked–but it was an annoyance.
      I am thinking the designer had the entire job on Dropbox and worked on the job directly from Dropbox.

    • January 26, 2017 at 6:36 am #91608
      David Blatner

      Keymaster

      Wow… I haven’t had that permissions problem, and probably half the InDesign documents I work on are in dropbox all the time. I’m on a Mac. My colleagues (Anne-Marie and others at Creative Publishing Network) all use the same files with no problems.

    • January 26, 2017 at 11:48 am #91624
      Dwayne Harris

      Member

      It may just be an issue with her. Maybe it’s her Dropbox settings. Maybe it’s only read to others who access her box, but is read/write for her only.

      All I know is when I would get info on the file, the name (for read and write) was Dropbox.

      Like I said, probably her settings.

  • January 25, 2017 at 11:05 am #91583
    Rivkah Lewis

    Member

    I am SO indebted to you!
    It was in a dropbox folder. I was so focused on the ID aspect (and stressed) that I didn’t think of looking there.
    I was able to restore it from there.
    Would still love to know how and why this happened, and hope I never have to even think about it again :)

    Thank you for being such a great source of information.
    (My friend told me to google a solution, but I told her I didn’t have the head for it and I know if there WAS a solution, I’d find it here!)

  • January 25, 2017 at 11:53 am #91585
    David Blatner

    Keymaster

    I’m so glad that worked for you!
    Honestly, I have never heard of a file being deleted or disappearing after a crash like that.

    Book files showing up blank can happen… because book files (.indb) files are not normally saved until you close them, quit InDesign, or specially choose to save them:
    https://creativepro.com/save-all-open-documents.php
    So if you crash, then later open the book panel, it is often blank (or out of date).

  • January 25, 2017 at 11:58 am #91586
    Rivkah Lewis

    Member

    Neither had I, until today (not that my ID knowledge compared to yours….)

    The empty book was the least of my problems… Its just 6 files. Not that hard to recreate.
    Counting down the days until this goes to print!

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