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• • February 16, 2013 at 10:51 am #64176
    Jack Brannen

    Member

    I'm getting the error message “Failed to export the PDF file” when I try to export my CS5 INDD file.

    Troubleshooting steps I've already tried:

    • Graphics. I've already done some research on this issue, and it appears to usually be related to graphics. However, I have NO placed or embedded graphics anywhere in my document. None. (I do have some basic line drawings created in InDesign.)
    • Pages. People (in other forums) have suggested exporting smaller and smaller excerpts of a problem document until the problem page is isolated. But I found I could export pages 1–10 and it would fail twice in a row and then work twice in a row. So there is no consistent correlation between the problem and specific pages.
    • Recreating the document. I've already tried creating a new document from scratch and copy-pasting my story into it (so, then, the only things that “followed me” into my new document were fonts and styles [character, object, cell, and table]). The problem disappeared briefly and then reappeared!
    • Fonts. Currently I'm inspecting my fonts, but of course I've had the same fonts for weeks and weeks in this document, and the problem is only hours old, so this seems like a long shot to me. The fonts are freebies from Google Web Fonts, so I do wonder if they're not 100% secure.
    • Checking system resources. I have several gigs of free RAM when the problem occurs, so I don't think that's the problem.

    Other potentially useful notes:

    • I have had general problems (frequent crashing, especially when editing text variables on master pages) that I haven't been able to solve with the typical steps of (1) exporting to IDML and reimporting, or (2) deleting in the InDesign preferences.
    • The document is very long (several hundred pages), but being just text it's not that unwieldy. However, I do wonder whether I should “really” be using the book feature for this (I find it easier not to). Could the mere length of the document be a problem?

    Whew!

  • February 16, 2013 at 11:27 am #64177
    Hopsa Rijnen

    Member

    My guess is it's the google web-fonts, i don't believe that those fonts are made to build a PDF, either for print or to display it onto the web. It's, to my understanding, only to display a font other than the usuals on websites.

    But it's not a complete unreality that your document is to long.

    Indesign can might as well choke on that big story of text.

    Try a copy of your document with another font, choose one that shipped with your CS or OS, to make sure it's vallid!

    good luck!

  • February 16, 2013 at 12:01 pm #64179
    Jack Brannen

    Member

    My guess is it's the google web-fonts, i don't believe that those fonts are made to build a PDF, either for print or to display it onto the web. It's, to my understanding, only to display a font other than the usuals on websites.

    Thanks for your advice, Hopsa. These are standard font files and they can be used for any purpose. The issue isn't their capability. The issue is (at least maybe) their stability.

    But it's not a complete unreality that your document is to long.

    Indesign can might as well choke on that big story of text.

    Okay—good to know.

    Try a copy of your document with another font, choose one that shipped with your CS or OS, to make sure it's vallid!

    I will. Thanks for your advice. Please let me know if you get any other ideas.

  • February 16, 2013 at 12:46 pm #64183
    Anonymous

    Inactive

    Thanks for your advice, Hopsa. These are standard font files and they can be used for any purpose. The issue isn't their capability. The issue is (at least maybe) their stability.

    I don't question Google's intentions. But designing a font for print is totally different than for the web. Mind you, all apps: Word/PageMaker/Ventura/Photoshop/InDesign modify the page design based on font's specifics. That is to say, the fonts are target oriented, for example a particular printer.

    Please verify the text using commonly available PC fonts.

    Next, try reducing your page count and re-check. These apps soon lose their marbels and behave stupidly.

    Many (mis)features are seldom advertized. Do your own cross checking.

  • February 19, 2013 at 2:31 pm #64207
    Jack Brannen

    Member

    Please verify the text using commonly available PC fonts.

    Just replaced all the Google Fonts and tried re-exporting. Got the same error. So I don't think the fonts are the problem.

    Next, try reducing your page count and re-check. These apps soon lose their marbels and behave stupidly.

    I will do this next. Thanks.

  • February 19, 2013 at 7:30 pm #64208
    Jack Brannen

    Member

    The document was 400 pages, so I converted it into an InDesign book with about 15 chapters. The problem persists.

    So currently I have tried all the troubleshooting steps mentioned and not seen any fix.

  • February 20, 2013 at 12:27 pm #64224
    Anonymous

    Inactive

    I recommend uploading your (sample, failing file) in the cloud and putting the link here. Let others test and help you out. (Check whether you are allowed to do that).

    BTW, there could also be some problem sector on your disk. Erratic and intermittent problems often indicate some disk error.

  • February 21, 2013 at 10:25 am #64235
    Jack Brannen

    Member

    I recommend uploading your (sample, failing file) in the cloud and putting the link here. Let others test and help you out. (Check whether you are allowed to do that).

    Over the past 24 hours, the errors have seemed to stop. But this is an excellent idea, and I may very well post the file if the problem comes back.

    BTW, there could also be some problem sector on your disk. Erratic and intermittent problems often indicate some disk error.

    Great to know. I actually just opened Disk Utility (I'm on a Mac) and checked my HD. Lo and behold—it found some errors and required me to boot into my recovery partition to restore the disk! So glad you chimed in! Do you know if I should expect that to solve the disk problems? If not, do you know what I should be watching for to see if disk problems still exist?

    Thanks!

  • February 22, 2013 at 8:46 am #64263
    Anonymous

    Inactive

    On a PC, we normally opt for Disk Check, which is done when Windows boots up next (Translate this to your Mac, I have no idea).

    Bad sectors often reappear soon. I advise you to keep checking your disk as often as possible. This will save you from further problems and erratic behavior. If possible, keep a standby disk so that in crunch situations, you don't get caught on wrong foot!

    Do you know if I should expect that to solve the disk problems?

    Well, it should solve your current problems. If not, try to save the file in a different folder/drive/pen-drive etc. and then attempt your task.

    Whenever such problems erupt, always look for alternate storage locations.

  • February 23, 2013 at 12:29 pm #64271
    Jack Brannen

    Member

    Thanks. I'll stay vigilant!

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