InDesign Retains PDF Export Page Range Across Documents Instead of Resetting to All Pages

I see that the subject of this thread has been renamed, but it’s now misleading: the complaint is not about the “Single-Page” setting but about the page range.

Hi ​@marcusr22677124,

Thanks for sharing your observations, I can understand how this behavior can lead to unintended exports. I’m checking this further with the product team to get more clarity and insights on this behavior, and I’ll update you here as soon as I have more information. In the meantime, you can try the suggestions shared by the experts to help work around this.

Appreciate your patience in the meantime.

Abhishek

Here’s a script that inserts (invisible) labels to a document when you export it to PDF. It remembers the PDF’s name, full path, which preset was used, and whether the PDF should be opened after export. Just those four because these bug me when I export PDFs, but other attributes can be added easily.

https://creativepro.com/files/kahrel/indesign/pdf_export.html

I agree and have been bitten many times as well.

This could be a feature request where a preference allows user to select behavior:

1. always default to all pages in range, or
2. retains previous page range from one doc to another

Here’s the rub, what’s a flaw for you is a feature for someone else. Some people rely on those settings persisting, especially when exporting multiple similar docs. The real issue isn’t persistence itself, it’s that page range probably shouldn’t behave like a global setting.

I guess a toggle beside the page range ‘Global Setting’ could be included, but it’s not. That would mean people could decide if they want to export page 72-79 of every document and tick ‘Global’ and it retains the setting, with it ticked off it reverts back to the default state. 

You could use a script to export your PDF and bypass all the PDF controls, you just need to insert your PDF Preset Name into the script - I have put in High Quality Print - but  you can use  your own or change it in the script to match what you need.

You can assign shortcuts to Scripts in the Edit>Keyboard Shortcuts 
 

// Safe Export - Always Full Document

if (app.documents.length === 0) {
    alert("No document open.");
} else {
    var doc = app.activeDocument;

    // Choose where to save
    var file = File.saveDialog("Save PDF as");
    if (file !== null) {

        // Use a PDF preset (change name if needed)
        var presetName = "[High Quality Print]"; // e.g. "Press Quality"
        var pdfPreset = app.pdfExportPresets.itemByName(presetName);

        if (!pdfPreset.isValid) {
            alert("PDF preset not found: " + presetName);
        } else {
            // Force ALL pages
            app.pdfExportPreferences.pageRange = PageRange.ALL_PAGES;

            // Export PDF
            doc.exportFile(ExportFormat.PDF_TYPE, file, false, pdfPreset);

            alert("PDF exported (All Pages).");
        }
    }
}

I can’t seem to reproduce it. If I export a document using a page range (for example, 1-2), when I export another document the Range field is set to All Pages. 

What are your InDesign and operating system versions?