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document could not be saved error

Forum|Forum|13 years ago
September 6, 2012
30 replies
301098 views

Whenever I go back to a PDF that I created or downloaded, and add comments or highlights, and then try to save it, I get an error message saying "The document could not be saved. The file may be read only . . ." But the file is NOT read-only and there are NO security settings. What gives?

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Correct answer johnnieborgie

This has definitely worked for me.

It might not be Adobe's fault after all.

Even when the File Preview disabled, Windows Explorer (Win 7+) has something called the Details Pane that may still be up, it's that blank space that gives you details about the current selected file; its right on top of the status bar.

For some odd reason, Windows creates a preview thumbnail in the details pane for some files: picture files, PDF files, XLS files, PPT files to name a few.

To disable the Details Pane on Windows Explorer, click on Organize > Layout > and click on the Details Pane to make it go away.

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Gramples33

Participant

I'm having the same issue trying to edit a pdf attachment (by adding text) that was sent via Outlook.

Error message:

The document could not be saved. The file may be read-only, or another user may have it open. Please save the document with a different name or in a different folder.

What I have checked/done:

- Preview pane is off

- Explorer is not open

- Trying disabling Javascript for Adobe Acrobat Pro (edit - preferences - Javascript)

- Tried disabling Enhanced security - edit - preferences - Security (enhanced) - clear checkbox for 'enable enhanced security.

I still cannot edit despite what changes are made. Please advise!

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Anonymous

Another solution I found today - run Adobe Reader in Windows 2000 compatibility mode. I prefer this work-around rather than turning off security features.

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mcdworks

Participant

Is anyone from Adobe paying attention here or are they ignoring this? I have this problem everyday. I am an architect and I am constantly viewing revised plans and markups and other files and typically have several pdfs and windows explorer windows open when coordinating changes. It is usally beneficial for me to take several different formats and organize them in a single multi-sheet pdf file, so I am not printing everything out. Is this a difficult problem? It certainly causes me time and space on my computer to always, always have to write a new file even when changing something very slight, which we quite often need to do. I currently use Photoshop Elements, Premier Elements and Acrobat 10. Please help us with a real solution?

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_AoXoMoXoA_

Participating Frequently

Are you serious?

Just kidding.

Actually not.

This is what I have a problem with: "Is anyone from Adobe paying attention here or are they ignoring this?".

Care to venture a guess why I'm a tad uncomfortable with that query?

Hint: Has to do with Steely Dan (Are You Reelin' In The Years?)

Geeze... just quit saving PDFs.

Problem solved.

Genius or what?

SmartGreen

Participant

Undo javaScript (under preferences...I suspected this all along)

I hope it works for you.

SmartGreen

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Trip778

Participant

I have been dealing with for over a year. I get frustrated trying to find an answer and I quit looking. Occasionally I will check back with this forum to see if anyone has new suggestions. I just tried unchecking JavaScript as suggested. NO Help. Then I closed the preview window, but no help either. Then I closed out of Windows Explorer and I was able to save the PDF. A hell of a sad work around.

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austinl85310429

Participant

2018 and still having this problem

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edward beckett

Participant

I had this exact same problem on Acrobat Pro XI, Windows 7 64 ... "The document could not be saved. The file may be read-only.. "

Solution for me...

Right Click File in Explorer > Select Properties (Bottom of Context Menu) > General Tab > Attributes, Un-Check Read-Only > Click Apply.

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Anonymous

Hi

Try this

Try to turn off the Protected Mode

In Adobe, go to Edit -> Preferences -> General, uncheck Enable Protected Mode at Startup.

Newer versions

In Adobe, go to Edit -> Preferences -> Security (Enhanced), uncheck Enable Protected Mode at Startup.

I not sure of everything this does but it worked for me for this issue, I did notice that I am no longer asked to replace a existing file when over writing.

Hope this helps

SmartGreen

Participant

Ladies & Gents,

Undo javaScript (under preferences...I suspected this all along)

I hope it works for you.

SmartGreen

alcompco

Participating Frequently

I am a heavy user of Adobe Acrobat. Every time we edit a PDF file and click on the save button to save the document it comes up with an error message. I spent hours researching the issue and talked to their tech support people and reluctantly followed their suggestions to the effect of closing the preview pane to no avail. The only I have found that works is to close the Windows Explorer window and then save the document. Even if I move the file selector to a different folder or file it does not work.

This absolutely one of the most ridiculous bugs that Acrobat has ever had and it seems they are putting their heads in the sand and not addressing it. THIS IS ABSOLUTELY UNCONSCIONABLE TO HAVE SUCH A BUG ACROSS SO MANY VERSIONS (v. 9-11) OF A SOFTWARE AND NOT HAVING IT FIXED.

Adobe wants people to close the Windows Explorer every time there is a slight change to a PDF file and for us to reopen it over and over again. This is absolutely ludicrous and absurd.

Arrogance and cockiness of Blackberry people cost them their business, deal with this bug before you become another Blackberry.

Here is the error:

meger9996

Participant

i get the same error and found out a couple of problematic pages are causing this.

they are usually blank and cant be erased. so after discovering them i extracted all other pages

as different file and saved that.

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bikemusic

Participant

As of v. XI.0.06, the issue still remains. The multi-step workaround of renaming, then deleting the original and renaming the newly renamed file the same as the original is something you might expect in DOS back in 1980. Indeed, the preview pane in windows explorer seems to be he issue in that it feigns an open instance of the file. Quickest way to solve it is to close that explorer window all together and save your file.

KSobel

Participant

I was having the same problem with XI Pro; and turning off the preview pane did not work. The only solution is, as above, closing the open explorer window. I am perplexed that something as simple as saving a file would remain an issue for so long for a preeminent, sophisticated company as Adobe. Come on Adobe!

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frankie_tachsbord

Participant

I'm using a freshly purchased and installed Standard XI version with Windows 7. My crappy little laptop is completely constipated whenever I ask it to do ANYTHING, so I wasn't surprised to learn that Acrobat working in conjunction with my wimpy OS is fooled into thinking the document is "open" somewhere else when it's just the the preview pane of the Explorer window from which I launched the document. I, too, was unable to resolve the problem by deactivating the preview pane because all that does it "hide" it. What worked for me was to click on a different file in the Explorer window, or at least unclick the file in question, so that Acrobat could then feel comfortable overwriting the document as not being otherwise engaged. I would have never thought of even trying this had it not been for all the posts herein, so thanks for that.

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BrianUNH

Participant

This has been driving me crazy but here's what I found. It doesn't help to click off the file name, to go up one level in the folder structure, etc. I did verify that it will finally let me save if I either change drive letters or close the folder that I opened the document from. I'm new here so does someone from Adobe respond to these or is there an official bug report someplace?