My InDesign files have turned into text-files when I have downloaded them back to my desktop

[Lone M.]

I have stored several InDesign documents on Dropbox. But now I want to download them again to my desktop in order to work with them and update them. In the downloading process my InDesign documents turn into text-files and I'm not able to open them in InDesign again. What has happened?!

[Rich]

That's not something Dropbox is capable of doing. It can't alter your files like that. Something else would have caused this to happen.

Have the files extensions changed? If you double click on one, does it try to open in InDesign or is another application opening instead? Is it just your InDesign files or are others affected as well?

[Lone M.]

Rich R.

If I'm trying to download to my iMac (wherefrom I uploaded months ago) my .indd documents turn into .text and when I'm trying to download my Illustrator docs (.ai) I'll get a dialogue box saying an error occurred while converting into a .ps 😞 
The .ai docs have small icon that shows small thumbnails of the graphic it contains but my .indd docs are just small "white paper"-icons.

I've tryed to open my dropbox account on a pc - here I can download the files but not open it (my adobe programs are of an older version) but my docs aren't converted into spooky files.

I've even tryed to open Dropbox in two different browsers on my Mac ... 😞 It didn't help either ...

My pdf's, png, jpg and word-docs - no problem at all ... Arghhh ...

[Greg S.20]

I've been having the same issue with InDesign files that I've uploaded to DropBox. When  download them they've been converted to some sort of text filed therefore I've had to recreate the files from scratch.

Does anyone have a solution for this issue?

[Greg S.20 · Accepted solution]

I deleted the ".txt" extension that was added to the file during the download so it ended in ".indd" and it opened perfectly.

Hope others who have had the same issue will have the same good results with this solution.

Not sure why this is happening and why DB doesn't seem to be aware of the issue.

I don't think it has always happened with InDesign files.

Perhaps DropBox will address the issue in full detail so more people can be aware of it and not panic late at night on a project like I did.

: )

[Rich]

Not sure why this is happening and why DB doesn't seem to be aware of the issue.

It's NOT a Dropbox issue. Dropbox is not capable of altering your files in such a way. If another  extension is being added to your files when you download them, then it's your browser that is doing it.

[Petja]

Excellent, this solves the problem.

Another solution, of course, is to use the Dropbox Drive, here's how https://www.dropbox.com/guide/business/manage-files/save-your-hard-drive-space

The .indd files won't get any mysterious endings there. (I'm using the drive, but jsut wanted to check a document that I don't keep synced.)

[beeper99]

OMG that worked! Thank you! Such a simple solution. 

I think one other issue could be if you download a file that you've already downloaded (such was my case). Had a resume I needed to submit today and would NOT have wanted to start from scratch. 

[chrisplyon]

It's definitely happening. Not having this issue with Google Drive or Mac Drive. It only happens on Dropbox. I'm using the Dropbox app for Mac, not a browser. The workaround is fine, but annoying.

[amiller312]

So, has any figured out WHY this is happening? I used the work around listed above, so everything is good, but what is causing this to happen. I use the Safari browser and have never had this problem. It wasn't until a few weeks ago that this started to happen. Inquiring minds want to know! 

[This thread is now closed by moderators due to inactivity. If you're experiencing a similar behavior, feel free to start a new discussion in the Dropbox Community here.]