An unexpected error occurred. PDFMaker was unable to produce the Adobe PDF

Report · Nov 07, 2016

I'm using Acrobat Pro XI (Version 11.0.18)

Whenever I try to create a PDF from a word document from within Acrobat Pro, I get the error, "An unexpected error occurred. PDFMaker was unable to produce the Adobe PDF"

I also get the same error when I try to batch process the word documents from the option in Windows Explorer.

The only way I can PDF multiple Word Documents is to go into each one individually in Word (Office 2013) and save as PDF, which is really tiem consumign when I have 50 word documents. I have tried disabling the PDF add-on for Word - and same error. Also same error when I re-enable the addo-on.

I can't believe we paid hundreds of dollars for this software and yet the only customer support is this help forum. Thanks, Adobe.

Report · Jun 14, 2018

Folks, I had this same problem on two separate pc's. It took me a couple of hours to figure out a way to work around it. Specifically, using Windows 7 and 8.1, Word 365, and Adobe writer subscription or whatever, when I would right click on the word document and convert to pdf or combine as a pdf, it would return the error. The other methods would work fine, but since I routinely compile word documents to a single pdf to circulate drafts, this was an unacceptable workaround. There was no support online except for one very obscure mention on a thread somewhere.

Bottom line, the only way I have solved the problem is to uninstall microsoft office, and then re-install microsoft office with the adobe product still on the pc. In other words, install word after adobe. Then, in word, go to file - options - add ins and make sure the acrobat pdfmaker office com addin is active. Full disclosure, this last step may not be necessary, as it may have resulted from my previously making it inactive when trying to figure this issue out. Also, my assistant had previously attempted to reinstall adobe, and that did not help the problem. So it appears to be a matter of installing word after adobe.

I hope this saves you the aggravation that I have felt over this same problem for a total of four hours.

View solution in original post

Report · Nov 09, 2016

I just installed Adobe Standard DC and went directly to create PDF. I selected an MS Word Document and received the same message. I tried creating a new word document instead of using one that was preexisting. Same message.

Report · Nov 09, 2016

Hi Michael,

I have shared a tool with you over mail. Could you please run the tool on your machine and share the log with us?

Regards,

Basma

Report · Nov 10, 2016

SUCCESS: Word Version 15.0

SUCCESS: Word has no disabled addins.

SUCCESS: Word addin's state has not been altered.

SUCCESS: Successfully opened Adobe PDF printer

SUCCESS: Successfully found font

SUCCESS: All dlls in PDFMaker folder are present

SUCCESS: All dlls in PDFMaker Common folder are present

SUCCESS: All CoreTech dlls are present

SUCCESS: Word Version 15.0

SUCCESS: Word has no disabled addins.

SUCCESS: Word addin's state has not been altered.

SUCCESS: Successfully opened Adobe PDF printer

SUCCESS: Successfully found font

SUCCESS: All dlls in PDFMaker folder are present

SUCCESS: All dlls in PDFMaker Common folder are present

SUCCESS: All CoreTech dlls are present

Report · Nov 10, 2016

Hi Michael,

I went through the logs and from the log it seems there is a problem with your Office installation. Could you please try to repair Office once and let us know if it fixes the issue. Also do you face an issue in conversion if you use the Acrobat->Create PDF option from within the Office application?

Regards,

Basma

Report · Nov 11, 2016

I ran the office 2013 repair tool.

Computer requested restart. Complied with request.

Opened a word document and used the Acrobat add in tab create button to make the current word document into PDF. No issue during this process.

So at this time right click on a word document to convert from right click content menu doesn't work. Same message

From adobe acrobat standard DC window still receive the message when creating a PDF and selecting a word document.

Report · Nov 20, 2016

Hi Michael,

I have shared the next steps with you over mail.

Regards,

Basma

Report · Mar 24, 2017

Can you please share with me the fix too. thank you.

Report · Nov 09, 2016

Hi Hayden,

I have shared a tool with you over mail. Could you please run the tool on your machine and share the log with us?

Regards,

Basma

Report · Nov 10, 2016

I'm not administrator on my machine, so I'll have to work with my IT staff to be able to run an executable file.

Report · Nov 11, 2016

I have the same problem. What tool do I need to solve it.

Thanks,

Greg

Report · Nov 20, 2016

Hi Greg,

Have shared the tool with you over mail.

Regards,

Basma

Report · Jan 12, 2017

The tool does not appear to be working for anyone who tries it. Any other suggestions please?

Report · Jan 13, 2017

I am having the exact same issue. Adobe Standard XI and Microsoft Office 2010.

Report · Jan 13, 2017

I am having the exact same issue. Adobe Standard XI and Microsoft Office 2010.

Report · Mar 20, 2018

Hi!

Can you please share the repair tool with me?

My email address is:

TVigil@VigilantHoldings.com

Thank you,

Todd

Report · Aug 02, 2017

Would you please share the tool here? Obviously, many of us are having the same issue.

Report · Nov 22, 2016

Hi,

I am facing same Problem. I am using Adobe Acrobat Pro DC (2015 release) and office 2007 SP3. I can convert the documents to pdf by using pdf printer. I just can not use the right click menu to convert office document to pdf. It would be really great if you can help me with this.

Thanks,

Nitin

Report · Dec 06, 2016

I am also having the same issue, it would be nice if the solution was posted publicly so those of us browsing for a solution could actually find one. Adobe support is apparently not very good.

Report · Dec 09, 2016

Experiencing the same issue. Reparing Adobe DC installation and MS Office installation do not fix the issue. Very annoying to have to open up each individual file to convert to PDF.

Report · Jan 12, 2017

I am having the issue as well, and have checked to ensure all programs are updated to their latest versions. Any fixes besides making the files one at a time? I'm trying to convert and merge 62 files...

Report · Sep 12, 2017

It's September 12, 2017 and I am getting the same error message.

Problem raised to Adobe Acrobat Support team 3 weeks ago: Problem combining Word doc to PDF. I am using Adobe Acrobat Pro DC. I had 5 Customer Support team of Adobe Acrobat who did a ''remote assistance'' yet no success of resolving the issue.

Report · Feb 22, 2018

Please let me know how I can get this fixed.

Report · Feb 22, 2018

I am also getting this same issue!

Windows 10 x64 1709

Office 2013 x86 SP1

Adobe Acrobat 2017 Pro 17.0.11.30070

I can use the Create PDF option within Word\Excel, but when I try to use the Right-Click option on a Word\Excel file I get this error. I also receive the error when I try to create a PDF from directly within Acrobat, Tools->Create PDF. Same error. Each time I try it also holds the file open and I have to use Task Manager to close a locked instance of Word\Excel.

I have found that if I go to Programs and Features and Change the installation of Acrobat, removing PDFMaker, that I can then use the Righ-Click option and create PDFs from within Acrobat, but that removes the Office Addin (Acrobat tab).

If there is a fix for this available I would LOVE it, I work in the IT department for my company and have been able to reproduce this issue on at least one of my user's workstations as well as my own, but other machines do not have the issues.

Report · Feb 28, 2018

It is nearly March, 2018. This issue persists, as we are having this issue, too.

Why is the solution not being posted here in this forum so that people can actually resolve the issue without having to post yet another message? This is concerning.

Can someone please send/share the solution? I have nearly 200 users with this issue.

We're on Windows 7/Office 2010 (soon to change so we're in the 21st century).

Please send a solution.

Thank you.