error trying to create pdfs from indd via distiller

[Carol F Metzger]

%%[ Error: undefined; OffendingCommand:   íõØ Få½1ïçþt· DOCUMENT p  ]%%

%%[ Flushing: rest of job (to end-of-file) will be ignored ]%%

%%[ Warning: PostScript error. No PDF file produced. ] %%

How do I troubleshoot an undefined error?

[YatharthS]

Hi ,

Please provide the application & OS version on your system.Also check if there is any application update available for installation. 

Distiller reads PostScript files (including EPS), nothing else. If you try to open anything else in Distiller (TIFF, JPEG, DOC, anything) you will get this error or one like it .

You can create a PDF from certain file types (including TIFF and JPEG) in Acrobat. Or you can make a PostScript file in certain programs and distill that.

Regards,

Yatharth

[Dov Isaacs]

What version of Acrobat is being used is irrelevant here since in the case of InDesign documents, the only recommended method of generating PDF files from same is via PDF export from within InDesign.

          - Dov

[Carol F Metzger]

Thanks, I was confused about the latest capabilities of Distiller.

The problem is, I have not found a way to batch distill. I am going to have hundreds of files to process. Using Acrobat's tools has not worked. What am I doing wrong? How can I make multiple PDFs out of ID?

Supposedly I can drag and drop multiple native files into the appropriate Acrobat's Create PDF window and get multiple PDFs, but no. The .ai files are working, but not the .indd; error, "Cannot Open File"

Adobe Photoshop (PSD), Adobe Illustrator (AI), and Adobe InDesign (INDD) files    

File > Create > PDF from File or Tools > Create PDF (single file)

Within Acrobat, by choosing PDF from File.  

Drag and drop

From the desktop or a folder on to the Acrobat DC window or icon.

[Test Screen Name]

You can batch distill PostScript files, that's all.

Only certain native files can be dragged to Acrobat. If it works, great, if it doesn't, you must convert another way. Curious that it says INDD should work. Provided the relevant version of InDesign is installed. Since it doesn't, time to look for another way.

Basically the only way to make InDesign files to PDF is Export in InDesign. (It has been well covered why any alternative involving PostScript is bad). So automation might be possible, but the question is "can I automate InDesign" rather than "can I automate Acrobat".)

[Dov Isaacs]

The crux of the matter is that you need InDesign to create PDF files from InDesign documents. Acrobat (and its component Distiller) is totally irrelevant to such PDF file creation. You could conceivably create a JavaScript to run within InDesign to open, export PDF, and close batches of InDesign documents, but that will require programming.

          - Dov

[JamesDare]

You're suggesting that the ability to mass-save .indd files to PDF is something the users have to programme themselves? This is something I've been waiting and asking for during the 3 years I've used and paid for Adobe CC. That's about £2400 I've spent, and a simple feature still not added. Perhaps I've overestimated the value for money Adobe supplies. It still frustrates me that for all these years, PS has had recordable actions, and InDesign has never suggested anything close.

[Dov Isaacs]

James,

You are grossly oversimplifying the process of creating PDF from InDesign documents. InDesign documents typically rely on external links to assets such as vector artwork and images where the references may be relative to the location of the InDesign document itself, an absolute local or network file address, or even with the latest versions of InDesign, a cloud-based location. Add into that the issue of fonts, ICC color profiles, and PDF export joboptions and this is no longer a matter of simply dragging a bunch of InDesign documents to the Acrobat or Distiller.

Again, as I suggested in my July 3 post, it is possible within InDesign to write JavaScript to create to open, export PDF, and close batches of InDesign documents. The programming required to do this is not really any complex than what may be done to program a web page.

With regards to actions in Photoshop, I am not too sure that they would allow you to individually open, save as PDF (with specification of detailed PDF options), and subsequently close arbitrary batches of images.

May I suggestion that you file a feature request in the appropriate InDesign forum for an “actions” feature specifically noting your need for batch creation of PDF from InDesign.

          - Dov

[Willi Adelberger]

If you need mass production of PDFs and other output from InDesign, I would suggest to buy a licence of a plugin, like those frome Zevrix Automate InDesign printing and exporting | Output Factory , you can install it, and export everything, even without opening the INDD file, which makes everything faster. (Al fonts must be installed on that computer.)

[Dov Isaacs · Accepted solution]

It looks like what you did was to try to run Distiller directly on an InDesign .indd document file. That absolutely will not work. Distiller only processes PostScript (.ps) and some Encapsulated PostScript (.eps) files.

The proper method of creating a PDF file from an InDesign document (regardless of whatever anyone else may advise you) is to open the InDesign document (.indd file) in InDesign and then use the export function Save as PDF (print), specifying the destination file name (and directory) as well as appropriate options (usually PDF/X-4 or High Quality Print settings yield best results for most purposes).

          - Dov