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Participating Frequently
January 8, 2019
Answered

"View PDF after export" option grayed out?

When exporting to PDF using a PDF preset, the PDF no longer launches automatically in Acrobat. I checked settings and the "View PDF after export" is grayed out. I tried making new preset but the option remains unavailable. I've updated software and current OS. I deleted InDesign preferences files and created new. Nothing works. What happened? Anyone know? Running CC V14.01 on a PC Win7. Never had the problem before. Have searched the threads and nothing helps or references any recent issue like this.

    BobLevine
    BobLevineCorrect answer
    Community Expert
    January 11, 2019

    Any other ideas? This did not work. ugh...


    At this point, if none of the above help, I'd uninstall and resinstall.

    22 replies

    Inspiring
    February 6, 2025

    It's grayed out if you are editing your PDF presets, but not grayed out when that dialogue comes up when you are actually exporting a PDF. From that dialogue, you can save the modified preset as a new preset with View PDF after export enabled.

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    Bill Silbert
    Community Expert
    Community Expert
    January 8, 2019

    Problems within panels (such as the "View PDF after export" option being grayed out) can often be fixed by deleting your InDesign cache files (which is not the same as deleting preferences).

    To do so on a PC:

    On Windows 7 and above the caches files are hidden. To find them go to the Control Panel and open Folder Options and then click the View tab. Then select “Show hidden files and folders” or “Show hidden files, folders or drive options” in Advanced Settings. Then delete (or rename) the folder at the end of this path: C:\Users\[User Name]\AppData\Local\Adobe\InDesign\Version [#]\<Language>\Cache.

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    sbiscardiAuthor
    Participating Frequently
    January 8, 2019

    Delete just the data in the cache folder? or one of the sub-folders? all sub-folders? see below

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    Bill Silbert
    Community Expert
    Community Expert
    January 8, 2019

    Delete the whole Caches folder.

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    Community Expert
    January 8, 2019

    Is it on all files or just the one you're working on?

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    sbiscardiAuthor
    Participating Frequently
    January 8, 2019

    all files

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    BobLevine
    Community Expert
    Community Expert
    January 8, 2019

    You likely lost the file association for PDFs. Reassociate them with Acrobat.

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    sbiscardiAuthor
    Participating Frequently
    January 8, 2019

    Didn't work. Any other ideas?

    TIA

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    rob day
    Community Expert
    Community Expert
    January 8, 2019

    sbiscardi  wrote

    Didn't work. Any other ideas?

    TIA

    Do you by any chance have Create Separate PDF Files checked?

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