Participant

Answered

Export to PDF did not include changes I made

Forum|Forum|5 years ago
March 16, 2021
10 replies
1827 views

Hi,

I had a 'export to PDF' problem. I made a color change in Indesign 2021 Big Sur (MBP 2019 16"). When I exported it to PDF it did not include those changes I made. I tried it multiple times with no success. Same color as before I made the change. Except when I first saved the IND file (local). Never had this problem before.

I do a lot of (press) printing. So I'm getting very nervous.

Anybody recognize this problem?

Import and export

This topic has been closed for replies.

Correct answer Jens Trost

Hi reggylangkun,

did you try exporting it to a different filename or even location?
On macOS I sometimes expierenced that exports don't reflect changes, when I try to overwrite the same file.

mattb91125363

Participating Frequently

I'm having this issue too... Indesign 2025 to Acrobat Pro (or Preview). I am making fiddly text changes, and they are just not coming through. It is literally InDesigns only job. I resarted computer. Saved under a different filename. Saved to a different place. Downsaving to IDML did work, but, seriously?

E

Eugene Tyson

Community Expert

This thread is quite old even if some of the replies are quite new.

What is your OS and version of InDesign?

If you're on a Mac there's a solid chance the Mac OS is caching your file and when you make a new file and try and open it - Mac OS (in all it's expensive glory) will open a file stored in the cache which does not reflect the changes.

I've seen this on the Mac OS many times - and most recently just last week with a colleague who was baffled.

I've never seen this happen on Windows.

mattb91125363

Participating Frequently

Yes, it definately feels like a caching issue… I’m on Sonoma 14.1 and the indesign is 20.0 (2025). But, short of deleting InDesign and deleting preferences (which would mean resetting keyboard shortcuts etc), how do I clear InDesign cache?

K

katprau

Participant

Absolutely insane that in order for changes to show on pdf export from InDesign we have to save files with a new name. Is Apple in cahoots with Adobe to make us fill our hard drives. Sometimes I re-export to PDF multiple times. This is a new glitch that never happened for me until InDesign 2024. I hoped with 2025 it would be fixed, but no. The most annoying thing is that it doesn't happen every time so I have to check my pdfs very closely. So annoying and frustrating.

Jumpenjax

Community Expert

I do a lot of press printing and I found this happened when I just saved the pdf and then made a change and re-saved the file. I find the best way to avoid this problem is to set my press printing values including my pdf under File/package. This will create a new folder that will have all the most current information needed for printing (pdf too.👍)

If you need to make changes just save again in the same process. You may need to rename the new folder. (I just throw away the old packaged folder and then re-save.) InDesign makes a nice neat new folder each time.

Lee- Graphic Designer, Print Specialist, Photographer

E

Eugene Tyson

Community Expert

Save the file. Use File>Export and choose IDML.

Open that IDML in InDesign

Save as a new file.

Try exporting it now - it should be fine going forward.

Jens TrostCorrect answer

Inspiring

Hi reggylangkun,

did you try exporting it to a different filename or even location?
On macOS I sometimes expierenced that exports don't reflect changes, when I try to overwrite the same file.

R

reggylangkunAuthor

Participant

Yes Jens, thats the only (quick)way. Still annoying though. But then again I have to save it to another version. So that's ok.
Thanks!

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