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M
mcemsh102
Participant
July 8, 2023
Question

Cannot figure out how to export a PDF from Adobe Illustrator

  • July 8, 2023
  • 2 replies
  • 735 views

So frustrated. Save a copy is grayed out. Save as has no file format selection option at all. Export as has no PDF option. I have tried resetting preferences and no dice. How can this basic and vital function be either hidden or not available at all? Please help.

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2 replies

M
mcemsh102Author
Participant
July 8, 2023

Update: I was able to save my file as a PDF, but only if I save it to my computer. I should be able to save a PDF to my creative cloud fies, right? I would still love some help with that. Thanks!

Ton Frederiks
Community Expert
Ton FrederiksCommunity Expert
Community Expert
July 8, 2023

Do you save it to your local Creative Cloud Files Folder?

M
mcemsh102Author
Participant
July 8, 2023

Thanks, Ton--

I was trying to save to my Creative Cloud rather than to local files. So are you saying, select save to computer (rather than the intuitive choice, which would be "save to creative cloud"), then select Creative Cloud files? That seems like a hidden/odd solution, but okay.

I reinstalled and restarted. Save A Copy is still grayed out.

I figured out, however, that if I select "save for screens" I get a dialogue box where I can select PDF as an output option. I didn't find this solution in the User Manual or in any of the support articles on this site.

I would suggest to the developers that they also make PDF an option in the Export As dialogue box, to help others avoid the frustration I have been experiencing.

Ton Frederiks
Community Expert
Ton FrederiksCommunity Expert
Community Expert
July 8, 2023

Did you rstart your machine? If that does not help, try un installing Illustrator and install again.

If that does not help, maybe using the Cleaner tool will work.

https://helpx.adobe.com/creative-cloud/kb/cc-cleaner-tool-installation-problems.html

M
mcemsh102Author
Participant
July 8, 2023

I will try this. Thank you.

I do wonder, however, how such a key item as saving a PDF might require a full computer restart or even a reinstall of the software to be fixed. Does that not seem more than a little inconvenient, if not entirely extreme? I am imagining a scenario where I was working on deadline and suddenly this crucial PDF option required an internet deep dive for at least an hour, and then, once the information was located, a full reboot or reinstall. That is a lot, by any stretch. It would cause extreme stress at a minimum, and potentially, a job-threatening epic fail.

Is there a fix in the offing? It would be reassuring to know that.

Ton Frederiks
Community Expert
Ton FrederiksCommunity Expert
Community Expert
July 8, 2023

Normally it should just work, I never had to reinstall software to save as PDF, but sometimes things go wrong,

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