If you’re not on Adobe Creative Cloud, but still get InDesign CC files, you can convert InDesign CC files to CS5-CS6 via Markzware‘s MarkzTools for InDesign plugins:

Many Adobe InDesign users choose to create documents in CS5, CS5.5 or CS6 (Creative Suite versions), without transitioning to Adobe’s Creative Cloud. Yet, it is possible for InDesign CS5 through InDesign CS6 users to access InDesign CC files.

Markzware provides Mac platform solutions and more, to support document production in Adobe InDesign and other workflows for print, publishing and graphic arts. Markzware’s MarkzTools for InDesign plugins are available in a bundle that can open CC and newer InDesign version files in InDesign CS5 through CS6.

Open higher InDesign versions in lower versions of InDesign! See how, in this video demonstration of MarkzTools for InDesign:

Not on Adobe Creative Cloud, but Get InDesign CC Files? Use MarkzTools

Markzware’s MarkzTools for InDesign plugins enable users to open later Adobe InDesign versions in earlier InDesign versions. For example, an InDesign CS5 user could open InDesign CS5.5 through CC 2017 file versions within CS5.

It’s simple to use MarkzTools for InDesign. Just go to the MarkzTools menu, select “Convert InDesign Document”, and select the INDD document that you want to convert.

InDesign users could experience a problem when they receive a document from a CC user. MarkzTools for InDesign allows you to convert your customers’ InDesign Creative Cloud version files directly to CS6, CS5.5 or CS5, without having to request an IDML file.

“… an InDesign CS5 user of MarkzTools for InDesign can open an InDesign CC (Creative Cloud) or CC 2014 document.”
– Vision Asia Magazine, Issue 10, page 27

Advantages of using MarkzTools
• provides easy and accurate data conversion for InDesign CS5-CS6 users who handle newer version INDD documents.
• gives InDesign CS5-CS6 users fast InDesign CC version access, for editing within an earlier INDD document version, without a Creative Cloud subscription.
• saves time, since the later version InDesign document does not have to be rebuilt from scratch.

If You Get InDesign CC Files, But Are Not On
Adobe Creative Cloud, You Can Use Markzware’s
MarkzTools for InDesign to Open InDesign CC:

“Convert InDesign Document…” Menu Item in MarkzTools for InDesign

MarkzTools has unique features, including:
1. “Convert InDesign Document…” menu item supports file conversion of multiple versions of Adobe InDesign.
2. offers a Help Menu, which displays:
• MarkzTools for InDesign version installed on your system.
• Online Manual Button to take you to a page where you can access Markzware product manuals.
• Support Website Button to take you to Markzware’s Trouble Ticket form.
• OK button to close the MarkzTools Help window and take you back to InDesign.
3. supports several languages, including English, French, and German.

You might not know if the file you are trying to open was saved most recently in InDesign CC 2017, CC 2015, CC 2014, CS6, or etc. You can set MarkzTools “Enable” menu to “All Higher Version Documents”, so you don’t need to figure out which InDesign version was last used to edit the file.

Get InDesign CC Files? Open Them In Earlier Versions
Not On Adobe Creative Cloud, via Markzware
MarkzTools for InDesign’s “Enable” Feature:

MarkzTools for InDesign “Enable” feature for selecting InDesign version to open

The MarkzTools for InDesign CS5 plugin can
convert the following InDesign versions to CS5:
• CS5.5
• CS6
• CC
• CC 2014
• CC 2015
• CC 2017

The MarkzTools for InDesign CS5.5 plugin can
convert the following InDesign versions to CS5.5:
• CS6
• CC
• CC 2014
• CC 2015
• CC 2017

The MarkzTools for InDesign CS6 plugin can
convert the following InDesign versions to CS6:
• CC
• CC 2014
• CC 2015
• CC 2017

Markzware recommends keeping “Enable” set on “All Higher Version Documents”. Then, all you have to do is click “Convert InDesign Document…”, select the file to convert, and click “Open”. MarkzTools will convert the file for you.

InDesign CS5 users dealing with InDesign CS5.5 or higher documents possibly have the most to gain from MarkzTools for InDesign plugins. With these plugins in the MarkzTools2 bundle, CS5 users can open InDesign CS5.5 through CC 2017 version files in CS5.

The Annual Subscription provides 1 year’s use of MarkzTools for CS6, CS5.5 and CS5 Mac on a single computer. This includes all updates and upgrades during that term, starting on date of purchase. You can renew your subscription at the end of the term.

You can buy Markzware’s InDesign plugin to open InDesign CC in lower versions, via the MarkzTools2 page. More data conversion solutions are available on the Markzware Products page. Feel free to subscribe to the Markzware Mailing List, and post with Markzware on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Google+.

Not on Adobe Creative Cloud, but Get InDesign CC Files? Use MarkzTools