Fix PDFMaker COM Interface Error After Acrobat Update in Office
Question details
The user encounters a COM interface casting error when attempting to use the Office PDFMaker integration following an Adobe Acrobat DC update.
- Product
- Adobe Acrobat DC and Microsoft Office
- Device & OS
- Windows
- Scenario
- Using the Adobe Acrobat PDFMaker add-in to create or manage PDFs within Microsoft Office applications after applying a software update.
- Observed behavior
- The integration fails and throws an error indicating that a System.__ComObject cannot be cast to the PDFMAKERAPILib.PDFMakeApp interface.
Before proceeding, note down your exact Windows, Microsoft Office (32-bit or 64-bit), and Adobe Acrobat DC version numbers, as these are required for identifying compatibility mismatches.
Repair Adobe Acrobat and Office Integration
Use Adobe's built-in repair tool to automatically fix broken COM component registrations between Acrobat and Microsoft Office.
When Adobe Acrobat updates, the PDFMaker add-in components registered in the Windows registry can become misaligned with Microsoft Office, leading to COM interface casting errors. Running a repair operation often restores these critical links.
Launch Adobe Acrobat DC on your Windows computer.
Navigate to the 'Help' menu at the top of the application window and click on 'Repair Installation'. Wait for the process to complete.
Restart your computer. Open Microsoft Office (e.g., Word or Excel) and test the PDFMaker add-in to see if the error persists.
Revert to the Previous Version of Acrobat DC
If the error was introduced by a bug in the latest Acrobat update, rolling back to a stable previous version can serve as a temporary workaround.
Avoid PDF Add-in Errors with WPS Office
Skip the hassle of troubleshooting third-party COM add-ins and registry errors. WPS Office includes a fully integrated, built-in PDF editor and converter, allowing you to easily export documents to PDF without relying on external Adobe PDFMaker plugins.
- 1. Download and Install: Download WPS Office for free from the official website and install it on your computer.
- 2. Open Your Document: Open your Word, Excel, or PowerPoint document directly in WPS Office.
- 3. Export to PDF: Click the 'Menu' button in the top left corner, select 'Export to PDF', and save your perfectly formatted PDF without any third-party plugins.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does the PDFMAKERAPILib.PDFMakeApp error occur after an Acrobat update?
This error typically occurs when the COM object registration in the Windows Registry gets corrupted or misaligned during an update, causing Microsoft Office to look for an interface name that no longer exists or is improperly linked.
Should I manually edit the Windows Registry to fix this PDFMaker issue?
It is highly recommended to avoid manually altering the registry unless specifically guided by Adobe Support. Incorrect registry edits can cause severe system instability or further break your Office integrations.
How can I check if I have the 32-bit or 64-bit version of Microsoft Office?
Open any Office application like Word, click on 'File', select 'Account' (or 'Help'), and click 'About Word'. The pop-up window will clearly display whether you are running a 32-bit or 64-bit installation, which is vital for troubleshooting COM integration.
