Convert and save QuarkXPress files

Last updated on Jun 2, 2026

Learn how to open QuarkXPress documents directly in InDesign and save them as native Adobe InDesign files for continued editing.

Adobe InDesign can convert QuarkXPress documents and templates directly to InDesign format, preserving layout, styles, and linked assets. This conversion allows you to transition QuarkXPress projects to InDesign while maintaining design fidelity.

Before you begin

InDesign supports QuarkXPress versions 3.3 and 4.1x, including multi-language QuarkXPress Passport 4.1x files. For documents created in QuarkXPress 5.0 or later, you must first reopen them in QuarkXPress and save them in 4.0 format before converting. The conversion preserves text frames, styles, colors, parent pages, layers, and linked graphics, though some elements, such as OLE objects and XTensions-generated graphics, are not supported.

  • QuarkXPress document (QXD) or template (QXT) file in version 3.3 or 4.1x format.
  • Original QuarkXPress file closed.
  • All linked graphics are copied to the same folder as the QuarkXPress document.
  • InDesign 2023 or later installed.

During conversion, InDesign automatically translates QuarkXPress elements to their InDesign equivalents. Text boxes become text frames, QuarkXPress styles convert to InDesign styles, and parent pages transfer with all objects intact. The Links panel displays all preserved graphic links, allowing you to verify and update them after conversion.

Select File > Open.

Select the QuarkXPress document or template file and select Open.

If a warning dialog appears describing conversion issues, select Save to export the warnings as a text file for review, or select Close to proceed without saving warnings.

Review the opened document and verify that text, graphics, and layout elements converted correctly.

Select File > Save and select InDesign <year> document or InDesign <year> template.