Corrupt PDF Files on Export from InDesign 19.3

[janied76789653]

I am running Mac InDesign 19.3 and Sequoia 15.0.1. Every time I export to PDF from InDesign, it says the file is corrupt. I have tried to reopen and a second time repair. In both cases, all the data I have imported and formatted disappears. Note: I have been working on the same files for years and they were created in Indesign 12.5 and Monterey 12.7.6. That is where the behavior I am describing above first happened. At that point, I talked to Adobe support and did not get a solution have reinstalling, trashing preferences, etc. They said it was a hardware issue. I took my laptop to Apple and they ran diagnostics and wiped it clean. They cold not find any issues with the hardware. Any help is appreciated. Thank you. I am way past my deadlines.

<Title renamed by MOD>

[kglad]

in the future, to find the best place to post your message, use the list here, https://community.adobe.com/

p.s. i don't think the adobe website, and forums in particular, are easy to navigate, so don't spend a lot of time searching that forum list. do your best and we'll move the post (like this one has already been moved) if it helps you get responses.

<"moved from using the community">

[Steve Werner]

The current version of InDesign 2024 is 19.5. It has bug fixes since 19.3, the sub-version you're using. Update your InDesign version. Especially if you're using Sequoia, a new Mac version.

[janied76789653]

Hi Steve...I did have 19.5 installed and it did the same thing. I went back to 19.5. When I remove 19.3, do I need to need to use "Creative Cloud Cleaner Tool" and then install 19.5?

On the first try of a renamed document it will create a PDF, but the Excel information is missing on pages 7 - 303. Why is it not generating a PDF with the imported Excel info? Is this a settings issue for export to pdf from Indesign? thank you!

[leo.r]

but the Excel information is missing on pages 7 - 303. Why is it not generating a PDF with the imported Excel info?

By @janied76789653

Is there an Excel file linked to your InDesign document (that is, the Excel file is listed in the Links panel)?

[janied76789653]

Hi...no I have copied and pasted the Excel document into a table in Indesign. The Excel doc has 7,700 rows. Before upgrading I had no problem copying and pasting into an Indesign table. Is there another way I should be placing the info in Indesign. I completely rebuilt the file in ID and when I go to export to PDF from ID it discards all the Excel info. 

I, then picked up a 2024 ID that I was able to export to PDF a few days ago and replaced the table with the the Excel doc. Same thing is happening and I get the messages attached.

I also reinstalled ID and turned off all the syncing to icloud...I think. 

I don't know what else to do. Should I install a lower version of ID that will run with 15.0.1? If so, what version?

I am very close to losing this client. Thank you.

[janied76789653]

One more thing...before I re-installed ID, when I saved the files as an IDML it kept the indd extension. Process was open the older version > Save as > new name > save as idml. The file in the window continued to say indd, but in the folder on the desktop I saved it to said idml.

[leo.r]

One more thing...before I re-installed ID, when I saved the files as an IDML The file in the window continued to say indd, but in the folder on the desktop I saved it to said idml.

By @janied76789653

Did this issue go away after re-installing InDesign?

[janied76789653]

No, it did not.

[leo.r]

Hi...no I have copied and pasted the Excel document into a table in Indesign... Is there another way I should be placing the info in Indesign.

By @janied76789653

Normally, copy-pasting Excel data into InDesign shouldn't cause the problem you experience. I only wanted to check if the Excel file is linked to see if that could be the cause for the problem, which we can now rule out.

[leo.r]

Should I install a lower version of ID that will run with 15.0.1? If so, what version?

By @janied76789653

As a test, try to install InDesign 2023. Will you have the same problem?

[janied76789653]

I will try that. Do I uninstall 2024 before installed 2023?

[leo.r]

I will try that. Do I uninstall 2024 before installed 2023?

By @janied76789653

no you don't need to uninstall 2024; 2023 will be installed as a separate installation. you can use both.

