There was an error encountered while combing files - Acrobat Pro

Report · Jan 31, 2023

I am trying to resolve this issue for someone else.

When trying to combine *.docx files and PDFs in the Combine Files tool, the following error appears:

There was an error encountered while combining files. Do you want to open the combined file or return to the file list and try again?

- Return to File List or - Open Combined File

So far we have ran through the following solutions found from previous posts:

- Update Acrobat Pro via Help > Check for Updates

- Repaired Acrobat Pro via Help > Repair Installation

- Increased the size limit of files although this may relate to compression rather than file size limit in the options menu

- Checked the registry keys for .doc files and ensured that "Word.Document.8" is set as default

- Ensured that the files trying to be combined are local files and not cloud files

Most cases we are unable to combine files however fresh .docx and .pdf files for testing purposes seems to work normally. Adobe Acrobat Pro, Office 365 and Microsoft Windows 10 are all 64 bit.

Anyone have any ideas that I may have missed?

Report · Feb 01, 2023

Hi @Tristan_S

Thanks for sharing the detailed description.

Check the file properties for the first file shown in the screenshot above. Is it a secured one?

Try the following steps:

1- Convert that .docx file to PDF first using Acrobat > Create PDF

2- Once converted, try combining the file again. If it still gives the error, then

Open document> right click> Document Properties> Document Restriction summary

Is there anything that isn't allowed?

Also, do you experience this issue with the specific word file or multiple? Please check with another file once.

Thanks,

Akanchha

Report · Feb 01, 2023

Hi Akanchha,

Yes this is currently what we are doing in a diminished state as well as using the online version of the combine tool as well. However this person requests that this specific issue be resolved so that they are not doing two separate steps to save time.

We can confirm that the files do convert to PDF normally but will only error when trying to convert to PDF in the combine files tool. This issue seems to occur in multiple word files and isn't exclusive to a single file. It is a mixed bag usually however after trying the same tool on a separate machine I was successfully able to do it with no issues.

Hope this helps narrowing down the problem.

Report · Feb 14, 2023

We are currently experiencing this same error with one of our users, She is trying to combine a docx and pdf file. She was able to do this function until today 2-14-23 I made sure she has latest Adobe (64-bit) latest Creative Cloud. These files

are stored in her One drive, She sent me the same files and with my exact same adobe install, I was able to combine files on my laptop , just fine? More confused now.....

Report · Feb 16, 2023

Thank you, I have been struggling with this as well for the last few weeks. For whatever reason, I have found if I save the word doc on the desktop, then I am able to combine it but if I try to combine it from anywhere else, I get the error message. It's frustrating having to do multiple steps for something that used to only be one step. Also, I don't know if it helps but I did just recenlty update Microsoft Windows and it seems like the problem after that.

Report · Apr 04, 2023

Hi did this ever get sorted ? i have a users that has the same issue

Report · Apr 04, 2023

Adobe Support had us go into Preferences, Security(Enhanced) Turn Off Protection Mode , Once we did that , she was able to combine files just fine.