AcroRdr: Fatal Error: Failed to connect to a DDE server

Report · Sep 18, 2018

I have uninstalled and reinstalled the latest version of Acrobat DC several times. Same problem each time - I get the "fatal error". Why does AcroReader keep wanting to connect to a server each time I want to open a .pdf file? Does this mean I can't open a .pdf if I am not connected to the Internet?

I checked and Regedit shows "AcroViewR18".

If I try to open a .pdf doc in the Chrome extension, I get "Please wait... If this message is not eventually replaced by the proper contents of the document, your PDF viewer may not be able to display this type of document.". Seriously? I am trying to display a .pdf document. Pretty sure that is what a PDF viewer is meant to display.

What a total mess!! .pdf files are so ubiquitous these days - not being able to open them is incredibly frustrating.

As a fomer software designer, let me suggest that you test your software before releasing instead of making your customers test it for you.

Report · Sep 18, 2018

1. The “server” here is part of reader. No network is involved. It’s a nasty problem but not internet related.

2. Chrome isn’t smart enough to display some PDF files. Save what you see to the desktop then open it is Reader. Not sure what you think Adobe could do about Google’s app.

Report · Sep 18, 2018

1. Not sure why it has to provide an error message that it can't connect to a server if it s not actually connecting to a server.

2. "Not sure what you think Adobe could do about Google’s app" - when I downloaded AcroRdr from Adobe, there was a checkbox asking if I wanted to install the Chrome extension. I downloaded and installed from Adobe's website and Adobe's installer showed a message saying the extension was installed. So I assumed it is Adobe's app. I didn't download the extension from Google. I had no reason to think it was Google's app.

3. Your response fails to provide any solutions to my problem.

Report · Sep 18, 2018

I have Widows 10 with all current updates installed.

Report · Sep 18, 2018

1. It -is- trying to connect to a server - itself. Windows has DDE servers long before Windows had networks.

2. You assume wrong. The Adobe extension does not show PDF Files. It did once, but Google stopped that. Chrome has a built in PDF viewer.

3. Yes. If you load up your post with complaints and general observations, it’s a basic law of forums that these will spark discussions and completely mask your real issue. I expect you’ll add more comments and we’ll get ever further away.