Troubleshooting PDF Export Issues in InDesign Failure in Spread with page 369

[Poerk1980]

I want to export a book document in InDesign to PDF. It consists of 7 book parts, but I keep getting an error message saying that the PDF cannot be generated. I also combined the 7 book sections into one file, but I get the same error message. The possible cause of the error seems to be located on the spread with page number 369. Using the "Package" and "Preflight" tools, no errors are detected. Exporting the PDF from the individual book file works fine. I have checked all images and gradients but cannot find any issues. Despite repeated export attempts, I keep encountering the same error. The export process appears to complete successfully, but as soon as it finishes, an error message appears, and no PDF is generated. How do I solve this? 

[Abhishek Rao]

Hi @Poerk1980,

Thank you for reaching out! I understand how frustrating it can be when PDF export fails, especially on a specific spread. I’d be happy to help you troubleshoot this issue.

Could you please provide the following details to assist you better?

1. The version of InDesign you are using.

2. The operating system details (Windows or macOS, along with the version).

In the meantime, please try the below suggestions: 

1. Try exporting only the spread containing page 369 as a PDF. If this fails, it confirms the issue lies within that spread.

2. Inspect Content on Spread 369:

 - Check for any corrupted images, fonts, or elements on the spread.

 - Replace any suspicious images or elements.

 - Ensure that all links in the Links panel are updated and valid.

3. While exporting the PDF, go to Export Settings > Compression, and set "Downsampling" to None for images. Sometimes, downsampling can cause export issues.

4. Save your file as an IDML file (File > Save As > InDesign Markup Language) to clean up any potential corruption. Open the IDML file and attempt to export again.

5. Use a different export preset, such as High Quality Print, to see if it bypasses the issue.

6. Copy the content from the problematic spread into a new document and try exporting from there.

If the issue persists, could you share a screenshot of the error message you’re encountering? This will help us narrow down the cause further.

Looking forward to your response so we can get this resolved for you!

Best,
Abhishek Rao

[Poerk1980]

I am using InDesign version 20.01 updated several weeks ago through Creative Cloud Desktop on a Windows 11 desktop version. I inspected the spread numerous times and can't find issues and the reflights all come back green. I changed the compression to no downsampling and tried another export which returned the same error. I saved the file as IDML but when I try to re-open that file, it takes forever and simply won't load, it keeps loading but won't open. This is a book of 737 pages in total with about 100 pages for each book part.  I already copied the content to various new files but the error persists. 

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

@Poerk1980

Can you post a screenshot of this affected spread?

[Poerk1980]

I was able to export 7 book parts PDFs and then combined them in Acrobat but then I could not save the total combined file because it's too big. Uploading the file to Cloud also failed. I don't think the issue is in the spread of 369 because I deleted the spread and then exported and it still gave the same error and same spread number. All preflights all come back green and fine. It's a weird issue. 

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

@Poerk1980

What are your PDF export settings?

Can you try and export "low quality"? 

[Peter Spier]

Since the individual document from the book exports OK I'm wondering it the problem is a lack of resources for some reason. Can you successfully export the book in two halves, then combine in Acrobat?

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

I remember, there was a thread with a similar problem - but don't remember what was the solution 😞 

[Poerk1980]

I was able to export 7 book parts PDFs and then combined them in Acrobat but then I could not save the total combined file because it's too big. Uploading the file to Clod also failed. I don't think the issue is in the spread of 369 because I deleted the spread and then exported and it still gave the same error and same spread number. All preflights all come back green and fine. It's a weird issue. 

[Peter Spier]

OK, so this sounds like an issue with file size, somehow.

How big is the combined PDF? How much available storage space do you have?

[Poerk1980]

The combined PDF via Acrobat Pro total file is 6GB. The separate 7 PDFs are between 1 to 2GB each.
The last succesful PDF export of the entire book in Indesigbn was just above 2GB. 

[BobLevine]

Are you choosing to export without any downsampling or compression? It's the only way I can think of that you'd wind up with such massive file sizes and quite frankly, there is no need to do so.

[Poerk1980]

I exported with and without downsampling. 

[BobLevine]

What about compression? There's no need to turn that off, either and no way you'd wind up with such a huge file if it was enabled.

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

@Poerk1980

Just in case - do you have your linked images LINKED or EMBEDDED?

And how often have you been doing Save As with a new name - on your INDD files? 

[Peter Spier]

@Poerk1980

Just in case - do you have your linked images LINKED or EMBEDDED?

By @Robert at ID-Tasker

Shouldn't matter at the PDF stage -- all the data gets embedded in the PDF regardless, but downsampling and compression settins would certainly be a factor.

[leo.r]

By @Poerk1980

How much RAM do you have (as well as how much free space is on your disk, as has already been asked)?

[Poerk1980]

I have 16GB RAM and more than 7TB free disk space. 

[BobLevine]

16GB is the bare minimum.

[Poerk1980]

My RAM size did not change overnight, the issue with the PDF export kinda did. Its been giving me issues since October. Before that, all was fine. It looks like I have my images linked. I may have Saved As the file a couple of times. 

[Poerk1980]

The weird thing is that the export seems to go fine for like 35-45 mins to run the entire book and then when it has to finalize it seems to need a second to actually deliver the generated full PDF and only then it somehow has an issue and shows that error with possible fialure on the page of spread 369. 

[Peter Spier]

I think we've established that spread 369 is a red herring and this is a problem with size.

[BobLevine]

Please post screenshots of your PDF export compression settings.

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

[...] Its been giving me issues since October. Before that, all was fine. [...] 

By @Poerk1980

Have you updated to 2025 around this time? 

[Poerk1980]

Creative Cloud currently has not updates for my InDesign. I've tried exports without changed export settings, default print export settings, with and without image downsampling and Acrobat compatibility and such but so far nothing works. I am rather comvinced that the error displayed has nothing to do with a spread or page 369. It must be another type of issue. I've worked with this destkop, files, settings without mentionable changes for years. I'm attaching screen shots of the error and my mosr recent export settings.