Fix Acrobat Web Creating Duplicate SharePoint PDFs Instead of Overwriting
Question details
When attempting to save an edited PDF using Acrobat Web in a SharePoint document library, a duplicate file is generated instead of saving changes to the original document.
- Product
- Adobe Acrobat Web, SharePoint
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Editing and saving a PDF file hosted on a SharePoint document library using the Acrobat web interface.
- Observed behavior
- Acrobat web creates a duplicate version of the PDF with '1' appended to the filename instead of overwriting the original file.
Verify that your internet connection is stable and that you are correctly signed into your Microsoft 365 and Adobe accounts with the appropriate permissions for the SharePoint library.
Verify SharePoint Permissions and Check-Out Status
Ensure that the original PDF is not locked by another user and that you have sufficient permissions to overwrite files in the SharePoint library.
SharePoint relies heavily on file locking and versioning. If a file is checked out by someone else, or if your library requires manual check-outs before editing, external tools like Acrobat Web will fail to overwrite the original and will spawn a duplicate file to prevent data loss.
Navigate to the SharePoint document library in your web browser and locate the original PDF file.
Hover over the file name. If there is a small red arrow icon over the file type icon, the file is checked out by another user. You must wait for them to check it back in.
Right-click the file, select 'Manage Access', and ensure that your account is listed with 'Can edit' permissions.
Use Desktop Acrobat as a Workaround
Bypass web integration glitches by using the desktop version of Adobe Acrobat to open and overwrite SharePoint PDFs.
Manually Replace the Original PDF
If a duplicate has already been created, download and rename it to manually overwrite the original SharePoint file.
Edit PDFs and Documents Seamlessly with WPS Office
Avoid frustrating web integration glitches and duplicate files. WPS Office provides a robust desktop suite equipped with a powerful built-in PDF editor, offering seamless compatibility with Microsoft Office formats without the heavy subscription costs.
- 1. Download the software: Visit the official WPS Office website to download the free, lightweight installer.
- 2. Install and launch: Run the installer on your PC or Mac, then launch WPS Office from your desktop.
- 3. Open and edit your PDFs: Click 'Open' to select your PDF file. Use the dedicated PDF tab to easily edit text, add annotations, and save your work securely.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does SharePoint append a '1' to my PDF filename?
SharePoint appends a '1' to a filename when it attempts to save a document but detects that a file with the same name already exists and cannot be overwritten. This usually happens due to permission limitations, active check-outs, or file locks preventing the original file from being updated.
How do I force SharePoint to overwrite an existing PDF?
To overwrite an existing PDF, ensure you have edit permissions and that the file is not checked out by another user. Then, upload a new version of the PDF with the exact same filename. SharePoint will detect the name match and prompt you to replace the file, keeping the version history intact.
Does Acrobat Web automatically check out files in SharePoint?
Acrobat Web's integration with SharePoint may not automatically trigger the check-out process depending on your specific library's versioning and check-out settings. If the library requires a manual check-out, Acrobat Web will fail to overwrite the file, resulting in a duplicate.
