Skip to main content
raju_2323
Participant
September 13, 2026
Question

How to resolve Character encoding failure in Thai language files from Adobe InDesign to PDF?

I have tested Accessibility on Thai language PDF file and faced the Character encoding issue while doing Accessibility check. I have checked the InDesign file regarding font and combined Unicode characters. All fonts are embedded and looks good in design file but when I export the PDF file, I have faced this issue in PDF only.

Copy/Paste and Search option also works fine in the design file but after exporting the PDF file these options are not worked and produce junk characters.

Is this something limitation in Adobe Acrobat or else please provide a solution to resolve this isse.

5 replies

DFWTechGuy
Participating Frequently
September 14, 2026

Since the Thai text works correctly in InDesign but becomes junk characters only after PDF export, I’d focus on the PDF text encoding/mapping rather than the font itself.

I’d first make sure the PDF is exported as a tagged PDF and that the Thai text is using a Unicode/OpenType font. Also check that the document language is set to Thai before exporting.

If copy/paste and Search are also broken in the exported PDF, that’s a good clue that the PDF’s character mapping is being lost during export, even though the text visually looks correct.

There also seems to be a current Acrobat/InDesign issue affecting Thai and other complex-script languages such as Punjabi and Khmer, so this may be a product bug rather than something wrong with your InDesign file.

If possible, I’d test the same file with a different Thai font and the latest InDesign version to see if the exported PDF behaves differently.

Translate
raju_2323Author
Participant
September 16, 2026

Hi ​@DFWTechGuy,

Thanks a lot for your reply.

I have export the PDF as a tagged PDF and also set the language to Thai before exporting but I have faced the same issue in PDF file.

I have tried different font but there is no positive result.

Translate
Meenakshi Negi
Community Manager
Meenakshi NegiCommunity Manager
Community Manager
September 14, 2026

Hi raju_2323,


Thank you for reaching out, and sorry for the trouble caused.


It seems that this issue is related to the font. Could you please confirm whether the problem occurs with a specific file or with all files in the Thai language? Try the following suggestions


  1. Verify the font being used

  • Ensure that the Thai font you are using supports full Unicode character mapping and is not a legacy or non-Unicode font. If possible, test with another Unicode-compliant Thai font (such as Adobe Thai or Noto Sans Thai) and export a new PDF. Proper font and language handling are essential for Thai language support.

  1. Export using Adobe PDF (Print)

  • Export the file using File > Export > Adobe PDF (Print) and test different PDF presets to determine whether the issue is preset-specific. Export settings can sometimes affect text encoding and accessibility behavior.

  1. Create a fresh PDF after rebuilding the document

  • Export the InDesign file as IDML, reopen the IDML file, and then export the PDF again. This process can help eliminate hidden document corruption that may affect PDF output.

  1. Test with a simple sample file

  • Create a new InDesign document containing only a few lines of Thai text using the same font and export it to PDF. Check if the issue persists in this file.


Please let us know how it goes!


Thanks,

Meenakshi

Translate
raju_2323Author
Participant
September 16, 2026

Hi ​@Meenakshi Negi ,

Thanks a lot for your reply.

I have already tried all of your suggestions but I can’t able to rectify this issue.

Translate
Meenakshi Negi
Community Manager
Meenakshi NegiCommunity Manager
Community Manager
September 17, 2026

Hi raju_2323,


Sorry to hear that the suggestion didn’t help.

As you are still experiencing the issue, to help us investigate this behavior further, please provide the following information:

  • A short video demonstrating the steps you are taking.

  • Share a sample PDF on which the issue is reproducible.

  • The complete version number of Acrobat you are using.

  • The operating system on your machine.

  • Please let us know if the issue occurs with a specific PDF or with all files.

Once we have this information, we can further assess the problem.

We look forward to your response.


Thanks,

Meenakshi

Translate
Terms & ConditionsAccessibility statement
Using the community Terms of use Privacy Cookie preferences Do not sell or share my personal information ad choicesAdChoices