topic Re: Error message: "The specified file does not contain a valid ArcMap document or it was saved in a newer version of ArcGIS." I'm running 10.5 - Any ideas?? in ArcGIS Pro Questions

Error message: "The specified file does not contain a valid ArcMap document or it was saved in a newer version of ArcGIS." I'm running 10.5 - Any ideas??

BrianConklin-Powers — Fri, 19 Oct 2018 12:51:58 GMT

Error message: "The specified file does not contain a valid ArcMap document or it was saved in a newer version of ArcGIS."

I'm running 10.5 - Any ideas??

Re: Error message: "The specified file does not contain a valid ArcMap document or it was saved in a newer version of ArcGIS." I'm running 10.5 - Any ideas??

JakeSkinner — Fri, 19 Oct 2018 13:03:27 GMT

Hi Brian,

You may be trying to open an MXD from a later release of ArcGIS Desktop (i.e. 10.6). Do you know what version this MXD was created in?

Re: Error message: "The specified file does not contain a valid ArcMap document or it was saved in a newer version of ArcGIS." I'm running 10.5 - Any ideas??

BrianConklin-Powers — Fri, 19 Oct 2018 13:06:21 GMT

Thanks for your reply Jake. I fixed the problem using MXD Doctor utility. You are correct, it was created in an older version and opened and saved it in a newer version. I found this video to be very helpful. Convert MXD File to Old Version (MXD Doctor) - YouTube Do you know how to prevent this in the future?

Re: Error message: "The specified file does not contain a valid ArcMap document or it was saved in a newer version of ArcGIS." I'm running 10.5 - Any ideas??

JakeSkinner — Fri, 19 Oct 2018 13:11:47 GMT

It would be best to keep everyone at the same release of ArcGIS Desktop.

Re: Error message: "The specified file does not contain a valid ArcMap document or it was saved in a newer version of ArcGIS." I'm running 10.5 - Any ideas??

BrianConklin-Powers — Fri, 19 Oct 2018 13:24:32 GMT

Yes, this would certainly help for teams. This is a situation where I opened an older file I had created, made edits, saved in the newer version, and was subsequently unable to open again. I presume I will have to repeat this conversion process with any older file.

Re: Error message: "The specified file does not contain a valid ArcMap document or it was saved in a newer version of ArcGIS." I'm running 10.5 - Any ideas??

JakeSkinner — Fri, 19 Oct 2018 13:36:33 GMT

If you're making edits to the data (i.e. creating/updating/deleting features) you won't have to save the MXD afterwards, just save your edits. However, if you are making changes to a layer (i.e. adding labels, changing symbology, adding an additional layer), then yes you will need to save the MXD.

Re: Error message: "The specified file does not contain a valid ArcMap document or it was saved in a newer version of ArcGIS." I'm running 10.5 - Any ideas??

VeerleCaelen — Tue, 27 Oct 2020 09:09:41 GMT

I had the exact same problem. Strangely enough, the file opened perfectly normal if I first started ArcMap and then opend my mxd from inside the program.