PDF Opening Issues

Fix Acrobat Standard 2017 Cannot Open PDF Review Files

Anum MushtaqAnum Mushtaq Oct 28, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user is unable to open PDF files returned from an Acrobat DC review using Acrobat Standard 2017, encountering a command error message.

How to Fix Acrobat Standard 2017 Cannot Open PDFs Sent for Review
Product
Adobe Acrobat Standard 2017
Device & OS
Windows 7
Scenario
Opening a PDF returned from a cloud-based review managed with Acrobat DC.
Observed behavior
The application displays the error message 'There was a problem sending the command to the program' and fails to open the document.
Before you start

Before troubleshooting, ensure you have a stable internet connection if accessing cloud-based review files, and save a local copy of the PDF to your desktop to prevent any data loss during the process.

Solution 1Recommended

Test the Review File Locally and Update Acrobat

Isolate the issue by opening a local copy of the file and ensuring your software is fully up to date to rule out compatibility issues.

Acrobat command errors often stem from temporary glitches when accessing cloud directories. Testing the file locally helps determine if the issue is with the cloud service or the software itself.

1
Save the PDF locally

Download or copy the returned PDF review file from the cloud folder or your email directly to your local Desktop.

2
Open the local file

Double-click the local PDF file to see if it opens successfully in Acrobat Standard 2017 without relying on the cloud connection.

3
Check for updates

Open Adobe Acrobat, navigate to the 'Help' menu, select 'Check for Updates', and install any available patches to ensure maximum compatibility with files generated by Acrobat DC.

Test the Review File Locally and Update Acrobat
Update Completion: Restart your computer after applying Acrobat updates to ensure all Windows registry and DDE commands are properly refreshed.
Read and Annotate PDFs in WPS Office

Open and Review PDF Documents Easily with WPS Office

If you are struggling with Acrobat version compatibility, command errors, or cloud synchronization issues, WPS Office provides a lightweight, highly compatible PDF reader and editor to seamlessly open, comment on, and share your PDF files.

  1. 1. Download and install: Download WPS Office Free from the official website and install it on your computer.
  2. 2. Open your PDF: Launch WPS Office, click 'Open' on the home screen, and browse to select your PDF review file.
  3. 3. Review and annotate: Navigate to the 'Comment' tab on the top ribbon to easily add notes, highlights, and annotations to the document.
  4. 4. Save and share: Click 'Menu' and select 'Save As' to save your annotated PDF locally, making it easy to share via email for a smooth review process.
Free and lightweight PDF reader and editorHighly compatible with all standard Adobe PDF formatsAdd comments, highlights, and text boxes effortlesslyBypasses complex Adobe cloud synchronization errors
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Frequently Asked Questions

Why does Acrobat Standard 2017 show 'problem sending the command' when opening PDFs?

This error typically occurs due to Windows DDE (Dynamic Data Exchange) communication failures, conflicts with Adobe Document Cloud synchronization, or having multiple versions of Acrobat/Reader installed simultaneously on the same machine.

Are Acrobat DC cloud reviews compatible with Acrobat Standard 2017?

While standard PDFs are generally backward compatible for basic viewing, specific cloud-based collaboration features initiated in Acrobat DC might cause synchronization or permission errors when opened in older standalone versions like Acrobat Standard 2017.

How can I bypass the cloud review error in Acrobat?

You can bypass cloud-related errors by downloading the PDF directly to your local drive and opening it from there, or by asking the document owner to use the traditional email-based tracker review instead of Adobe Document Cloud.

Does using Windows 7 affect Acrobat PDF reviews?

Yes, using Acrobat Standard 2017 on an older operating system like Windows 7 can trigger system-level command errors, especially if Windows updates are missing or if the software is attempting to access modern cloud services designed for Windows 10 or later.