Error when opening Autocad published pdf file in Acrobat

[wade_Hamer-Fischbein]

“An error exists on this page. Acrobat may not display correctly. Please contact the person who created the PDF document to correct the problem.”

When publishing an Autocad 2017 file to PDF I get the above error message when trying to open the file with Acrobat but the same file opens just fine when
trying to use another PDF reader like Bluebeam.I have contacted Autodesk and they say it’s an Adobe issue. I’ve uninstalled both Adobe and Autocad

and reinstalled them with the same error. This has been ongoing for about 6 months.

Adobe - How "we the people" can I fix a problem if "WE" don’t know what’s causing it.

[Adorobat]

Hi ,

Try to disable Protected view and see if the file opens with out the error message.

Launch Acrobat>navigate to Edit menu>select Preferences>security (Enhanced)>select Off next to Protected View>OK. 

I would like to mention that disabling Protected View is for troubleshooting purpose only, and not recommended, Please turn the feature back on after finishing the troubleshooting.

What is the version of Acrobat installed on your machine?

What steps you are taking to publish Autocad file to PDF?

Have you tried publishing another Autocad file to see if this is not related to a specific file only?

[wade_Hamer-Fischbein]

No that's not the answer to this problem.

We are still having issues making PDF's from AutoCAD.

I went and installed AutoCAD 2017 on 2 more computers and am able to duplicate the same issue

on all 3 computers... So here is what we did to "BANDADE" the publishing feature.

First we published the AutoCAD file to a PDF using the AutoDesk supplied Adobe driver(s).

Then we try to open the file using Adobe Reader. Sometimes it open & sometimes we get the error.

If we get the Error we NOW (then) open the PFD in BLUEBEAM and use the Flatten command in the BlueBeam Software to flatten the content of the PDF, then do a save.

Then go back to Adobe Reader to verify it can then be opened by Adobe Reader.

This process works 100% of the time on ALL 3 computers.

The problem: AutoCAD LT doesn't have a flatten command, and I can't find one for Adobe Reader.

[Adorobat]

Hi,

Could you please confirm the version of Adobe Acrobat installed on the machine?

Adobe Reader doesn't have the functionality to flatten the pdf.

[wade_Hamer-Fischbein]

Hello,

Adobe Acrobat Pro DC 2015 Version 2015.006.30244

I know Adobe Reader doesn't have the functionality to flatten the pdf neither does AutoCAD LT 2017 – English…

Hence me having to use BLUEBEAM your competitors software program to open the PDF use their flatten command then save it, then go back to Adobe

To verify Adobe Reader (which the REST OF THE WORLD seems to be using to read PDF’s) can now open the FIXED file.

[CtDave · Accepted solution]

You seem to call the file format "Adobe". Such a critter does not exist.

There is PDF (defined and described by the ISO Standard ISO 3200-1).

You reference AutoCAD "Adobe driver(s)".

Again, there is no such thing as an "Adobe" file format.

AutoCAD provides PDF creation routines -- These are decidedly Not Adobe provided products.

AutoCAD is creating your PDFs - not anything of Adobe's.

Any good, bad, or ugly associated with the created PDF files come from AutoCAD.

The error Reader throws shows what flavor PDF AutoCAD's providing.

(Reader expects a reasonably ISO 32000-1 compliant PDF; it throws the error alert when presented with PDFs that lack that.)

There may be some user configuration of AutoCAD that would resolve the AutoCAD PDF creation issue.

From what you have written is rather appears that you don't actually have Acrobat installed; only Reader.

As noted, Reader cannot flatten a PDF.

Reader is a PDF "viewer". Always has been eh.

Reader cannot create a PDF, export PDF page content or manipulate PDF page content.

You need Acrobat DC (Pro or Standard for that).

Like a Toyota Yugo, Bluebeam is a capable vehicle for light weight use (such as the rental vehicle during that 1 week stay in Aruba).

For those more rigorous personal or business work flows a more robust vehicle is called for; that'd be Acrobat DC Pro.