How to Fix Microsoft Project Crashing When Printing or Saving as PDF
Question details
Users need to resolve an issue where Microsoft Project crashes unexpectedly when attempting to print or export specific project files to a PDF format.
- Product
- Microsoft Project
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Attempting to print a project schedule or export it as a PDF document, especially when the file is hosted on a SharePoint site.
- Observed behavior
- The Microsoft Project application freezes or completely crashes during the PDF conversion or printing process, often due to underlying file corruption or excessive file bloat.
Before troubleshooting, ensure you download a copy of the affected Project file from SharePoint to your local drive to prevent further synchronization conflicts or data loss during the repair process.
Download Locally and Repair the Corrupted File
Moving the file off SharePoint to a local drive helps isolate network issues and allows you to safely strip out corruption by saving it in an alternative format like XML.
File bloat and background corruption are common reasons for Microsoft Project crashing during memory-intensive tasks like printing or generating PDFs.
Navigate to your SharePoint document library, select the problematic project file, and download it directly to your local hard drive.
Launch Microsoft Project and open the newly downloaded local file to see if the crashing persists without the SharePoint connection.
Go to File > Save As and choose 'XML Format'. This process strips out many corrupted elements and unnecessary formatting.
Close the application, reopen the new XML file in Microsoft Project, and save it back as a standard Project (.mpp) file. Attempt to print or save to PDF again.
Restore an Earlier Version from SharePoint
If the current file is irreparably corrupted and crashes for all users, reverting to an older, stable version is the most effective approach.
Experience Stable PDF Conversion with WPS Office
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Microsoft Project crash only when saving to PDF?
Crashing during PDF export is typically caused by corrupted file elements, excessive project data (file bloat), or incompatible printer drivers struggling to handle the document rendering process.
Can SharePoint synchronization cause Microsoft Project to freeze?
Yes, working directly on a live SharePoint file can cause syncing conflicts during heavy processing tasks. It is strongly recommended to download the file to a local drive before performing operations like printing or exporting to PDF.
How do I fix a bloated Microsoft Project file?
You can reduce file bloat by saving the project as an XML file and then re-saving it as an MPP file. Additionally, clearing unused formatting, deleting empty tasks, and removing unnecessary baselines can help stabilize the document.
Will restoring an older SharePoint version delete my recent work?
Yes, restoring a previous version from SharePoint will overwrite the current file. You will lose any changes made after that restored version's timestamp, so be sure to back up the current corrupted file locally before restoring.
