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Carol F Metzger
Inspiring
July 2, 2016
Answered

error trying to create pdfs from indd via distiller

  • July 2, 2016
  • 2 replies
  • 2197 views

%%[ Error: undefined; OffendingCommand:   íõØ Få½1ïçþt· DOCUMENT p  ]%%

%%[ Flushing: rest of job (to end-of-file) will be ignored ]%%

%%[ Warning: PostScript error. No PDF file produced. ] %%

How do I troubleshoot an undefined error?

This topic has been closed for replies.
Correct answer Dov Isaacs

It looks like what you did was to try to run Distiller directly on an InDesign .indd document file. That absolutely will not work. Distiller only processes PostScript (.ps) and some Encapsulated PostScript (.eps) files.

The proper method of creating a PDF file from an InDesign document (regardless of whatever anyone else may advise you) is to open the InDesign document (.indd file) in InDesign and then use the export function Save as PDF (print), specifying the destination file name (and directory) as well as appropriate options (usually PDF/X-4 or High Quality Print settings yield best results for most purposes).

          - Dov

2 replies

Dov Isaacs
Dov IsaacsCorrect answer
Legend
July 3, 2016

It looks like what you did was to try to run Distiller directly on an InDesign .indd document file. That absolutely will not work. Distiller only processes PostScript (.ps) and some Encapsulated PostScript (.eps) files.

The proper method of creating a PDF file from an InDesign document (regardless of whatever anyone else may advise you) is to open the InDesign document (.indd file) in InDesign and then use the export function Save as PDF (print), specifying the destination file name (and directory) as well as appropriate options (usually PDF/X-4 or High Quality Print settings yield best results for most purposes).

          - Dov

- Dov Isaacs, former Adobe Principal Scientist (April 30, 1990 - May 30, 2021)
Participating Frequently
July 2, 2016

Hi ,

Please provide the application & OS version on your system.Also check if there is any application update available for installation. 

Distiller reads PostScript files (including EPS), nothing else. If you try to open anything else in Distiller (TIFF, JPEG, DOC, anything) you will get this error or one like it .

You can create a PDF from certain file types (including TIFF and JPEG) in Acrobat. Or you can make a PostScript file in certain programs and distill that.

Regards,

Yatharth

Dov Isaacs
Legend
July 3, 2016

What version of Acrobat is being used is irrelevant here since in the case of InDesign documents, the only recommended method of generating PDF files from same is via PDF export from within InDesign.

          - Dov

- Dov Isaacs, former Adobe Principal Scientist (April 30, 1990 - May 30, 2021)
Carol F Metzger
Inspiring
July 3, 2016

Thanks, I was confused about the latest capabilities of Distiller.

The problem is, I have not found a way to batch distill. I am going to have hundreds of files to process. Using Acrobat's tools has not worked. What am I doing wrong? How can I make multiple PDFs out of ID?

Supposedly I can drag and drop multiple native files into the appropriate Acrobat's Create PDF window and get multiple PDFs, but no. The .ai files are working, but not the .indd; error, "Cannot Open File"

Adobe Photoshop (PSD), Adobe Illustrator (AI), and Adobe InDesign (INDD) files    

File > Create > PDF from File or Tools > Create PDF (single file)

Within Acrobat, by choosing PDF from File.  

Drag and drop

From the desktop or a folder on to the Acrobat DC window or icon.