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Publisher Cannot Save File as PDF

Anonymous
2016-02-10T17:22:18+00:00

In recent weeks my Publisher has decided it can no longer save documents as a PDF. I have done this for years (file>Save As> Change file to to PDF), but now it's not working. I have already gone through the process to 'repair' my Windows 365 program and that has not helped.  I have tried to use the "Export>Create PDF/XPS " feature and that returns the same error message "Publisher cannot save the file." I have checked and there are no disabled add-on's for Publisher. I have checked & installed updates specifically from within Publisher and that has not helped either... Is there a fix for this issue?

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  1. Anonymous
    2016-02-11T18:29:40+00:00

    I have had the issue with large publisher docs, and single page publisher docs.

    After trial and error I was able to fix this issue... If you are trying to save a publisher doc as a PDF you must have a 'default printer' selected on your computer - even though you are NOT printing the document. Once I selected a default printer from my control panel I was able to save my publisher doc as a PDF without any issue.

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  1. Anonymous
    2017-04-23T00:36:54+00:00

    I have never had that problem and I save very large files as pdf.  I just "save as" and go down to pdf and save. I am running 365 and Publisher 2016. I don't use the export even when I sent the pdf to the printer.  Usually the files are about 29 mgs in .pub so they are pretty large. 

    I love Publisher....My favorite program. 

    I am a novice and new to Office 365 Personal.  Yesterday I had Microsoft help on line for more than 3 hours and they could not solve a publisher file as pdf. 

    This morning I've saved a publisher file as pdf.  Is this too simple to be true? 

    The secret is to not save as pdf but to print as "microsoft to pdf".

    I will try to document the procedure I used; it involves a few logical simple steps --even I can do it.

    Here is the procedure I used:

    Open pub. file > in top left hand corner click on "file" > left hand menu click on "print" > click on little window "printer"  >  in new little window that appears click on down arrow > click on "microsoft print to pdf" > go to top left hand corner of screen and click on "print" > a new little square window appears > go down to little window at the bottom and enter file name >go to top window and enter location where you want to save pdf > click on "save". 

    The document does not print to screen (as it used to do in Vista).  To open the pdf go to the location where you saved it, find the file and open it.

    I would be grateful to hear from anyone who finds this helpful--I am a novice and new to Office 365 and Microsoft Community, so if you wish to comment please send me a messasge to ******@iinet.net.au.

    And of course pleasle correct any errors in the above

    Graeme

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  2. Anonymous
    2017-06-15T15:25:35+00:00

    Thank you for the work around!  Found that not only does default printer need to be selected by the printer also has to be ON.  Weird!

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  3. Anonymous
    2017-02-25T14:47:42+00:00

    I have never had that problem and I save very large files as pdf.  I just "save as" and go down to pdf and save. I am running 365 and Publisher 2016. I don't use the export even when I sent the pdf to the printer.  Usually the files are about 29 mgs in .pub so they are pretty large. 

    I love Publisher....My favorite program.

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  4. Anonymous
    2016-02-11T09:16:59+00:00

    Hello,

    Welcome to Microsoft Community.

    1. What is the size of the Publication you are trying to Save As in PDF format?
    2. Do you have images/videos etc. embedded in the Publication? If yes, are the images big in size?

    Try the following step to resolve the issue:

    Try compressing your Pictures/Images in the Publication before trying to save them as PDF.

    You may refer the following Microsoft Article and check if it helps to fix your issue:

    https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/2767883

    Additionally you may also refer to the following Microsoft Communities thread and check if it helps:

    http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/office/forum/office\_2010-office\_other/publisher-2010-error-when-try-to-save-a-file-as/e2df6b52-0359-447d-8b5d-7d4545052ea3

    Hope the above information helps.

    Thank you.

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