Export to PDF did not include changes I made

[reggylangkun]

Hi,

I had a 'export to PDF' problem. I made a color change in Indesign 2021 Big Sur (MBP 2019 16"). When I exported it to PDF it did not include those changes I made. I tried it multiple times with no success. Same color as before I made the change. Except when I first saved the IND file (local). Never had this problem before.

I do a lot of (press) printing. So I'm getting very nervous.

Anybody recognize this problem?

[Jens Trost · Accepted solution]

Hi reggylangkun,

did you try exporting it to a different filename or even location?
On macOS I sometimes expierenced that exports don't reflect changes, when I try to overwrite the same file.

[reggylangkun]

Yes Jens, thats the only (quick)way. Still annoying though. But then again I have to save it to another version. So that's ok.
Thanks!

[Eugene Tyson]

Save the file. Use File>Export and choose IDML.

Open that IDML in InDesign

Save as a new file. 

Try exporting it now - it should be fine going forward. 

[Jumpenjax]

I do a lot of press printing and I found this happened when I just saved the pdf and then made a change and re-saved the file. I find the best way to avoid this problem is to set my press printing values including my pdf under File/package. This will create a new folder that will have all the most current information needed for printing (pdf too.👍)

If you need to make changes just save again in the same process. You may need to rename the new folder. (I just throw away the old packaged folder and then re-save.) InDesign makes a nice neat new folder each time.

[katprau]

Absolutely insane that in order for changes to show on pdf export from InDesign we have to save files with a new name. Is Apple in cahoots with Adobe to make us fill our hard drives. Sometimes I re-export to PDF multiple times. This is a new glitch that never happened for me until InDesign 2024. I hoped with 2025 it would be fixed, but no. The most annoying thing is that it doesn't happen every time so I have to check my pdfs very closely. So annoying and frustrating.

[mattb91125363]

I'm having this issue too... Indesign 2025 to Acrobat Pro (or Preview). I am making fiddly text changes, and they are just not coming through. It is literally InDesigns only job. I resarted computer. Saved under a different filename. Saved to a different place. Downsaving to IDML did work, but, seriously?

[Eugene Tyson]

This thread is quite old even if some of the replies are quite new. 

What is your OS and version of InDesign?

If you're on a Mac there's a solid chance the Mac OS is caching your file and when you make a new file and try and open it - Mac OS (in all it's expensive glory) will open a file stored in the cache which does not reflect the changes. 

I've seen this on the Mac OS many times - and most recently just last week with a colleague who was baffled. 

I've never seen this happen on Windows.

[mattb91125363]

Yes, it definately feels like a caching issue… I’m on Sonoma 14.1 and the indesign is 20.0 (2025). But, short of deleting InDesign and deleting preferences (which would mean resetting keyboard shortcuts etc), how do I clear InDesign cache?

[Eugene Tyson]

Go to ~/Library/Caches/Adobe InDesign/Version [Version Number]/[Language]/

See if it helps at least.

As resetting indesign preferences fixed the issue I presume it's the Cache from InDesign.

[mattb91125363]

it seems to have fixed itself for the moment (which is not actually as ideal as it sounds) but I will keep this message in my inbox, and it rears its head again, I will let you know (and let you know how I go with Cache removal). Many thanks for your attention.