Tips to open IDML file

Can't open the IDML file? You are not the only one. Thousands of users face similar problems every day. Below you will find tips on how to open IDML files as well as a list of programs that support IDML files.

IDML file extension

File Name Adobe InDesign Markup Language Format
File Developer Adobe Systems
File Category Layout Files

The IDML file is supported on 2 operating systems. Depending on your operating system, you may need different software to handle the IDML files. Below is a summary of the number of programs that support and open the IDML file on each system platform.

Operating systems
  • 1
  • 3
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

What is IDML file?

The IDML file has been categorized as Layout Files. The author of this format is Adobe Systems. Layout Files consists of 137 similar files. Adobe InDesign Markup Language Format is most often found on 2 operating systems. Although it can be found with greater or lesser success on any operating system, it will only be useful on Mac OS, Windows. It is recommended to use Adobe InDesign to handle this file. This is a program created by Adobe Systems Incorporated. This file type can also be opened by 3 other programs. The Adobe IDMLTools, Adobe Creative Suite programs will also handle the file when the Adobe InDesign program does not fulfill its role.

How to open IDML file?

The most common problem when using Adobe InDesign Markup Language Format is that a specific IDML is not associated with the program. This is manifested by the fact that IDML files open in unusual applications or do not have an assigned program. How to solve such a problem?

The first thing you should do is just "doubleclick" on the IDML file icon you want to open. If the operating system has an appropriate application to support it and there is also an association between the file and the program, the file should be opened.

Step 1. Install Adobe InDesign

In this case, you should first verify that the Adobe InDesign application is installed on the computer. The easiest method is to use the system search engine by entering the program name Adobe InDesign in it. If we do not have this program, it is worth installing it, as it will help you automatically associate the file IDML with Adobe InDesign. Below is a list of programs that support the file IDML.

Step 2. Create association of Adobe InDesign with IDML files

If, despite the installed application, the IDML file does not start in the Adobe InDesign application, you must create a file association. This option is available from the level of Properties of a specific file available in the context menu. The displayed window will contain information about the program that supports this type of file. Changes can be made using the "Change" button. It may happen that in the next window there will be no appropriate program - however, this can be corrected with the "Browse" option where you should manually indicate the program location. The "always use the selected program ..." field will set the Adobe InDesign application as the default for handling the IDML file.

Step 3. Update Adobe InDesign to the latest version

The fault may also lie with the Adobe InDesign program, it is possible that Adobe InDesign Markup Language Format requires a newer version of the program. In this case, use the Adobe Systems Incorporated website or update the program from the application.

Step 4. Check for the following problems with the IDML file

The problem may also be with the file itself if the above steps don't work. File problems can be divided into the following:

The IDML file may be unusually small compared to the original file. Usually this applies to IDML files downloaded from the Internet in case the download did not finish properly. The only repair option is to download the file again.
The most common cause here is computer viruses. A quick virus scan using an up-to-date antivirus program should clear up any doubts. Alternatively, you can use the scanners available online. However, it is important to scan the entire system, not only the file IDML or the program directory. As a result of the scan, sometimes it is not possible to recover IDML files, which are deleted if there is a backup of this file, then after restoring it, it must also be scanned.
Older version of IDML file may not always be supported by the latest software version. Help should be sought from the software developer, as they usually recommend using free file converters or installing an older version of the program.
There can be many reasons for this. The repair method must be adapted to the type of file and damage. Some programs offer the ability to automatically repair IDML file corruption. The easiest way to restore the file is from a backup or by contacting Adobe Systems, but this one can be expensive. Not all damage can be reversed.
When reading, a message appears that the file was encrypted or corrupted. The encrypted file IDML except for the special designation, works normally, but only on the device where it was encrypted, before transferring it to another machine, decryption is required.
Some of the system directories are excluded from modification. These directories are write-protected to them and it's very hard to fix this problem. It is best to move IDML to a different directory.
This problem only occurs with more complex files. Some file types can only be opened in one program at a time. Closing other programs should help. If the error persists after closing other programs, wait for a while. Antivirus programs or a backup being made may lock the file for a while without the user's knowledge. If this does not work either, restart the device.