I can't convert pdm files to pdf files in Windows 10 with the Adobe test program, so why should I pay for a subscription?

[Guest]

I have tried every possible solution on the internet but no results. And I don't get any answers from Adobe.

[Test Screen Name]

What is a PDM file and why would you expect Acrobat to convert it? Does Adobe say anywhere it is a universal file converter?

The chances are you CAN use Acrobat as part of a solution to make PDF from your PDM, but it depends what on earth it is. According to Wikipedia some possibilities are

• DeskMate program file
• PowerDesigner's physical data model (relational model) file format
• Visual Basic Project Information File
• PowerDEVS file
• Adobe Pagemaker file (this is wrong, it's PMD)
• Paradigm (software) used in experimental psychology

[Guest]

I'm terribly sorry - what I'm talking about is Pagemaker PMD (as you listed above). Well, can you now tell med why I can't convert a regular PMD into a PDF. I have done that for years in Windows 7, Vista and XP - but now someone slammed the brakes or what?

[Dov Isaacs · Accepted solution]

On behalf of Adobe …

The only software that was able to produce PDF from PageMaker files was PageMaker itself in conjunction with a copy of Acrobat Distiller that was bundled with the program. By itself, Acrobat was never, repeat never capable of creating PDF from PageMaker source files.

You could open and convert PageMaker files to InDesign format (requires some significant tinkering to properly maintain format) using versions of InDesign through the CS6 version of InDesign (from over five years ago) and from there produce PDF. Current versions of InDesign have dropped that conversion of PageMaker to InDesign capability.

PageMaker product development was discontinued by Adobe nearly 15 years ago with version 7.0.2, nearly five years after InDesign was released as its successor. For years, we have be most strongly encouraging users with PageMaker assets to migrate them to InDesign.

Assuming you still have a copy of PageMaker 7.0.2 (and its serial number), you could conceivably try installing it on Windows 10 as an Administrator using Windows XP compatibility mode. It may or may not work. PDF could be produced by printing to the Adobe PDF PostScript printer driver instance installed by Acrobat DC.

There still is a PageMaker forum (doesn't get much traffic) where some of the remaining participants might be able assist you further.

          - Dov

[Guest]

Thank you very much for your answer! After a system crash before Christmas and a reinstallment of Windows 10 it seems like some of the old programs were lost. Maybe InDesign is worth trying...