"The document is invalid. The index.xml file is missing".

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Level 1

8 points

"The document is invalid. The index.xml file is missing".

I suddenly can't open any of my Numbers docs. I get a msg "The document "name of doc" is invalid. The index.xml file is missing". I literally had the document open this morning with no problem, closed it, tried to reopen it and now I get this msg...all in the same computer session. It didn't start after an update or anything, just in the middle of a computer session. Seems to affect all Numbers docs. I can't open any of them now. I'm running OS X El Capitan Version 10.11 and Numbers 09, Version 2.1.

Posted on May 30, 2016 8:28 AM

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Answer 1

Best reply

Barry

Level 9

59,861 points

May 30, 2016 11:54 PM in response to jgl072360

Hi jg,

The usual cause of this message is that the document has been opened in Numbers version 3.x.x, which converts it to a newer file version whch does not use the internal index.xml file being requested by Numbers '09.

Do you have Numbers 3 installed on your machine? Has this file ever been opened in that application?

Has the file been saved to iCloud and/or opened by the iOS version of Numbers or by Numbers for iCloud?

The recommended 'cure' is to open the file using Numbers 3, then Save as.. or Export it as a Numbers '09 file. Following that, remember to Quit Numbers (v3)—Numbers menu > Quit Numbers; clicking the red traffic light closes the file, but does NOT quit Numbers. Then avoid opening Numbers files by double-clicking the file itself.

Instead, launch Numbers '09 (v2.3), and open the file from within the application.

Regards,

Barry

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Answer 2

jgl072360 Author

Level 1

8 points

Jun 1, 2016 6:49 PM in response to Barry

Thanks so much. I appreciate the assistance!

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