Fix Unable to Find Adobe PDF Resource Files Error in Acrobat 2017
Question details
The user needs to resolve an error preventing them from creating PDFs from Microsoft Office applications using the Adobe PDFMaker add-in.
- Product
- Adobe Acrobat 2017 / Microsoft Office
- Device & OS
- Windows 10
- Scenario
- Creating a PDF from Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, or Outlook using the Acrobat PDFMaker plug-in.
- Observed behavior
- An error message stating "Unable to Find Adobe PDF Resource Files" or an administrator privileges error appears, and the PDF conversion fails.
Save all your open Microsoft Office documents and ensure you have your Adobe Acrobat 2017 serial number accessible in case a reinstallation is necessary.
Install the Latest Acrobat 2017 Patch
Adobe has officially resolved the missing resource files issue in a software patch. Updating your Acrobat installation is the fastest and most reliable fix.
This error is a known issue in older builds of Adobe Acrobat 2017. Installing the latest official patch resolves the incompatibility with Microsoft Office.
Launch Adobe Acrobat 2017 on your Windows computer.
Click on 'Help' in the top menu bar, then select 'Check for Updates' from the drop-down menu.
Follow the on-screen prompts in the Adobe Updater window to download and install the latest patch.
Restart your computer, open a Microsoft Word document, and try creating a PDF using the Acrobat add-in again.
Repair or Reinstall Adobe Acrobat
If updating does not resolve the issue, the Acrobat installation or PDFMaker add-in files might be corrupted and require a fresh install.
Install Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable
Acrobat PDFMaker relies on specific Microsoft Visual C++ libraries to function correctly within Office environments.
Convert Word to PDF Easily with WPS Office
Skip the hassle of troubleshooting third-party add-ins and missing resource errors. WPS Office features a native, built-in PDF converter that allows you to save your documents as high-quality PDFs instantly, without requiring external plugins like Acrobat PDFMaker.
- 1. Open your document: Launch WPS Office and open your Word, Excel, or PowerPoint file.
- 2. Click Export to PDF: Navigate to the 'Tools' tab on the top ribbon and click the 'Export to PDF' button.
- 3. Adjust export settings: Choose your desired save location, page range, and export options in the dialog box.
- 4. Save the PDF: Click the 'Export' button to instantly generate your PDF file directly from the application.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Acrobat PDFMaker show an administrator privileges error in Word?
This error typically occurs because the Acrobat PDFMaker add-in is running on an outdated software build that lacks the necessary permissions to access Adobe resource files, or because the required Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable libraries are missing from your Windows system.
Do I need to use the Acrobat Cleaner Tool to fix the PDF resource error?
In most cases, standard uninstallation via the Windows Control Panel is sufficient to fix the 'Unable to Find Adobe PDF Resource Files' error. You generally do not need to use the dedicated Acrobat Cleaner Tool unless a standard uninstall fails or leaves residual corrupted registry keys.
How do I re-enable the Acrobat PDFMaker add-in in Microsoft Office if it gets disabled?
Open your Microsoft Office application (such as Word), go to File > Options > Add-ins. In the 'Manage' drop-down at the bottom, select 'COM Add-ins' and click 'Go'. Ensure the checkbox next to 'Acrobat PDFMaker Office COM Addin' is checked, and click OK to reactivate it.
