Opening Q4 originated files in Q8

[Gregg]

Curious to know if there are any known issues for opening and editing files that were created in Quark 4 into Quark 8.

The files vary in complexity, some interior files would have multiple master pages, numerous style sheets and are heavily illustrated with lots of runaround text.

I have read that it is best practice to export out an .INX file when first opening an older version InDesign file into a newer version InDesign file. Is there any similar process for Quark?

Thanks in advance.

[Glenn McDowall]

Complicated text is almost certain to reflow.
Its not just that you are dealing with Quark4 files, as text can reflow due to chip or OS. Whether you can use these files is going to depend on just how complex they are, its often quite a quick run through to fix the text issues by tweaking a few text boxes.
One other thing is that PICT images are no longer supported.

Quark8 will optimize the legacy file the first time it saves it, this is usually enough to "clean" the file structure. You may get some milage in either opening the file with modifier keys, or or performing a Thumbnail Drag to a fresh document and using Append.

[DavidMa]

Quark 4 to Quark 8 is quite a jump.
I think you will be spending some quality time with your keyboard on that one.
Q8 is a completely different animal from Q4, new code base and different OS.

good luck!

[pmhapp]

Along the new text engine, the color engine has also changed. Be prepared for color shifts.

[almaink]

I open Old Quark 3 and 4 files in version 6.5 all the time without issues. These files were all made on Macs using postscript fonts and I've yet to see any problems with reflow. I've never tried opening them in Quark 8 tho as I figure, and as others have said, it's to big a jump. I just tried a few to see if I would have any problems and every file I tried open fine in version 8.15. I'd guess YMMV tho depending on how the files were built and on what platform.