Failed to open the pdf file

[danieller1971135]

Hi everyone,

My indesign acts a bit weird with some pdf files. If I want to insert a pdf file I get following error: "failed to open the pdf file". It works on another computer so I really don't know what the problem could be. This is what I've already tried:

- removing the creative suite and installing it again: doesn't work

- placing the pdf file and opening the options: doesn't work.

Hopefully one of you guys can help me.

Regards!

Daniëlle

[Dov Isaacs]

Try opening the PDF files in Acrobat and ascertain that there is no protections applied to the PDF file. Look under Document Properties => Security. If there are any restrictions, you will likely have problems placing the PDF into an InDesign documents. You would need to remove such protections.

Alternatively, if the PDF file is really a PDF form created by LiveCycle Designer, i.e., an XFA form, it cannot be directly placed into an InDesign document.

          - Dov

[danieller1971135]

Hi Dov,

There is no security on the PDF file and it can be opened by all versions of acrobat, so it says in the document properties.

How do I know if the PDF file is created by LifeCycle Designer? It is a drawing from Autocad. I both tested it with dwg-to-pdr and adobe pdf. Nothing works. Except on the computer of my college.

Now I tried updating my windows but still nothing.

[Test Screen Name]

You aren’t expected to open a PDF in InDesign but it should Place. What exactly happens?

[danieller1971135]

That's what i'm doing . I've tried Place and draging it into the document, both not working.

[danieller1971135 · Accepted solution]

Problem solved!

I found my answer on: pdf Failed to open error...

"

I had been going around in circles trying to resolve exactly this issue but I think I can say that I have found the cause of the problem and can (I think) say SOLVED !

Having prviously amended the 'Show Import Options' on another job, they appear to have remained as the default when opening subsequent jobs.

For example in my case the previous job was set to crop to 'trim', however  on the PDF I was trying to place this was a greyed-out option as there were no trim marks on the document.

So quite simply choose  'Show Import Options' and then make sure you chose a valid (black text) crop option from the drop down menu.

Good luck! (Let me know if this works for you)

"

Thanks for helping!

[yksin · Accepted solution]

The above solution didn't work for me, but I landed on another method that did work for me

1. Save the Excel table/chart you're having problems with as a PDF.

2. Open the PDF in Acrobat Pro DC.

3. From the File menu, export the table/chart to Encapsulated Postscript.

4. Close the PDF.

5. Double-click to open the .eps file. It should (or at least it did for me, on my Mac) open with a .pdf extension.

6. Save it. Because it had that .pdf extension, it will save as a .pdf — should be fine to save it over your original PDF.

7. Try again to import in InDesign. It should work.  It did for me, both charts.

[csvergara]

Thanks yksin, it works!!!

[DesignBeth]

Thank you yksin, this resolved my issue.

I had exported a Powerpoint PDF slide and ran into this error but exporting as EPS in Acrobat allowed me to place the files.

[KarenB84B]

Thank you!! This worked for me too!

[marks76605306]

Thanks yskin !! - this was a Lifesaver...

[faithh18107986]

How do you access 'Show Import Options' ?

[nicks3609780]

Command D  - Control D -  it is on the popup window

[angjesk]

This looked like it should work! Unfortunately not for me.

[Abhishek Rao]

Hi @angjesk,

Thanks for giving that a try, and I'm sorry to hear it didn’t do the trick for you. To better assist you, could you please confirm the version of InDesign you're using and the details of your operating system? Also, let me know exactly how you're trying to open or place the PDF. For example, are you using File > Place, File > Open, dragging and dropping, or something else?

If you're comfortable, it would really help if you could share the PDF file you're having trouble with so we can try to reproduce the issue on our end. If the file contains any confidential information, feel free to send it via DM here on the community instead.

Looking forward to your update.

Abhishek

[Do25561486k24v]

my indesign was working fine yesterday but today i open the indesign file and can't place (CTRL+D) any PDF files. Error when I try to select PDF file, then indesign program is closed. Help me

[RohitSolanki]

Make sure the pdf file is always flattened.

[Willi Adelberger]

Nonsense, you can import layered PDFs into InDesign and keep transparency always alive. Import PDF/ X-4. 

[BobLevine]

That is not only wrong, but a flattened file will produce an even worse result do to any flattened objects being stitched.