[janied76789653]

Leo...Should I replace Sequoia? As late as September 24, 2024 on the forum, experts say to not upgrade to it. When the Adobe support had me install the newer InDesign I was running Monterey. Nothing has really worked since and they Adobe support told me it was a hardware issue and go to Apple. They did a diagnostic and nothing was wrong with the computer, but they wiped it clean. I am at wits end. Thank you!

[leo.r]

so have you tried InDesign 2023?

[janied76789653]

Hi Leo....I went to creative cloud to install and nothing there is referred to as Design 2023. Is there a specific version? thank you

[leo.r]

Hi Leo....I went to creative cloud to install and nothing there is referred to as Design 2023. Is there a specific version? thank you

By @janied76789653

Ok I see. It's InDesign 18.x

P.S. As a side note, it's totally wrong (and bizarre) that Adobe doesn't include the year in the app names in the Creative Cloud app. Because that's how the majority of users identify the desired version (by the year). And while I do happen to know what InDesign version numbers mean (19, 18 etc.), for most other apps the version number doesn't tell me anything, and I myself have to either guess or look up the corresponding year of the Creative Cloud suite. Reminds me to sumbit a feature request and bring Adobe's attention to this again.

[janied76789653]

OK. I didn't know how to install a new operating system so I took it to some professionals and they wiped the computer clean and took off Sequoia.As a reminder Sequoia 15.0.1 and Indesign 19.5 did not work. Super crashing. Recommendation was to take Sequoia off.  I am now running Sonoma 14.7 with Indesign 19.5. Files are working until I get to the Export to PDF phase and then it crashes and give me this long report. It has been 10 days since Adobe phone support told me it was an apple problem and to start over. I don't know what to do. Any more ideas? 

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

@janied76789653

Have you tried IDMLing?

Export as IDML, open, save with a new name - do not overwrite your original file. 

[janied76789653]

Yes same behavior. Can it be settings in the application and /or pdf export settings? Could you glean anything from the indesign report I attached? Thank you! Janie

[leo.r]

Yes same behavior.
By @janied76789653

And, once again, have you tried InDesign 2023 (as discussed earlier)?

But actually, if you haven't installed 2023 yet, you won't find it in the Creative Cloud app anymore. As a newer version, InDesign 2025, has just been released. In this case, try to install InDesign 2025 (InDesign 20.x), just don't overwrite your InDesign 2024 (deselect the option to remove older versions.) Will your file work in 2025?

[janied76789653]

Hi Robert. Herein lies the problem. It doesn't matter if I do any of the following:

• Export to idml from the file menu and save with a new name
• Save as  Indesign CS4 or later (idml) from the Save as menu with a new name
• Export to PDF from the file menu

It all does the same thing...file crashes and and says I need to recover it or save it and contine. I have tried all ways. Then when I open the document, all the data from the Excel file that I copied and pasted into the document along with any other updates are gone. Any of those processes makes me start all over again. Thank you!

[leo.r]

I wonder if you can export to other formats? Such as JPEG or PNG for example (just as a test, not that they're useful for you).

Also, what if you print to PostScript, then distill to PDF? (It's an antique workflow, so if you need more info on this, ask.)

[janied76789653 · Accepted solution]

Problem solved. InDesign 19.5 could not process the table with header set to appear in at the top of each page. Once this setting was changed and the header row was set up on a parent page instead of the within the table....the file processed at no problem. 

Solution: When placing large Excel tables into Indesign (I was using 19.5),  DO NOT set up your common header in Indesign table set up. Create a parent page and only set up the Indesign table with data...no headers.

[leo.r]

P.S. As a side note, it's totally wrong (and bizarre) that Adobe doesn't include the year in the app names in the Creative Cloud app.

By @leo.r

For those who share this view: I just posted a feature request in the Creative Cloud forum; upvote/comment if you're interested:

https://community.adobe.com/t5/creative-cloud-desktop-ideas/request-include-creative-cloud-year-in-a...