Error when printing to Adobe PDF

Report · Oct 07, 2019

Hi Everyone,

I use Adobe Creative Cloud. My apps are up to date.

Until a few weeks ago, I never had the problem I’m going to describe. I can’t trace back to any event, like software installation or anything. Recently, when printing to Adobe PDF, the following happens:

First time printing, with a clear print queue, I get an error that says “Error printing on adobe PDF. “The printer could not print Microsoft word. – adobe error” and an untitled document shows up in the print queue with “Error – Printing” status. I get no “Your PDF has been created” message. The PDF successfully prints.

Second printing, with one error in the queue, I get “Printer in an error state” and also get the “Your PDF has been created” pop-up. A document in error state gets added to the print queue, but I get a good PDF.

With two or more documents in error state, I get no error and I get the pop-up “Your PDF has been created.” I can print many more times with no error, but the queue keeps growing.

This happens with any file: Word, Excel, Notepad, WordPad, a web page. The same pattern described above no matter the format.

I can save as PDF with no error. It’s only when printing. Any guidance will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

Frank

Report · Oct 08, 2019

Hi Frank_Burgos

Thanks for reaching out. As described above, you are experiencing issues while printing the PDF and getting the error, correct?

We need some more information for a better understanding:

Do you have Adobe Acrobat Reader DC (freeware) or Adobe Acrobat DC (Paid subscription) and what is the version? To check the version of the application please use the link - https://helpx.adobe.com/acrobat/kb/identify-product-version.html
Check for any missing updates and try updating the application to the latest version 19.12.20040. Go to Help > Check for Updates. To know more about the latest version please use the link - https://www.adobe.com/devnet-docs/acrobatetk/tools/ReleaseNotesDC/index.html
What is the make and model of the printer?
Please check for updates for the printer driver and firmware?

In the meantime, please try the following steps and see if that helps:

Try printing the file as an image. Go to print > Advanced > Print as image
Also, try opening the file in web browser and try printing from there. Right Click >Open in Chrome and try printing.
Try to reset the preferences to default - https://community.adobe.com/t5/Acrobat/How-to-reset-Acrobat-Preference-settings-to-default/td-p/4792...

You may also try the troubleshooting steps provided in the help article - https://helpx.adobe.com/in/acrobat/kb/troubleshoot-pdf-printing-acrobat-reader.html

Let us know how it goes.

Regards

Amal

Report · Oct 16, 2019

Dear Amal,

Thank you very much for your promt response and assistance.

Please see my replies embedded into the body of your message, copied and pasted below.

Best regards,

Frank

******

Thanks for reaching out. As described above, you are experiencing issues while printing the PDF and getting the error, correct?

Correct

We need some more information for a better understanding:

Do you have Adobe Acrobat Reader DC (freeware) or Adobe Acrobat DC (Paid subscription) and what is the version? To check the version of the application please use the link - https://helpx.adobe.com/acrobat/kb/identify-product-version.html

Adobe Acrobat Pro DC, continuous release version 2019.012.200-400

Check for any missing updates and try updating the application to the latest version 19.12.20040. Go to Help > Check for Updates. To know more about the latest version please use the link - https://www.adobe.com/devnet-docs/acrobatetk/tools/ReleaseNotesDC/index.html

Done

What is the make and model of the printer?
Please check for updates for the printer driver and firmware?

The problem doesn’t occur when I try to print to my printer. It occurs when I try to print to PDF via Adobe. Just in case, my laser printer is an HP Color Laser Jet Pro M477fdw.

In the meantime, please try the following steps and see if that helps:

Try printing the file as an image. Go to print > Advanced > Print as image

Printing to an image resulted in the same error.

Also, try opening the file in web browser and try printing from there. Right Click >Open in Chrome and try printing.

Printing from Chrome resulted in the same error.

Try to reset the preferences to default - https://community.adobe.com/t5/Acrobat/How-to-reset-Acrobat-Preference-settings-to-default/td-p/4792...

I followed instructions and moved the preferences folder.

I had hidden files set to visible.

There were no files in the preferences folder.

I moved the preferences folder

Adobe didn’t restore the preferences folder after restarting Adobe.

You may also try the troubleshooting steps provided in the help article - https://helpx.adobe.com/in/acrobat/kb/troubleshoot-pdf-printing-acrobat-reader.html

Thanks. I looked through all of it. None of the applicable suggestions resolved the problem.

Report · Oct 18, 2019

Hi Frank,

Thanks for sharing the details. we can see that you are using the version 19.12.20040, We have a new update released on 17th Oct 2019 for Adobe Acrobat/Reader version 19.21.20048. Please update the application to the new version. Go to Help > Check for Updates. For more information about the new version please use the link - https://www.adobe.com/devnet-docs/acrobatetk/tools/ReleaseNotesDC/index.html

If it still doesn't work, please try to repair installation (For Windows) Go to Help > Repair installation and see if that works.

If it still doesn't work,

Please remove the application using the Adobe Acrobat Cleaner Tool - https://labs.adobe.com/downloads/acrobatcleaner.html
Reboot the computer
Reinstall the application using the link https://helpx.adobe.com/acrobat/kb/acrobat-dc-downloads.html

If it still doesn't work , Create the new user profile with full admin rights and try using the application and printing and check.

Let us know how it goes

Regards

Amal

Report · Oct 22, 2019

Hi Amal,

I let things settle for a while, rebooted a couple of times other reasons and just tested printing to Adobe PDF a few times, before writing. I didn't see the error.

My Office 365 had an update, and Windows 10 did a couple of things over the past few days. Maybe something cleared my machines throat.

Thank you so much for your help. If there are any changes, I'll post.

Frank

Report · Oct 23, 2019

Hi There,

We are glad to hear that the issue got fixed.

Feel free to contact us for any assistance required in the future.

Thanks

Amal