Adobe InDesign PDF Export Issue When Sending To Recipient

[TashidaG]

I've been having a few issues with exported PDFs from In Design in the last few weeks.

The errors only occur when the recipient tries to open the file when sent over email. I switched email clients and even bought a new computer - thinking one of these factors was the issue but I was wrong.

Issues:

- When an exported InDesign document is exported to PDF emailed, the recipient gets an error that the file is corrupted. When i upload the file to We Transfer, it opens without issue.

- When I email a PDF exported from Indesign to a client which contains images, on some occasions some of the images drop out/disappear. However, the photos appear as they should in the file i sent

My InDesign and Adobe apps are both up to date. Google doesnt seem to have a solution, so i am seeking some help for this bug.

[JR Boulay]

[MOVED TO THE INDESIGN DISCUSSIONS]

[D. Schulte]

Since it works fine when using WeTransfer the problem has to be in your e-mail client. As a rule of thumb: try not to drag and drop the file in your client but to use a import prompt depending on the software you are using.

[TashidaG]

That's what i thought too. But I've used two different email clients since the issue started a few months ago and the problem still persists. So it is not the email client.

[D. Schulte]

Which different e-mail clients did you use?

[TashidaG]

AirMail

Mac Mail

Spark Mail

[TashidaG]

I also wish to add that it doesnt happen with every PDF I send either.

[Willi Adelberger]

Which PDF viewer does your client use?

[TashidaG]

AirMail

Mac Mail

Spark Mail

[Willi Adelberger]

None of them is a dedicated or valid PDF viewer. Only Adobe Acrobat can show and handle any kind of PDF flair correctly.

[TashidaG]

I responded incorrectly to your question. My response was for the question above.

i do not know what PDF viewer the clients use. They are numerous.

[shepley108]

i am having the same problem. if i zip the pdf it works fine. that is why wetransfer is working for you since wetransfer automatically ziip your files. it is not a good situation. icannot tell you the number of people who have emailed me that they cannot open my pdf file. did you ever get a solution?

[Willi Adelberger]

We transfer and zip compression is another problem, the stupidity of the user as he or she has never learned to open compressed files. There is no need to to use WeTransfer. You can send a link to open the PDF with Acrobat. If you are a CC subscriber you can send a link from Acrobat Pro. 

[Willi Adelberger]

You have to educate your clients to use only Acrobat to view PDFs as all other viewers have a problem to show many PDFs correctly. That is how it is. You cannot change the world. 
Even if you decide to send flattened PDFs without the live transparency you will get claims, depending on the used viewer, about lines, frames, missing fonts and wrong colors. There exists no PDF which shows up correctly in every PDF viewer except with Acrobat.