PDF/A missing in Action Wizard - How to convert multiple files at once to PDF/A

[Emma3554467022ub]

I want to make a batch action to convert a lot of files to PDF/A at once. I have the new version of Adobe Pro 64bit and had to revert to the old interface. My colleagues have the old version of Adobe Pro and PDF/A it is an option for them in Action Wizard. For me it isn't. Any advice how I can do this task?

Thanks

[try67]

Does it not appear for you here, under the options for the Save command?

[Emma3554467022ub]

No. That's where it is in my colleague's Action Wizard (old version). I only have to option to save individual files as PDF/A.

[try67]

Strange. Try running a Repair Installation from the Help menu.

[Emma3554467022ub]

I have just tried this and unfortunately it made no difference. Are there any other suggestions maybe?

[try67]

What's your exact version number of Acrobat, and of the OS?

[Emma3554467022ub]

Thanks for your reesponse. Please see my reply to Amal below.

[Amal.]

Hi @Emma3554467022ub 

++ Adding to the discussion

Have you started experiencing this issue recently?

What is the version of the Acrobat DC you are using? To check the version go to Help > About Acrobat and make sure you have the recent version 23.08.20533 installed. Go to Help > Check for updates and reboot the computer once.

Also try to repair the installation from the help menu (Win Only) and see if that works.

Please try to reset the Acrobat preferences as described here https://community.adobe.com/t5/acrobat-discussions/how-to-reset-acrobat-preference-settings-to-defau... and check.

Let us know how it goes.

~Amal

[Emma3554467022ub]

Hi @Amal. 

Th2023.008.20533 is the version I have. There are no updates. Adobe was only installed (as part of the Creative Cloud) last week as I am a new staff member. I tried the regedit manner of setting acrobat to default. I do not have acrobat DC available. 

[Amal.]

Hi @Emma3554467022ub 

We are sorry to hear that.

The new experience is an exciting step forward for Acrobat's future. But if it doesn’t suit your needs, you can still revert to the previous experience.  

Windows: Select the hamburger menu, and then choose Disable new Acrobat.  

macOS: Go to View > Disable new Acrobat.

https://helpx.adobe.com/acrobat/learn-new-acrobat.html

Also, go through the help article https://www.adobe.com/acrobat/hub/how-to-convert-pdf-to-pdfa.html to know more about batch converting PDF to PDF/A.

Hope this information will help.

~Amal

[Emma3554467022ub]

Hi @amal 

I have done all of this but absolutely nothing works. 

Emma

[Amal.]

Hi there

We are sorry to hear that. Would you mind haring a small video recording of the steps you are doing and the issue occuring, for more clarity?

~Amal

[Jakob38547821i5cn]

Hi, I am having the exact same issue. Was a solution ever found?

[Amal.]

Hi there

To convert a batch of documents from PDF to PDF/A in Acrobat, follow these steps.

Select Tools, then select Action Wizard under the Customize header.
The Action Wizard toolbar will appear near the top of the screen. Select New Action from that toolbar.
Click the Save & Export dropdown menu under “Choose tools to add.” Then select Save.
Click the + icon in the center of the screen. This will transfer the open document to the box on the right titled “Action steps to show.”
Select any additional files to convert in this batch by clicking Add Files under the “Default option” header. Or add files by clicking the search icon or folder icon above the “Default option” header.
Once all the files are selected, click Specify Settings under the Save icon. This will open the Output Options dialog box.
Under Output Format select Export File(s) to Alternate Format. Select PDF/A from the “Export to” dropdown menu. Then click OK.

For more information, please check the help page https://www.adobe.com/acrobat/hub/how-to-convert-pdf-to-pdfa.html

~Amal

[Onsite27238922njaq]

Thanks for your answer! This works flawlessly for me.

[andreas_2103]

I as well have the same issue. "Disable new Acrobat" did not help it either.
Did all the steps above, but the selection in the "Export to:" dialogue does not contain any pdf/a options.

Any idea how to fix this?

[Kenneth23808857byde]

Incase anyone else still has the same problem,  apparently my new 64 bit version of acrobat pro on windows 11 did not come with preflight functions installed by default. Running a batch with a preflight conversion to pdf/a forced an install of preflight. Once the install was complete the options missing from the export files to alternative format showed up including pdf/a.

[Jakob38547821i5cn]

Hey Andreas,

this is related to Adobe currently offering faulty packages for download. If you install the free Adobe Reader version and then upgrade by logging in a paid Adobe Acrobat Pro Subscription (which leads to an ad-hoc version upgrade, including downloadable updates), for some reason the necessary formats for this Bulk conversion action are not being downloaded and installed alongside the functionality of the Action Wizard.

To fix that, just search for "PDF" in the availalbe tool and download and install the one called "PDF Standards" (this might be hidden under "preflight", not sure). 

This fixed the issue for me.

Apparently newer downloaded versions of Acrobat Pro have this issue out of the box.