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Phili4
Participant
December 28, 2019
Answered

InDesign export error message

  • December 28, 2019
  • 16 replies
  • 38919 views

I am trying to export an InDesign file to PDF and am receiving two error messages.  First - "This document contains links to files/URL(s) that are not accessible.  Please check your network connectivity or the original source of content."  Second - Failed to Export the PDF file."  Preflight window there are no errors.  Links window are to the placed photos.  I can't find a URL or email address in the document that is not correctly associated under the hyperlinks window with the real URL or email address. I have read to export as a mark up file and have done that, but to no avail, continue to receive the error message.  Document is a two page bulletin to be emailed to a group.  Operating system is Windows 10 Pro. Creative Cloud just updated recently, automatically.

 

Thank you for your help,

Edith

    Correct answer khtzoo

    Are you on a mac or PC? It is all about the permissions on macs. Go to system preferences, security and privacy, privacy tab. Click the lock icon and login. In the full disk & access and files & folders, make sure all adobe programs are checked. If you can't do this which I couldn't at first, you will need to update your os. 

    16 replies

    K
    Kishan37446203t4rb
    Participant
    January 13, 2025

    Could someone please share the fix for this problem in windows?

     

    Abhishek Rao
    Community Manager
    Abhishek RaoCommunity Manager
    Community Manager
    January 13, 2025
     
    Sorry to hear about the trouble you're facing while exporting a PDF. I’d be happy to assist you further!
    Could you please share the following details to help us understand your issue better?

    1. The version of InDesign you’re using.

    2. The version of your Windows operating system.

    3. Are you working with files and linked files stored locally on your device or on a network/shared drive, external drive or server?

     
    Additionally, have you already tried any of the suggestions shared in this thread? For instance:
    • Running InDesign as an Administrator.
    • Saving your file as an IDML (File > Export > InDesign Markup (IDML)), relinking all your images, and saving it as a new file.
    • Checking if the files you’re working with are marked as “Available Offline” (if stored in cloud locations like OneDrive, SharePoint, or Dropbox).
    Let me know the details, and I’ll provide further guidance.
     
    Looking forward to your response!
     
    Best,
    Abhishek
    S
    sarahm33768427
    Participant
    May 20, 2024

    I am having the same problem but can't find a solution for PC users. Please help.

    Anshul_Saini
    Community Manager
    Anshul_SainiCommunity Manager
    Community Manager
    July 2, 2024

     

    I'm sorry you're having trouble exporting PDFs and delayed response. It can be quite frustrating when things don't work as expected.

    I would suggest try saving your document as an IDML file. To do this, go to File > Export and choose InDesign Markup (IDML). After exporting, open the IDML file and save it under a new name.

    Additionally, after saving as IDML, make sure to relink your images to ensure everything is connected correctly. Also, keep everything on the desktop folder so there are no additional issues, such as read-and-write problems, and then try to export it again.

     

    Please let us know if this helps or if you need any further help.

     

    Best regards,
    Anshul Saini

    jeffh64585784
    jeffh64585784
    Participant
    January 27, 2024

    I have a brand new MacBook and I'm running the most current OS and I'm still running into this issue even when I relink my files.

     

      Rishabh_Tiwari
      Community Manager
      Rishabh_TiwariCommunity Manager
      Community Manager
      January 31, 2024

      Hi,

       

      Sorry to hear about the trouble. Can you confirm if InDesign has full disc access? To provide full disc access, please go to Apple Menu > System Settings > Privacy & Security > Full Disc Access and check if InDesign is listed there. If not, please add InDesign and test again. Let us know how it goes. 

      Thanks

      Rishabh

        Troopster
        Troopster
        Participant
        March 20, 2023

        *Dropbox Note - I had a similar issue and notice when I tried to print or export as a PDF. I use Dropbox Desktop and my files were pulling from online. Some of my files from Dropbox though weren't marked as 'Available Offline.' which was creating this error. Once I made that specific folder 'Available Offline' then everything started working.

        susane38616721
        susane38616721
        Participant
        May 1, 2024

        On Windows 11 Pro, I had a similar issue with files that are stored on SharePoint. Checking "Always keep on this device" for the only linked file in a particular document solved the problem.

        mariab48202169
        mariab48202169
        Participant
        March 12, 2023

        This solved the issue for me as well. Thank you so much. This would have been impossible to figure out.

        R
        Rebecca Ball
        Participant
        September 7, 2022

        khtzoo - GENIUS! Who would have ever thought? (This is why I hate to update & change computers...catalyst for the problem.) So thankful that you shared your knowledge. I was struggling with a 47+ page document that contained nearly 500 image links, and the thought of redoing that was devestating. I am sure many of my other files will have the same issue, so very thankful to have it fixed!

          mblistein
          mblistein
          Participating Frequently
          September 2, 2022

          This worked for me too, in OS Monterey in 2022. Suddenly got the error message for first time in 7 years! Thanks.

            elizabethh16460729
            elizabethh16460729
            Participant
            September 8, 2021

            The advice to check permissions worked right away. My sincere thanks! This had been driving me crazy for a couple of days until I found this advice in  Support!

              J
              jocelynes42128152
              Participant
              August 31, 2020

              This worked for me from this page:
              (Relinking the folder) 
              Here is the orgiginal source: http://www.filerepairtool.net/blog/fix-indesign-missing-links-issue

              Fix 4 – Copy links to Another Folder

              The Copy Link(s) To command is especially for copying graphic files to another folder and then redirect those links to the copied files. This command is generally used for moving files to another drive like shifting documents from a DVD to Hard Drive.

              1. First, select the file links you want to copy and then chose Utilities then from the Links panel menu select Copy Link(s) To.
              2. Select the folder where you want to copy the files linked. After this choose your OS Windows or Mac OS.

              Now after copying links to another folder check if you are able to restore missing links problem in InDesign.

              ashsinash
              ashsinash
              Participating Frequently
              May 3, 2020

              Try running Indesign as Administrator. It worked for me.

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