30 catalogued formats
Page Layout & Publishing
Page layout files are project documents. They reference images, fonts, color profiles, master pages, and output settings rather than storing a single flat page. Moving a layout between applications is difficult because each program has its own text engine and object model. A PDF is usually the reliable delivery format; the layout source remains the editable master.
Why this format suite matters
- Layout projects depend on linked assets and installed fonts.
- A PDF preserves appearance but not the editable layout structure.
- Print output needs correct bleed, marks, color space, and image resolution.
Common formats in this suite
A sample of the catalog. Not every extension has a live converter.
| Format | Extension | MIME | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| INDD | .indd | application/octet-stream | INDD page layout format |
| QXD | .qxd | application/octet-stream | QXD page layout format |
| AFDESIGN | .afdesign | application/octet-stream | AFDESIGN page layout format |
| AFPUB | .afpub | application/octet-stream | AFPUB page layout format |
| AI | .ai | application/octet-stream | AI page layout format |
| BOOK | .book | application/octet-stream | BOOK page layout format |
| CMX | .cmx | application/octet-stream | CMX page layout format |
| FLA | .fla | application/octet-stream | FLA page layout format |
| FODS | .fods | application/octet-stream | FODS page layout format |
| INDL | .indl | application/octet-stream | INDL page layout format |
| INDT | .indt | application/octet-stream | INDT page layout format |
| MCF | .mcf | application/octet-stream | MCF page layout format |
| NUMBERS | .numbers | application/octet-stream | NUMBERS page layout format |
| P65 | .p65 | application/octet-stream | P65 page layout format |
| PCT | .pct | application/octet-stream | PCT page layout format |
| PIC | .pic | application/octet-stream | PIC page layout format |
| PICT | .pict | application/octet-stream | PICT page layout format |
| PLT | .plt | application/octet-stream | PLT page layout format |
| Adobe Photoshop Document | .psd | image/vnd.adobe.photoshop | PSD page layout format |
| QXP | .qxp | application/octet-stream | QXP page layout format |
| QXT | .qxt | application/octet-stream | QXT page layout format |
| RIB | .rib | application/octet-stream | RIB page layout format |
| SCD | .scd | application/octet-stream | SCD page layout format |
| SILO | .silo | application/octet-stream | SILO page layout format |
| STC | .stc | application/octet-stream | STC page layout format |
| SXC | .sxc | application/octet-stream | SXC page layout format |
Showing 26 of 30 catalogued formats. Use the converter directory for supported tools.
Common workflows
Print delivery
Export a print-ready PDF from the layout application instead of converting the project file.
Editorial review
Share a PDF proof and keep the INDD or QXD master for revisions.
Archiving
Store the source project, linked assets, fonts, and a PDF together.
Before you convert
Start with the application that must open the result. Export a print-ready PDF from the layout application instead of converting the project file. Keep the original file until the output has been opened and checked. A format name alone does not guarantee compatibility, especially for page layout & publishing data that may include references, layers, or platform-specific metadata.
- Confirm the source file opens correctly in its original application.
- Identify the exact format and version the destination accepts.
- Keep the source until the converted file has been reviewed.
Frequently asked questions
- Can I open an INDD file without InDesign?
- Not reliably. InDesign can export PDF or IDML for some interchange workflows, but a generic converter cannot reconstruct the full layout.
- Is PDF a page layout format?
- PDF is a fixed-layout delivery format. It preserves appearance but not the editable layout project.
- Why are fonts missing after opening a layout?
- The project may reference fonts that are not installed or licensed on the new machine.
- What should I send to a printer?
- Ask the printer for its preferred PDF preset, then include bleed, marks, and embedded fonts as requested.
- What should I check before converting a page layout & publishing file?
- Confirm that the source opens in its original application, identify the format the destination requires, and keep an untouched copy. Test one representative file before processing a batch, especially when metadata, links, geometry, or layout matters.