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claudiajo
claudiajo
Participant
September 21, 2016
Answered

"pdfmaker was unable to produce the adobe pdf"

  • September 21, 2016
  • 6 replies
  • 21518 views

This only happens in Excel 2013.  I am using Adobe DC.  When I right click on an Excel document on my desktop and select "Convert to Adobe PDF" I get this error.  I have tried to add in the "Acrobat PDFMaker Office COM Addin" and it still does not work.  I have inactivated it and it still does not work. I am using Adobe DC.

If I open the document in Excel and save it as a PDF I do not have problems.  But I can't save as PDF from an Excel document on the desktop or from a file folder on my PC.

I have also run a repair on both MS Office 2013 and Acrobat DC - neither helped.

I've found lots of people with this problem but no answers for me.

thanks

Correct answer ceez_

The folder path or the file cannot be too long. At least in this case, it's what solved it for my user.

Additionally, only have one instance of Adobe installed. My user also had Adobe Reader and Pro installed.

 

6 replies

JR Boulay
Community Expert
JR BoulayCommunity Expert
Community Expert
August 28, 2025

[MOVED TO THE ACROBAT PRO DISCUSSIONS]

Acrobate du PDF, InDesigner et Photoshopographe
C
ceez_
Participant
August 11, 2025

If the solution below does not work, or if a repair or reinstallation does not resolve the issue either, I have found that the folder path name (whether it's local or on a network) and the file name can contribute to this error. I copied the file to a shorter folder name, such as C:\temp, and it worked without any issues.

C
ceez_Correct answer
Participant
August 11, 2025

The folder path or the file cannot be too long. At least in this case, it's what solved it for my user.

Additionally, only have one instance of Adobe installed. My user also had Adobe Reader and Pro installed.

 

    B
    briangmvp
    Participant
    February 27, 2018

    Was there a fix for this issue?

    L
    laceyr69128632
    Participant
    September 12, 2017

    Same problem. The box is checked for the Acrobat PDFMaker Office Com Addin. When I look in regedit.exe the addin folders do not contain HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Office\Excel\Addins\PDFMaker.OfficeAddin. How would you restore those if they are not there.

    I used ot be able to right click a Word or Excel doc and simply convert. I have Adobe Acrobat DC, not Reader. Now that ability has been lost. I can only convert if I open the file and do it that way. Seems like a hassle to always have to open the files to do a simple conversion.

    balam
    Adobe Employee
    balam
    Adobe Employee
    September 22, 2016

    Hi Claudia,

    Do you see the Acrobat ribbon in Excel 2013(Attaching snapshot of the same)? If yes then does the conversion succeed if you use Acrobat->Create PDF option of the Acrobat ribbon.

    Could you please also let us know your Acrobat version?

    Regards,

    Basma

    claudiajo
    claudiajoAuthor
    Participant
    September 22, 2016

    There is no Acrobat Ribbon in Excel. I am using Acrobat DC

    thanks

    CtDave
    CtDave
    Participating Frequently
    September 22, 2016

    "Adobe DC" is not an application or product.

    Perhaps you mean:

    Adobe's Acrobat Pro DC or Adobe's Acrobat Standard Dc or Adobe's Acrobat Reader DC.

    From what you've written it appears that you have Adobe Acrobat Reader DC.

    Reader DC cannot create a PDF, modify/edit PDF page content or export PDF page content.

    Reader DC does provide a "link" to Adobe's online Subscription Services that can do these things.

    The "links" are over on the right side pane (you may have to expand it).

    If you purchase/subscribe to Acrobat Pro or Standard DC you can create PDFs.

    Be well...

    claudiajo
    claudiajoAuthor
    Participant
    September 22, 2016

    I mean Adobe Acrobat Standard DC

    balam
    Adobe Employee
    balam
    Adobe Employee
    September 26, 2016

    Hi Claudia,

    Could you please enable the add-in and check if it fixes the issue you are experiencing? To enable please follow the below mentioned steps:

    1.Launch Excel.

    2.Go to File->Options->Add-Ins->ComAddins

    3.Check the Acrobat PDFMaker Office Com Addin.

    Please relaunch excel to confirm that the addin is enabled. If the above mentioned steps do not enable the add-in you may have to rewrite the LoadBehavior of the add-in in the registry. Please find below the steps for the same.

    1. Launch regedit.exe.

    2. Go to [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Office\Excel\Addins\PDFMaker.OfficeAddin]

    3. Set the LoadBehavior to 3.

    Regards,

    Basma

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