Error Exporting Large PDF in InDesign – ‘Failed to Export’ on Specific Pages

[Grace288873860pvd]

I cannot export pdf of any larger document.

I get an error message saying:

'Failed to export the pdf file.

Possible cause of failure is present on spread with  page number '18'.'

I've received the same error for pages 8, 18 and 34,  regardless of what is on these pages (I've even tried to export the doc with nothing on these pages).

I've completely copied and pasted this into a new document and still had this problem.

I've updated and rebooted my computer (rebooted multiple times)

I've removed and re installed InDesign

I've installed and tried older versions of InDesign

I've updated the current InDesign

I've remade all of my .eps files

I've replaced all of my .eps files with .png files

I've tried being connected to different internet connections (ethernet, wifi and mobile 5g)

I've tried to export similar sized but entirely different documents

I have lost 2 days work to this problem.

I contacted customer support who said they were con necting me to s specilist and then ghosted me. 

<Title renamed by MOD>

[kglad]

i assume this is an indesign question. if not, indicate which app.

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 cc desktop bugs">

[jmlevy]

I cannot export pdf of any larger document.

If this happens on any document, try to quit InDesign and relaunch it while holding down the Shift, Ctrl and Alt keys [Windows], Shift, Ctrl, Alt and Cmd keys [Mac] until you see a warning message asking for confirmation.

[James Gifford—NitroPress]

As noted, resetting your system preferences can clear configuration glitches that might be part of this.

But to clarify: can you export other documents? Other documents of similar size? That is, documents that have wholly different content and different creation history? (That is, it may not help to keep moving the same problematic content from one document to another.)

[Rishabh_Tiwari]

Hi,

Sorry to hear about the trouble. In addition to the suggestions shared above, you can also try the steps shared in this article. Let us know if this helps or if you need further assistance. 

Thanks

Rishabh

[Bill Silbert]

If this is happening only with the one document then try exporting it as an IDML file (File>Export>InDesign Markup (IDML)). Then try opening that document in your version of InDesign and see if the problem is now fixed. This process can clear some corruption from a file. If the new file works correctly save it as .indd and use this new file going forward.

[Peter Spier]

Are you able to export individual pages, or chunks of pages from the file?

[HARSHIKA_VERMA]

Hi @Grace288873860pvd,

Hope you're doing well!

We would like to follow up on the issue you reported. Are you able to resolve the issue by following the suggestion? Please feel free to update the discussion if you need further assistance from us.

We will try our best to help.

Thanks,

Harshika

[ashleyr98624144]

Have you checked the permissions of the folder you're exporting your PDF to? (And the folder that that folder is in, etc.). Right click the folder, tap Get info. Change permissions from "Read only" to "Read and Write". You may find your indd doc is read-only - and/or the folder it's in - is in a folder with "Read only" permissions. I've just had to do this with hundreds of files and folders from a client.