3D data parsing error when reading 3D PDF using Adobe Acrobat Reader

Report · Apr 02, 2025

Hi! Because of the new Acrobat upgrade I’m not able to view 3D images anymore, (everything was fine earlier).

I found out how to fix this on a PC:

https://www.autodesk.com/support/technical/article/caas/sfdcarticles/sfdcarticles/Error-A-3D-data-pa...

Anyone know how to fix this on a Mac?

P.S. Adobe, you need to fix this error in the upgrade!!

Report · Apr 02, 2025

Hi @Iain28097849lacr,

Hope you are doing well. Thanks for writing in!

What the steps basically mean in the link is to reset the preferences of Acrobat.

You can find the steps for MAC here: https://adobe.ly/4jeQqoS

While you try these steps, would you mind sharing the file with us where you experience this issue, along with a screenshot of the error for further investigation?

Also ensure that you are on the latest version of Acrobat (2025.001.2043x) for the best experience. To do so, go to Menu-> Help-> Check for Updates.

Hope this helps.

Regards,
Souvik.

Report · Apr 03, 2025

Hi Souvik,

Thank you so much for helping me, because this really is preventing me working and if I can’t solve this I will have to buy a new computer (Windows OS), and that would be just ridiculous!

I followed all the steps in the link you gave, yet I can still not view the files. And I did this with 2 Mac computers, both are new Mac minis, Sequoia 15.3.2 and have Acrobat version 25.001.20438. Attached a screen shot of one of the 3 pdf files.

Unfortunately my employer doesn’t let me share any of the files with you. But it is not just one 3D pdf file that isn’t working, it is ALL of them, also the old ones! I have been viewing these files for 10 years, and now I suddenly can’t. In January when I was working on these projects last time, everything worked fine. My employer’s office (where they all work with Windows OS) have had problems with viewing 3D pdfs in Acrobat from the beginning of this year. And this week finally their IT department found at least a temporary solution to the problem (the link I sent in my earlier message).

Looking forward to your reply. Many thanks!

Report · Apr 04, 2025

Hi Souvik,

I found some sample 3D pdfs online and was testing them. 2 of them disappear once I activate them (the turbine and the shoe). 2 of them (the car and the industrial saw) I can see and turn, but the car looks wrong. The images are from https://tetra4d.com/pdf-samples/

Can you see and turn all of these on a Mac?

Many thanks,

Varpu

Report · Apr 10, 2025

Sounds like you gave up on me as you couldn’t find a solution. Fortunately I found another software that I can use on an iPad, and managed to download it on Mac too even if it is not designed or verified for Mac OS.

https://3d-pdf-reader.en.softonic.com/android#:~:text=3D%20PDF%20Reader%20is%20a,devices%20that%20su...

It works better than Acrobat ever did. Acrobat has been a real pain for many years now. It keeps crashing all the time, 3D pdfs have been difficult to turn and scale, they have had resolution problems and I could only view a hi res pdf on a small rectangle on the side of my screen. Why? Surely there’s so many problems with the new upgrade now, even on Windows, that you will sort this out.