Acrobat pro problems - problems coming over from legacy / intel?

[Aaronius]

Hi all,

Maybe someone can help with the issues I have been struggling with. Just recently upgraded from Intel iMac to M2 MacMini. I'm a long-term Adobe user, so I can usually find a way through, but these problems have had me stumped, especially as some of the errors aren't very helpful. Here we go:

I can't apply security to my PDFs anymore without putting in 2 passwords - 1 in the main certificate window, then a confirmation before saving. I used to be able to just use the pull down menu and save the doc - it's a waste of time.

When trying to save a protected file, sometimes I get error messages saying Byte not ready, or something else non-descript. That's new to me. 

After adjusting preferences for example changing from inches to mm, I get a white rectangle appear on the screen which doesn't go away until I press escape. (I hide the app, try to quit the app, click all around the screen, but nothing works other than escape)

Preflight causes Acrobat to crash. Recently I tried to change a single page map from colour to Digital print BW, freeze or app crash. This is an important function in my work flow.

Page up and down don't work on the keyboard (?)

Takes ages to print, because Acrobat has to open Distiller JUST to print nowadays???

I think all these problems could be fixed by changing or doing something, but I don't know what that would be.

I will REALLY appreciate if someone can give me pointers - this apparently fast computer is not really any better in Acrobat (not to mention Indesign screen rendering bugs)

I've tried uninstalling muptiple times, restarting after uninstall, installing via the standalone installer, (no difference or maybe worse) 

I'm running the latest Sonoma, and newly installed CC suite.

Thanks very much everyone! 🙂

[ls_rbls]

Hi @Aaronius ,

Install or troubleshoot Rosetta2 as needed and see if it improves.

Use the guidance linked below as reference:

• https://iboysoft.com/news/rosetta-support-in-macos-sonoma.html

[Aaronius]

Hi @ls_rbls ,

Thanks for the reply.

I will take a look at this - maybe you can advise as Acrobat is Apple Silicon native - why would this need to be done?

[ls_rbls]

Sure thing!

As discussed in this other article: 

• https://www.computerworld.com/article/3597949/everything-you-need-to-know-about-rosetta-2-on-apple-s...

Some apps may be native to Apple Silicon chips such as, Adobe Acrobat.

But that doesn't mean that the compiled binaries that are needed to install a program on a Silicon-powered macOS ( after it is downloaded ) are native to that processor architechture.

Note also, and  a very important detail, that the author of the article outlines the problems that may arise with programs that are dependent of dynamic JavaScript code (which will and may run slow on a Apple Silicon microprocessor architecture.).

In which case, Rosetta2 serves as an emulator to close that gap.

I am not a macOS user, I am somewhat familiarized with it, but I've been  testing Linux operating system distributions successfully on many different types of PC architectures that were originally intended for Microsoft Windows since 1997 (and I've also used Linux OS on Apple hardware -- for educational purposes).

In order to compile custom-made software for a particular piece of hardware architecture, the Linux OS offers limitless flexibility, but  the same is not true with Apple hardware and software.

Apple restricts its user base with very tight licensing.

In which case,  tampering with the  Apple hardware device, or messing with the macOS (that was designed for that particular Apple hardware), leaves the user with nothing else but to try installing Rosetta. Which is the legal alternative to begin with and it is  fully supported by Apple themselves.

From that Point of View, if I was a macOS user having your same issue  on a Silicon Apple device, it makes sense to me to install Rosetta2 and give it a shot.

[Aaronius]

Hi again, 

Thanks for this reply. I uninstalled and reinstalled as mentioned, but unfortunately that didn't help.

Is there a way to really clean out Acrobat and reinstall the app? I'm thinking there may be some underlying old messy plist/preferences/log files making the problems maybe?

[ls_rbls]

You're welcome.

Yes, you may be right.

But the underlying issue may not necessarily be exactly a plist.

It may be possible that  the Adobe Acrobat app that is deployed through the Creative Cloud app seems to be somewhat glitchy. However, not everyone reports issues like yours when employing the CC app to install Acrobat (Windows or Mac).

It is also possible that some depndencies, binaries or modules get messed up when the version of Adobe Acrobat that is shipped with Creative Cloud is installed using the CC Desktop app..

In fact,  ther are various Microsoft Windows users that I've assisted in this community before who have reported Acrobat acting out similar to your case when they've installed Acrobat using the CC Desktop app.

Installing a stand-alone 64-bit version of Acrobat (or even a 32-bit version, if on Windows 10) seems to resolve the underlying issues.

Now, since you've mentioned that you've already tried these uninstall/reinstall methods, I am wondering if you have come accross the Creative Cloud Cleaner Tool:

• https://helpx.adobe.com/creative-cloud/kb/cc-cleaner-tool-installation-problems.html

Once you uninstall and reinstall the Creative Cloud desktop app omit the step to install  Acrobat in parallel with all the other CC apps on that suite.

In addition, after you execute the step above,  also use the AcroCleaner Tool (if you haven't done so yet) to remove old traces of the software.

I would recommend that even if you have used the AcroCleaner tool before, to review the appropriate sequence of steps on how to use this tool (following the  guidance below) just to double-check if you've missed anything before:

• https://www.adobe.com/devnet-docs/acrobatetk/tools/Labs/cleaner.html?highlight=cleaner#macintosh

• https://helpx.adobe.com/download-install/kb/uninstall-reinstall-acrobat.html

If the problem persists after performing the procedures linked ablve, contact Adobe Customer Care directly. They may be able to troubleshoot your macOS remotely.

[ls_rbls]

Also see some recommendations in this other thread:

• https://community.adobe.com/t5/acrobat-discussions/acrobat-pro-crashing-constantly-on-m1-mac/td-p/12...