Visual Basic for Application - Run-time error '53'

Question

Hi. I just bought a new Mac to help me with my PhD studies. Yesterday, I transferred all my files etc from my MacBook Pro to my new Mac. I went onto my university website and downloaded Microsoft, with all the apps (Word, Excel etc) on my new Mac. I did the same to other applications that I use, like Canva, Adobe etc.

But, every time I try to open a Microsoft document, it greets me with the following:

Visual Basic for Applications

Run-time error '53':

File not found: /Library/Application Support/Adobe/MACPDFM/MacPDFM.framework/Versions/A/MacPDFM

II thought hmm how strange? So I uninstalled the Microsoft documents, then redownloaded. Same thing happened with the code. So I uninstalled and then downloaded directly from the App store. Same thing again. So I uninstalled it, and redownloaded oncemore from my university. SAME CODE.

I uninstalled and reinsalled Adobe as well. I have spoken to my university, and IT and Apple, no luck.

When I follow the code, it opens on the terminal. and says the following:

Last login: Tue May 28 16:28:43 on ttys000

taylamounter@iMac ~ % /Library/Application\ Support/Adobe/MACPDFM/MacPDFM.framework/Versions/A/MacPDFM ; exit;

zsh: exec format error: /Library/Application Support/Adobe/MACPDFM/MacPDFM.framework/Versions/A/MacPDFM

Saving session...

...saving history...truncating history files...

...completed.

Deleting expired sessions...none found.

[Process completed]

I AM SO STUCK!! I really need access to Microsoft on the new Mac, I have deadlines approaching but I am not getting anywhere. For clarification, it is ALL the microsoft apps that this message pops up with!

Please help?!

Answer 1

This is not a Word issue, so re-installing Word won't fix it. Instead, please try these steps:

1. Close Word.
2. While pressing the Option key, click on Go in the macOS menu bar and choose Library. Your hidden user library folder opens.
3. Open ~/Library/Group Containers/UBF8T346G9.Office/User Content/Startup/Word.
4. Move the linkCreation.dotm file to the trash.
5. You'll get similar messages in Excel and PowerPoint, so while you have the Startup folder open, check the Excel and PowerPoint folders and delete the SaveAsAdobePDF files in those folders.
6. Restart Word to test.

Answer 2

The other location you can check is ~/Library/Group Containers/UBF8T346G9.Office/User Content/Add-ins.

Answer 3

I checked - this folder location is also empty.

Answer 4

Sorry, I'm not aware of any alternate locations where Adobe may now be placing an add-in in macOS. This isn't a Word problem, it's caused by Acrobat, so you might try asking at the Adobe Community pages or Adobe Support.

Answer 5

Yes, thanks. In the meantime, if anyone finds a solution, please post!