Can't convert powerpoint files to pdfs.

[Mike151]

I'm helping an instructor who is having trouble converting powerpoint presentations to pdfs.  She using using Adobe DC Pro 2021.007.20095 with Office 2019 on a Dell Latitude machine with Windows 10 Education version 64 bit.  A message comes up "Adobe PDFMaker files plugin isn't enabled.  would you like to enable it?"  Click yes or No.  We click Yes and the user right clicks on the Powerpoint file and clicks Convert file to pdf.  Another message comes up saying "Adobe PDFMaker files are mssing.  Do you want to run repair mode?  I click Yes and the repair installation goes through.  Do we need to reboot after this?  Is there a patch that will fix this?

[Harsh Vardhan Pareek]

Hi @Mike151,

Hope you are doing well.

As per the issue description that the user is not able to convert PowerPoint files to PDF. The solution is to go into MS PowerPoint> options>Add-ins>COM add-ins, and re-enable to Adobe PDF Maker add-in.

Here is a help document you can refer to: https://helpx.adobe.com/acrobat/kb/troubleshoot-acrobat-pdfmaker-problems-office.html

Let us know if that helps.

Thanks,

Harsh

[Mike151]

I tried that and it didn't seem to work.  

[Dean_Utian]

Hi,

Maybe Harsh's suggestion has resolved the situation. I'd agree that remove and adding back the PDFMaker plugin would be worth trying. Does it work if you if instead od Saving as PDF, you go to Print and choose Adobe PDF?

[Mike151]

I'll try this next when I talk to the instructor sometime this week.

[Mike151]

I did find a fix here.  https://helpx.adobe.com/acrobat/kb/pdfmaker-unavailable-office-2007-office.html

I had to start with a registry fix starting with solution #2 at step 6.  I didn't have to go past Solution #2. 

[Mike151]

Looks like the registry fix didn't work.  I just got another email from the user the same thing is happening again.  Is it best to just uninstall/reinstall Adobe DC Pro and Office?

[Mike151]

Would it be an issue if  the user is using Office 365 64 bit and using the 32 bit version of Adobe DC Pro?  This might be the issue. 

[Mike151]

Whenever she tries to right click on a Powerpoint presentation and convert to pdf it says pdfmaker files are missing do you want to run in repair mode?  If we click yes the repair runs we reboot and she still can't convert the powerpoint file.  I even tried the October 12, 2021 update that doesn't help. 

[Mike151]

Saving as a pdf works fine in powerpoint but wants to use the Adobe format to create the pdfs.  Would creating the pdfs in OneDrive be an issue?  She is logged into her OneDrive software which extracts the pdf in her OneDrive. 

[Harsh Vardhan Pareek]

Hi Mike,

As per the above description that you have tried multiple possible troubleshooting for this. 

Kindly try to reinstall Acrobat because PDF Maker plug-in is added to Office software programs when Acrobat is installed.

1. Uninstall Acrobat 
2. Delete all adobe folders manually from C drive.
   •  C://program data (enable view hidden files to see this folder)
   •     C://program files 86x/common files
   •     C://program files 86x/
   •     C://program files/common files
   •     C: //program files/
3. Shut down the computer and restart it. This must be a cold reboot, that is the computer must shut down completely before you reboot it again. This different from clicking the Restart button.
4. Reinstall a fresh copy of Acrobat.

Let us know if that helps.

Thanks,

Harsh

[Mike151]

Hi, Harsh.  I'm assuming you just want me to delete the Adobe folders inside c:\Program files\86x\ and not delete the 86x folder and common files folders.  🙂   I will try this. 

[Mike151]

Are there any registry keys that should be deleted as well?

[Harsh Vardhan Pareek]

Yes there are, for that

1. go to Registry editor

2. HKEY_CURRENT_USER > Software> Adobe

delete Adobe Acrobat and PDF settings only

[Mike151]

These instructions worked.  Thank you!

[Mike151]

I spoke too soon.  The same instructor contacted me yesterday.  Adobe DC Pro is locking up during the creation of her Powerpoint files to .pdf. 

[Mike151]

Disregard this.  I found another fix to fix the blank white screen.

If you are referring that the "Save as" window opens as blank, try the following steps:

• Launch the application and go to Edit menu > Preferences > General.
• Uncheck the box for "Show online storage when saving files".
• Click OK at bottom to save the settings
• Try to save the file.

Check if this helps

Let us know if you are referring to something else.

Regards,

Meenakshi