How to Fix Missing PDFMaker Files in Acrobat Pro 2017
Question details
The user needs to fix an issue where Acrobat PDFMaker files are missing or the feature is unavailable when attempting to generate PDFs from Microsoft Office.
- Product
- Adobe Acrobat Pro 2017 / Microsoft Office
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Creating PDF documents directly from Microsoft Office applications using the Adobe Acrobat PDFMaker add-in.
- Observed behavior
- The PDFMaker component reports that files are missing or the feature is unavailable, preventing the successful export of Office documents to PDF format.
Ensure you have administrator privileges on your computer, and completely close all Microsoft Office applications and Adobe Acrobat before attempting to repair or modify the add-ins.
Enable the Acrobat PDFMaker COM Add-in in Office
Microsoft Office may automatically disable the PDFMaker add-in if it detects a slow load time or crash. Re-enabling the add-in often resolves the unavailability error immediately.
Office applications have a built-in safety feature that disables add-ins behaving unexpectedly. You can manually force Office to re-enable the PDFMaker add-in through the options menu.
Launch the affected Microsoft Office application (e.g., Word or Excel) as an administrator. Click on 'File' in the top-left corner and select 'Options' at the bottom of the menu.
In the Options dialog box, click on 'Add-ins' in the left-hand pane.
At the bottom of the window, ensure 'COM Add-ins' is selected in the 'Manage' dropdown menu, and click the 'Go...' button.
Look for 'Acrobat PDFMaker Office COM Addin' in the list. Check the box next to it and click 'OK'. Restart the Office application to see if the PDF export feature is restored.
Run Adobe Acrobat Installation Repair
If the PDFMaker files are genuinely missing or corrupted on your system, running Acrobat's built-in repair tool will replace the missing components and fix the integration.
Easily Create PDFs Without Extra Add-ins Using WPS Office
Skip the hassle of missing PDFMaker files and broken third-party plugins. WPS Office features a native, built-in PDF converter that lets you save Word, Excel, and PowerPoint documents as high-quality PDFs without needing Adobe Acrobat.
- 1. Open Your Document: Launch WPS Office and open the Word, Excel, or PowerPoint file you want to convert.
- 2. Access the Export Feature: Click on the 'Menu' button in the top left corner, or go to the 'Tools' tab on the ribbon.
- 3. Select Export to PDF: Click on the 'Export to PDF' option from the dropdown or toolbar.
- 4. Save the PDF: Choose your desired save location, adjust any export settings if needed, and click 'Export' to generate your PDF instantly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Microsoft Office automatically disable the Acrobat PDFMaker add-in?
Microsoft Office monitors the performance of all active add-ins. If the PDFMaker add-in causes the application to load slowly, freeze, or crash unexpectedly, Office will automatically disable it to ensure the core application remains stable.
Can I still create PDFs if I cannot fix the PDFMaker missing files error?
Yes. Even without the PDFMaker add-in, you can use Microsoft Office's native 'Save As' feature and choose PDF as the format, or use the 'Microsoft Print to PDF' virtual printer from the Print menu to generate your PDFs.
Will repairing my Adobe Acrobat installation delete my custom settings or preferences?
No, running the 'Repair Installation' tool in Adobe Acrobat only scans for missing, altered, or corrupted program files and restores them to their original state. It does not delete your personal settings, signatures, or preferences.
