Question

EmbeddedFile OBJECT/EXECUTABLE (EF in COSDictionary)

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I received the following warning in an SEC filing:

WRN: INVALID_PDF_TAG
MSG: In xxxxxx.pdf: found an invalid PDF tag (ATTACHED EmbeddedFile OBJECT/EXECUTABLE (EF in COSDictionary)).

If I regenerate the PDF, the warning disappears. The file was originally exported from Adobe InDesign 2021.

Could you explain what causes this warning, and how I can prevent it when exporting a PDF from InDesign?

Import and export

P

parthiban_8804

Participant

Hi @Abhishek Rao

Sorry for the late reply.

I tested replacing EF with MM in the BaseFont and FontName properties (wherever these characters appear within the six-character font subset prefix). After making this change, the SEC validation error was no longer reproduced.

This makes me wonder whether SEC validation is interpreting the EF characters within the six-character font subset prefix as an embedded file reference.

Is there any way to control or prevent this behavior at our end without modifying the font subset prefix?

Unfortunately, I am unable to share the sample PDF because it contains confidential information. However, I have attached a screenshot of the relevant PDF structure for your reference.

Please let me know if you need any additional details to investigate this issue. I would appreciate your guidance.

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nik.m

Community Manager

Hi, thanks for testing the workflow.

I'll check with the product team to see if there is a way to control or prevent this behavior and get back to you.

Thanks,

Nikunj

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Abhishek Rao

Community Manager

Hello @parthiban_8804,

I appreciate the information. This warning typically arises when the validator identifies something in the PDF that resembles an embedded attachment. To gain a clearer understanding of what is causing this, could you please verify your InDesign and operating system versions, and let me know if this occurs with multiple files or just this specific one?

Moreover, please attempt to export again using a PDF/X-4 preset or High Quality Print with Create Tagged PDF turned off and inform me if the SEC warning persists.

I hope this helps.

Abhishek

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parthiban_8804Author

Hello @Abhishek Rao

Thank you for your quick response.
We are using the following versions of InDesign and our operating system:

InDesign Server 2021 (Version 16.4.3)
Windows Server 2022 Datacenter (Version 21H2)

This error occurs randomly across multiple files. Whenever it happens, we regenerate the PDF, and the warning disappears. Our question is: why does this warning appear initially, and why does it go away when the PDF is recreated?

We will try the export settings you recommended and update you, but since the warning occurs randomly, it may be difficult to confirm whether the settings resolve the issue.

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Abhishek Rao

Community Manager

Thanks for the details, @parthiban_8804. I am checking this behavior with our product team to understand the root cause and the best way to avoid the warning. I will update you as soon as I hear back.

Appreciate your patience in the meantime!

Abhishek

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