Here's a frustrating problem: You have InDesign CS4, and your buddy needs your file, but has InDesign CS2. "Easy!" you think, "just save an InDesign Interchange (INX) file and send it to him."

Lo, wonder of wonders: InDesign saves an INX file that's compatible only with the immediately preceding version of InDesign. (As I found out the hard way today.) CS4 saves a file for CS3; CS3 saves a file for CS2. If you don't have both versions on your computer, you're out of luck. Way to Quark it up, Adobe.

An INX file is just a glorified XML file. And Adobe, clever lads and lasses they are, inserted a version number in the file. Adobe CS2 looks at the version number, sees that the INX file is targeted for CS3, and pops up an error message without even trying to open the file. Curses.

But Mike Rankin figured it out last November: Open the INX file with your favorite text editor (like TextMate or BBEdit) and change the version number. Replace line number 2 (which looks like this):

<?aid style="33" type="document" DOMVersion="6.0" readerVersion="5.0" featureSet="257" product="6.0(352)" ?>

with this:

<?aid style="33" type="document" DOMVersion="5.0" readerVersion="4.0" featureSet="257" product="5.0(662)" ?>

Easy peasy. Open the INX file in InDesign CS2, and you're good to go. Use caution, though: This works best for simple layouts. The more complex your layout, the more likely it will unexpectedly change when re-imported into a lesser version of InDesign.

[Via InDesignSecrets.]

Note: This update does NOT fix the conflict between AE and QuickTime 7.4 that we reported here. Adobe's recommendation is still to avoid the 7.4 QuickTime update.

Good news users of Adobe After Effects CS3 (8.0) who are running Leopard -- 8.02 is now available and it fixes many of the compatibility issues between the two programs. It also introduces native support for Panasonic P2 equipment.

The Read Me has all the details, but in addition to fixing issues with preserving underlying transparency and properly supporting PSD files with layer groups, 8.02 adds OpenGL support for supported cards under OS X 10.4.10 and OS X 10.5.x.

This is an inclusive update, so After Effects 8.0 users do not need to worry about downloading 8.01 first. You can download the update directly from Adobe or from within After Effects (choose "Updates" from the Help menu).

[via DAV TechTable]

This story is more interesting for what it doesn't say than what it does. Adobe CEO Bruce Chizen recently told Reuters that "CS3 hasn't fully been tested under Leopard" but that "If it doesn't work, we will make the necessary adjustments." He also apparently said that Adobe had not received a final copy of Leopard for testing purposes.

Something doesn't smell right here. Why would Adobe's CEO go out of his way to tell a news agency that they can't guarantee CS3 will work properly with Leopard? I'm going to go out on a limb here and assume Adobe has an ADC membership and so has access to the so-called feature complete beta that Uncle Steve released at WWDC (or rather the subsequent builds). While it may be strictly true that Adobe hasn't received a gold master, neither has anybody else as far as we know. Nonetheless, can't they have "fully tested" CS3 with the builds that they presumably do have? In fact lots of people already have Leopard, so it can't be that big of a mystery whether CS3 is compatible.

My guess is that this is another flare up of the increasingly tense relationship between Apple and Adobe, and that Adobe is just trying to publicly remind Apple that a lot of people will hold off on Leopard until they can be sure that Adobe's products are fully supported. In other words, this is a little bit of breast beating on Adobe's part and the implicit message to Apple is that for a lot of pro users our stuff (CS3) is more important than your stuff (OS X). Particularly given the rise of iWork '08 (and the implicit slight to Microsoft it represents), I'm sure Adobe wants to make sure Apple remembers what's important vis-a-vis third-party developers. Whether Apple will take kindly to the message is something else entirely. What do you think?

[via MacNN]

If you've been waiting to order 'the Mac of your dreams,' perhaps a new 0% financing offer from Apple will be just what you need. Through June 30th, Apple Store customers who qualify for financing can purchase a Mac interest-free for 24 months. Oh, and Adobe Creative Suite 3 apparently goes well with Macs, so Apple's even allowing customers to lump a CS3 purchase (in addition to a Mac to begin with) into the no-interest financing deal.

