Fix Outlook Cannot Open OFT Templates with Attachments Error
Question details
Users are unable to open OFT (Outlook File Template) files containing file attachments when the Adobe Document Cloud add-in is enabled in Microsoft Outlook.
- Product
- Microsoft Outlook
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Attempting to open an OFT template that includes pre-attached files for sending a repetitive email.
- Observed behavior
- Microsoft Outlook fails to open the template and displays the error message: 'The attempted operation failed. An object could not be found.'
Ensure you have saved any ongoing email drafts and confirm that you have the necessary permissions to manage and modify COM add-ins within your Microsoft Outlook application.
Disable the Adobe Document Cloud Add-in
Use this solution to quickly bypass the conflict between Outlook templates and the Adobe PDF plugin.
The Adobe Document Cloud for Microsoft Outlook add-in sometimes conflicts with the way Outlook parses embedded attachments in OFT files. Temporarily disabling this specific add-in usually restores normal functionality without affecting your ability to manually attach PDFs to standard emails.
Launch Microsoft Outlook, click on the 'File' tab in the top left corner, and select 'Options' at the bottom of the left-hand menu.
In the Outlook Options window, click on 'Add-ins' located in the left sidebar to view active and inactive plugins.
At the bottom of the window, ensure the 'Manage' dropdown is set to 'COM Add-ins', then click the 'Go...' button.
Locate 'Adobe Document Cloud for Microsoft Outlook - Acrobat' in the pop-up list, uncheck the box next to it, and click 'OK'.
Close and reopen Microsoft Outlook completely, then try opening your OFT template with attachments again.
Update Microsoft Outlook and Adobe Acrobat
Apply software updates to patch known bugs causing add-in compatibility issues between Adobe and Microsoft.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is an OFT file in Microsoft Outlook?
An OFT (Outlook File Template) is a saved email template used to quickly generate new messages with consistent layouts, boilerplate text, and pre-attached files without having to recreate the email manually each time.
Will disabling the Adobe add-in prevent me from sending PDF attachments?
No. Disabling the Adobe Document Cloud add-in only removes specific integrated Acrobat features from the Outlook ribbon (like the 'Save as Adobe PDF' button). You can still manually attach standard PDF files to your emails by dragging and dropping them or using the 'Attach File' paperclip icon.
Are there other add-ins that cause the 'attempted operation failed' error?
Yes. While the Adobe add-in is a common culprit for this specific error, third-party antivirus scanners, spam filters, or other security add-ins that hook into Outlook's attachment processing can also interfere with OFT templates. You can troubleshoot by disabling non-essential COM add-ins one by one to isolate the interfering plugin.
