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Bill Clarke Author

Level 1

5 points

Can't open Keynote 09 file

I have a file, created in Keynote 09, that I cannot open anymore. I receive the message "Unable to open 'filename' because it isn't a valid keynote document". Same message when double-clicking the file or from the Open... menu. I suspect the file is corrupted as Keynote 09 was behaving strangely when I was editing it (very slow operations). I saved the file and restarted Keynote and that's when the file wouldn't open anymore. I restarted the Mac (MacBook Pro, unibody) and still no luck. I made a copy of the file in the Finder successfully, but I get the same message with the copy. The file can be viewed in QuickLook just fine.
Is there a file repair utility for Keynote 09?

Cheers,
Bill

Message was edited by: Bill Clarke

MacBook Pro 15" unibody, Mac OS X (10.5.6)

Posted on Feb 2, 2009 1:45 AM

239 replies

Feb 24, 2011 12:53 PM in response to Gordo007

Thank you Gordo007! That worked.

For reference I was in Keynote '09 with no Keynote 08 installed.

rvanet

Level 1

15 points

Feb 28, 2011 7:09 AM in response to Gordo007

Yeah! worked for me too!!

renamed .key to .zip
double-clicked .zip creates a new folder with all to contents
renamed and added .key to the folder
double-clicked again and it opened!

😀

jpearceb

Level 1

0 points

Mar 1, 2011 2:25 PM in response to Gordo007

Hey Gordo007...I followed your instructions with the whole auto archive thing...I cant find in the folder...anything that says "index" any suggestions where to look....Im so upset about the lost project. I took a day off work to put it together and the lecture is only 4 days away! There were about 80 slides....any suggestions would be appreciated. thanks

rvanet

Level 1

15 points

Mar 1, 2011 9:42 PM in response to jpearceb

hey beis,

try renaming or adding .key to the folder. don't bother finding the "index" thing. i tried it with my lost keynote doc without it and it worked.

hope it will work for you too...

cheers

bozebui

Level 1

0 points

Mar 2, 2011 6:50 PM in response to Bill Clarke

Same problem here.. Unfortunately unable to solve anything -but not for lack of suggestions here!

I noticed that in Console the following message was logged: 'Keynote[129] Failed to create xml unarchiver.'

Does this mean anything to any of you?

Heavily in doubt about Apple now and no presentation to show the board of our educational institute what Apple can contribute in the classroom...

ACT-mhar

Level 1

0 points

Mar 3, 2011 8:20 AM in response to Bill Dresselhaus

i have tried your solution step by step but it doesn't work for me..

any other suggestion guys?

Mar 4, 2011 5:36 PM in response to Gordo007

This worked for me -- thank you

kiatlim

Level 1

0 points

Mar 18, 2011 1:07 PM in response to Gordo007

This absolutely worked out well for me...phew!

Mar 27, 2011 4:47 PM in response to ACT-mhar

i tried both suggestions (font book and zip method) and neither worked initially. then on a lark, i tried the zip one last time. but instead of double clicking i right (option) clicked and opened with archive utility and it worked like a charm. thought i was going to have redo 3 days worth of work in 12 hours.

Mar 29, 2011 11:57 PM in response to Gordo007

You, Sir, are a legend!

Apr 7, 2011 4:00 AM in response to jonaslaberg

I fixed the problem by going here
http://support.apple.com/downloads/#iwork

download iWork 9.05 and it will make your Keynotes happy again.

For some reason it is not included in the "update software"

Apr 10, 2011 12:50 PM in response to Michael Bacon

I have been reading the threads and unfortunately nothing, even the above, helped me. I tried everything. Zipping it, unzipping it, adding .key and nothing. I even deleted duplicate fonts from my fonts library. I am, however, able to view all of my slides when i right click and choose "clickview" but that doesn't help me....and how is it that the information is there but I can't open the keynote file

That's what I need to open!

I am a designer for a global packaging company and this presentation is for our shareholders...yikes! It is also in a week and a half (I work ahead, thank god since I can recreate it again) but I put so many hours on this that I would hate to lose everything.

I hope someone out there has an alternate way of fixing this problem. And if anybody out there is willing to look at my file I will be more than happy to email you my .zip file.....i'm so desperate.

Thank you!

Marcos Sola

Apr 11, 2011 3:22 PM in response to Bill Clarke

THANK YOU! This worked! I have been working on a presentation for 2 weeks and had 2 slides left and it said the file was corrupt and would not open. You saved me. Thank you SO very much!

Apr 12, 2011 6:16 AM in response to socramahis

Marcos, feel free to email me the file. I make no promises, but I will see what I can do. Click my blue name to get the address.

psjarky

Level 1

0 points

Apr 16, 2011 8:13 PM in response to Bill Clarke

Help! Tried the above fixes and no go. Spent three weeks on a Keynote file and now can't open it. Have imported basic png images and have no transitions. Have also drag and dropped several files from AI into this presentation....could this be the problem?

Can't open Keynote 09 file