Skip to main content
jamesk91801669
jamesk91801669
Participant
April 30, 2020
Question

"Save as PDF" not opening

  • April 30, 2020
  • 2 replies
  • 3616 views

Hello,

We save these files in two different ways.  We will go to Print (ctrl + p) and choose either "Adobe PDF" or "Save as PDF" in Chrome.  They are then given to people outside our network to open.  We have had users with the same version of Adobe 2020.006.20042 and the file labeled "Save as PDF" does not open and print.  The file labeled "Adobe PDF" opens and prints just fine.  The reason we use "Save as PDF" is becuase the email address can be copied and used from the PDF file.  Using the "Adobe PDF" that doesn't work.  I think it might be some kind of setting but all the properties seem the same.  Weirdly the file size is different between the two.  Any help or suggestions would be great.

    2 replies

    Bevi Chagnon - PubCom.com
    Bevi Chagnon - PubCom.com
    Legend
    April 30, 2020

    What great examples of the right and wrong ways to make PDFs!

     

    When you choose File / Print / Adobe PDF (or any other manufacturer's version of a virtual printer), you end up with "dead" content. Essentially, it's a picture of the content, similar to a scan or fax or printed document. That's why it's called "print to PDF." If you want to be able to copy/paste text as you described, you'll have to use Acrobat's OCR utility to recover the live text from that PDF.

     

    On the other hand, File / Save As PDF or File / Export / PDF is the best method to make a PDF because it keeps your content "live," which then allows you to copy/paste text as needed.

     

    We recommend the second method so that your content is live and also at the highest quality. Use the print to PDF method as a last resort and only if your program doesn't give you the option to export or save as a PDF.

     

    |    Bevi Chagnon   |  Designer, Trainer, & Technologist for Accessible Documents ||    PubCom |    Classes & Books for Accessible InDesign, PDFs & MS Office |
    gary_sc
    Community Expert
    gary_scCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    April 30, 2020

    Let me add onto Bevi's comment that just below the option to Save as PDF, you'll see Save as Adobe PDF. If you select that you'll get the same full PDF.

     

    Let me add that I did encounter one graphic application (not from Adobe) that if you have a multipage document, it will export to a full sized PDF with no page breaks. That may be good for some things but not for other things. Just be aware of that possibility.

    jamesk91801669
    jamesk91801669Author
    Participant
    April 30, 2020

    The other issue we have had is the end user can Open the file but not be able to print it.  Error message given just says "Unable to Print"

    Terms & ConditionsAccessibility statement
    Using the community Terms of use Privacy Cookie preferences Do not sell or share my personal information ad choicesAdChoices