After Effects error: There was an error processing this PDF document. (1074397201)

[JRosenquist]

Just in case someone else encounters this issue. We have Macs and PCs in our office. We were getting the following two errors on PCs after packaging up a recent project:

After Effects error: There was an error processing this PDF document. (1074397201) ( 50 :: 29 )

After Effects error: cannot reopen an open file. ( 3 :: 130 )

Followed by AE crashing.

Macs opened the packaged project with no errors.

SOLUTION: Prior to packaging, move all assets into folders with PC acceptable names (no \ / : * ? " < > | allowed). We usually do this but missed a folder with a "/" which was translated into an unreadable character (for PC) in the directory structure of the packaged project.

FEATURE REQUEST: A more meaningful error code(s) would have been helpful in tracking down this issue.

[Szalam]

Thank you for sharing what worked for you! I'm sure it will be very helpful to some poor soul doing a forum search in the future!

You can file feature requests here. (This is just a user-to-user forum, so in order to make sure someone from Adobe sees your request, follow that link.)

[JRosenquist]

Thanks! Feature request filed.

[rosssplain]

I am suddenly getting this error in my PC-only project. We don't typically use any of those characters in our file naming, but Ai names all imported layers in a LayerName/FileName.ai format. I assume this isn't the culprit? It has never been in the past.

Meanwhile, I have no idea how to fix this problem. It only seems to occur on my machine. The problem doesn't occur on other machines in our office. I thought it might be a too long path name, but I have eliminated long paths and still have the problem.

[aniketk2805]

Facing same problem with my fils also, i tryed the all the Solution (SOLUTION: Prior to packaging, move all assets into folders with PC acceptable names (no \ / : * ? " < > | allowed). We usually do this but missed a folder with a "/" which was translated into an unreadable character (for PC) in the directory structure of the packaged project.) but no use. Can you please provide the solution.

[lindsaye74267630]

I just downloaded the latest AE update and also have this problem, and this file has only been used on a Mac. Clicking OK only makes the error message pop up again, and again, and again. This also happens with every auto save from this week. So far the only solution I've found is to pound the OK button until the file loads. This did not happen at all on the previous version of AE for me.

[MikeJennings]

I'm seeing this behavior too, on a shared Creative Cloud folder.  My collaborator and I have the same Mac and the same folder structure.

[medupem98906596]

This issue keeps persisting. Can you please provide a real solution to this?

[paulgolden]

I'm on a Mac using AE 17.1 on Catalina.  Happening to me.  My file paths are clean, so I have no idea what this BS is.  

[macieks20462475]

.

[DanielaHaz]

I solved the problem by making the folder's name shorter

[deus_ex_felis]

I was ready to give up on this, then tried your fix (i.e. going into File Explorer and renaming some of the parent folders to shorter names). It worked. Gotta love simple solutions. Thanks so much!!

[samehgaber]

absolutely worked thank you for saving our a..

[goonvalley]

This Worked for me too! Thanks ❤️

[barath0101]

Thank you so much for this solution. this worked for me🙏

[hspl5E2B]

Worked

[Blissful_Zephyr5C70]

it work for me !! Thanks

[pxlwzrd]

This solution is still working in 2021. Thanks a lot

[sensor5C17]

YES !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!   RENAME YOUR FOLDER AND OPEN IT AGAIN IN AFTER EFFECTS YOUR PROBLEM IS SOLVED TRUEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!! THANK YOU FOR THIS.... I GOT FRUSTATED BEFORE.. 

after-effects-error-there-was-an-error-processing-this-pdf-document-1074397201  50:: 29 ---  SOLVED

[Jnz77]

This solution is still working in 2021. Thanks a lot

By @pxlwzrd

Because this problem still exists in 2021.

[vignank95970436]

dude! love you for this solution. I can't believe it. just make folders name short.

[macieks20462475]

The problem arises when you import a project into another project, and 'collect files'. The folder name then ends with .aep and therefore conflict arises, when AE write system folder with .aep as end. Solution is: you have to remove .aep from the system folder names and manually re-link the media. And for the future, remember about a clean file structure, without .aep as end, when You import project to another.

[Izzy5CCC]

This solved my problem - thankyou!

[HASAN5D1E]

you are awesome. thxxxx

[Jnz77]

"This solution is still working in 2021. Thanks a lot"

Because this problem still exists in 2021.