Publish Online document cannot download PDF

[ccmy_iw]

I am publishing an interactive project online for a client, but also want them to be able to download it as a PDF. When I am publishing it, I select "Allow viewers to download the document as a PDF."

But when I or anyone else tries to download it, it opens a page that simply says "Not Found"

I've tried selecting different PDF presents in the Advanced section to see if that helps, but it doesn't.

Has anyone else had this issue? Is there a way to resolve it?

Thanks!

[Rishabh_Tiwari]

Hi,

Sorry to hear about the trouble. I tested this on the latest version of InDesign & macOS, and it's working. Can you confirm the version of InDesign & OS along with if it's happening with a specific file or multiple files? We'll try our best to assist you.

Thanks
Rishabh

[ccmy_iw]

I am running MacOS Sonoma 14.4.1 and Indesign 19.3

This has happened with multiple documents over the past 6 months or so.

[Rishabh_Tiwari]

Thank you for confirming. Can you test this file and see if it allows you to download the PDF? Can you also share a link for testing? You can also DM me by clicking on my name.

Thanks

Rishabh

[Jeffrey_Smith]

What browser are you using to view the Publish Online file?

[ccmy_iw]

It happens on both Safari and Chrome. 

[audrik38328616]

this is same exact issue has been happening to me over the last 6 months as well. really frustrating as clients specifically request access for the PDF download option. 

[Eugene Tyson]

@ccmy_iw @audrik38328616 

If you can share your publish online files here or in a private message I'll see if I can download them.

But - here's the issue that I think is happening - interactive PDFs, especially anything outside a basic PDF - would be complex and depend on the PDF reader being used, like Firefox would use Foxit, Chrome has it's own, and mobile devices have their own, like my Samsung phone has a Samsung PDF reader.

These 3rd party pdf readers are usually only useful for basic content - and don't always work with complex, interactive PDFs, as they don't support all the modules for interactive - hence some pages might show up blank as they don't know how to display the information. 

A lot of people don't have Acrobat Reader installed natively on their computer or their phones - and not all PDF readers are equal. 

So whereas I think that's the issue - it's impossible to know without testing your online documents.

[grade_a]

I had a similar issue with buttons, but found a way round it by setting it up as a hyperlink instead. It meant I couldn't have a rollover state but at least the PDF downloaded properly.

[grade_a]

Sorry, just re-read the original issue. I'm not using the 'allow users to download PDF' option. I'm linking to a PDF stored in a DAM. A button wouldn't trigger the download but a simple hyperlink would. Weird.