[Update: Woops, sorry guys. Turns out this is an offer targeted at business customers. This link should take you to more information at Apple's site, but commenters are right: there's a slight detail that Apple left out of the email to the tune of a minimum purchase amount of $5,000. I honestly don't know why I'm receiving emails from Apple that are aimed at business customers, but look on the bright side: most people's dream Mac probably costs nearly $5,000 anyway, right? Toss on Creative Suite 3 and you're basically there.

But seriously: sorry about the mixup everyone.]

The new branding Adobe conceived for the new CS3 suite hasn't quite caught on with everyone just yet. Some say the icons are too bland and boring, while others like my friend John decided to take Adobe's 'periodic table of apps' concept to the next level. Via some icons found at sites like InterfaceLIFT and designing a few of his own, John has completely element-ized his entire Dock. In fact, I couldn't fit a decent picture that could display all the icons in this post, so head over to a TUAW gallery pic to take in the entire work of art - or monstrosity - depending on which side of the fence you sit on. Knock yourselves out if you feel like guessing each app - I have the entire list, but it won't be easy to nail 'em all.

[Update: For those that want a copy of most of these icons (some of them are home-made by my friend and not available publicly) as well as a few not shown here, TUAW reader David Mikula has quite a few available at his portfolio site, I Can't Fly. Thanks David!]

This is ridiculous. Apparently, part of Adobe's Creative Suite 3 (the Adobe Version Cue CS3 Server) requires the Mac firewall to be shut down in order to install correctly. The Adobe installer obligingly shuts your firewall off, but then neglects to restart it afterwards. Adobe has 'fessed up to the problem (as a "critical issue") and suggests manually starting your firewall. So the long and the short of it is this: if you've installed CS3 you need to check to make sure that your firewall is still running. Go the Firewall tab of the Sharing Preference Pane, and if it's not running, click "Start." Adobe is already on thin ice as far as I concerned with their insanely annoying installers, and now this firewall problem is just plain bad.

[via Daring Fireball]

Back in January we mentioned a contest over at Quark Vs Indesign.com to design replacement icons for Adobe CS3. That contest has now ended and the entries are available for download. Coincidentally, Joshua Bryant also has a post up linking to a variety of replacement CS3 icon sets. I have to say I don't really get the judges over at Quark Vs Indesign, as the first place winner there is a bit over the top in my view. Nonetheless, both sites have more subtle icons sets that I think are far superior to the default Adobe periodic table icons. Of all of these, I personally favor the gorgeous set by Adam Betts (right) based on the CS3 box design.

So if you're looking to augment or replace your CS3 icons check out Quark Vs Indesign and Joshua Bryant for a lot of options.

Do you have any other favorite CS3 icon sets not mentioned?

Now that folks are actually starting to get the shipping versions of Adobe CS3 applications, word comes that it's not good enough just to install the new applications over any beta versions you had previously been running. According to John Nack from Adobe, "It's important to run this script (and not just throw the app folder into the trash!), and/or to use the application uninstaller, before installing the shipping version of CS3 apps." The script download page indicates that you must first back up, uninstall the beta with the built-in uninstaller, run the clean script, and finally you can install the new version. I have to say, thumbs down to Adobe for this horribly unMac-like upgrading experience.

The CS3Clean script is a free download from Adobe.

[Via uneasysilence]

Today is the big day, ladies and gents - Adobe has officially unveiled a plethora of new Creative Suite 3 packages and products, all of which are available for preorder now. With this new suite, the acquisition of Macromedia in April of 2005 has come to fruition, with all products now under the Adobe umbrella and incorporated into various new CS3 product bundles.

To aid in the selection of a new CS3 package, Adobe has created a thorough product matrix that makes even the many versions of Vista cry. To further help navigate all the new products and features, Adobe has of course revamped their Creative Suite product pages and has also posted some introductory videos to help bide the time until this afternoon's live webcast event that we mentioned earlier. The webcast begins at 3:30EST today, but don't fret if you're all booked up for the day - it will be recorded and available for streaming for the ultimate in 'pajamas-at-3-am' viewing experiences.

Preorder pricing for Creative Suite 3 packages begins at $999 for a new suite (Web Standard), and $240 for upgrades (Design Standard). The Design suites are scheduled to begin shipping in April 2007, while Production Premium is slated for Q3 2007.

Amazon.com has apparently spilled the beans on the shipping date for Adobe's CS3 suite, including Photoshop, as April 20th. As we've mentioned before, Adobe has a special event planned for Tuesday (March 27) presumably to announce this very thing. Amazon's Canadian store has Photoshop, for instance, while the US store has CS3 Web Premium, with both listings showing: "This item will be released on April 20, 2007." So now you know just how long you get to keep using that Photoshop CS3 beta. MacNN has a nice post summarizing all of the pricing and suite information leaked by Amazon.

[Via MacNN]

We recently mentioned the upcoming Adobe CS3 launch (not shipping date), scheduled for March 27. Adobe has announced that they will be webcasting the launch from New York City at 3:30pm (Eastern). In addition, they will also be putting on live CS3 demonstrations at several Apple stores the next day, March 28th. So if you happen to be in SF, NYC, Chicago, Santa Monica, or London, you can head down to a local Apple store and marvel at CS3 (well if you can pull yourself away from the beta of Photoshop 3 that you've had for a couple of months). The Apple Store locations and times are listed here.

Thanks, João Carlos!

When the complete Adobe Creative Suite 3 package is revealed on March 27, Adobe will announce not one, but two distinct versions of Photoshop, including a standard Photoshop CS3 and the new Photoshop CS3 Extended. Photoshop CS3 Extended includes the same tools as Photoshop CS3, but it also contains a brand new set of features for the integration of 3D and motion graphics, and image measurement and analysis functions. This marks the first occasion in which more than one version of Photoshop will be made available, with the new version targeted at individuals in the fields of video, architecture, engineering, medicine, and science.

With the new PS CS3 Extended, video editors and artists can perform 3D model visualization and texture editing functions, as well as the ability to paint and clone over multiple video frames. Final animations can be exported as QuickTime, MPEG-4, and Flash video, among others formats. Additionally, users in the scientific, medical, and architectural fields will be able to extract quantitative and qualitative data from images with special measurement and analysis tools, with support for specialized image formats.

Kevin Connor, senior director of product management for Adobe digital imaging says: "At one point in time, we considered separate versions, but we found a lot of overlap in the features that these people needed.... Rather than create a new application, Extended is a superset of features that can specifically benefit people in those markets." An official list of features for Photoshop CS3 Extended, in addition to pricing information will be unveiled on March 27, and the complete CS3 suite will launch later in the spring.

Adobe will host a press event this March 27 to announce the availability of CS3. This will be the first Universal Binary version of the Creative Suite, and Adobe is calling the event the largest software release in its history. If you've been looking for an excuse to finally buy that Mac Pro, this could be it.

In the meantime, enjoy the "What's in the Box?" promo video above.

Thanks, Nik!

UPDATE: Adobe has said that they won't be shipping CS3 on the 27th, just announcing it. Sorry for the confusion.

After the Photoshop CS3 beta was released, we noted the new series of icons that Adobe is apparently planning to roll out all across their product line. Based on a kind of combination color-wheel and periodic table the icons have met with with a mixed response. Personally, I don't really like the minimalist design, so I'm pleased to see that Quark VS InDesign is sponsoring a contest for users to design a new set of CS3 icons. They claim that "First, second, and third place winners will divide a more than 50-item prize chest valued at more than US$7,000" and all entries will be placed on the site for free download. The contest ends on April 23, with the winner to be announced a week later.

Now's the time for all those great Mac icon designers to get to work on saving us from Adobe, and maybe pick up some loot as well.

[Via MacMerc]

With the Mac world all aflutter about the release of a Universal Binary beta of Photoshop CS3, the excellent Mac performance enthusiast site Bare Feats has some hard numbers comparing the CS3 beta on the Mac Pro to CS2 and CS3 on the Quad G5 PowerMacs of yore and the results are telling. Running native code the Mac Pro finally gets a chance to strut its stuff, with the Mac Pro handily beating the Quad G5 PowerMac on most tests. Rob Morgan's conclusion says it all: "We've waited many moons for the UB version of Photoshop. Mac Pro owners will love the dramatically improved performance that CS3 offers them. We understand the level of effort and investment required to accomplish this. Thank you, Adobe!"

[Via PowerPage]