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Adobe InDesign: Bugs

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  1. Version of Adobe InDesign, InCopy or InDesign Server
  2. Steps to reproduce the issues
  3. Expected result
  4. Actual result
  5. Test file, screenshot, video or GIF capturing the issue (optional)
If you are facing a crash in InDesign, please submit the crash report as well. How to Submit Crash Report
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554 results found

  1. Datamerge

    Version: Indesign CC 2017.1. Same behaviour in both Windows 7 and El Capitan 10.11.6.

    Steps to reproduce: Create a layout file and a tab delimited text file like the ones seen on the info images.

    Expected result: A pdf with the same data as the text file and preview.

    Actual result: A pdf with its first record correct, but the following two incorrect. See description image.

    Solutions/workarounds

    1. Decrease the column names number of characters and/or make sure no placeholder has overset text (used solution).

    2. Create a merged document. The values seem to work as expected then (this solution was not…

    2 votes

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    1 comment  ·  PDF Export  ·  Admin →
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  2. AGLFN: ZWJ, ZWNJ, ZWS in PDF

    Indesign is not written ZWJ (U+200D), ZWNJ (U+200C), ZWS (U+200B) with its glyph name uni200D, uni200C, uni200B respectively.

    This is not helping in copying the text with ZWJ (U+200D), ZWNJ (U+200C), ZWS (U+200B) from PDF.

    These non-printing characters are copied has "space" instead.

    These non-printing characters in Indic scripts are part of text. With and without these characters, text can changes its meaning.

    Please support these characters with AGLFN glyph names in fonts in Indesign, PDF export feature.

    More info

    https://github.com/adobe-type-tools/agl-aglfn/issues/1#issuecomment-323822117

    2 votes

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    3 comments  ·  PDF Export  ·  Admin →
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  3. Profiles equal to the Output-Intend get lost on PDF-Export

    When exporting a PDF all profiles equal to the Output-Intend (which in my case is the Document-Colorspace PSO Coated V3) get lost when exporting.

    I have created a small test-file with an PSO Coated V3 Image and an ISO Coated V2 Image.

    When Exporting as PDF X4 with Output-Intend Set to PSO Coated V3 the Image that IS PSO Coated V3 looses its profile and the same for the ISO Coated V2 when the Output-Intend is set to that.

    This is horrible for Colormanagement. I've been in contact with "Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG" and they suggested to report this to Adobe…

    2 votes

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  4. Missing color in PDF from InDesign

    I have an InDesign file with a placed PSD file in it, which contains two spot colors. When I save the file as a PDF out of InDesign, only one of the two spot channels is visible.

    I'm running the latest versions of InDesign, Photoshop, and Acrobat. To reproduce, open the attached InDesign file and save as a PDF. The resulting PDF should show a yellow and blue spot, but only the blue is visible. (The PDF generated during packaging also exhibits the problem.)

    2 votes

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    4 comments  ·  PDF Export  ·  Admin →
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  5. Page Information is repositioned and cutoff when document is below a certain Document width

    If a document has a width smaller than a certain size, the Page Information on exported PDFs becomes re-positioned lower and outside the left and right bounds so becomes cut off, as opposed to being within the crop mark area, no matter how long the file name is.

    1 vote

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  6. PDF fails, no alert in Background Tasks

    Indesign 21.2
    Exporting a 30 page complex file, the sort which occasionally give us problems. The export ends with no crash, and no alert in Background Tasks, but a zero K PDF file.
    In previous versions Indesign would crash. Which was only better in that you knew immediately there was a problem.
    The complexity in our file is that it is a summary with many other indesign files placed into it.
    Our workaround (exporting single pages then compiling) usually works if it is done in 2 or 3 chunks.

    1 vote

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  7. Indesign with overprint exporting as blank PDF

    I've got a bunch of InDesign files from different artists that all have overprinted objects. I then place all of these into a master InDesign file and arrange them. However when exporting the PDF is blank.

    If I place PDF's instead of InDesign files though, the final PDF will export fine. Any one know why this is?

    1 vote

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  8. Poor error messaging when PDF fails t oexport

    Hi. I frequently export massive PDFs for event walls, things like that. Indesign crashes all the time doing this, and the error messages I get are the opposite of verbose. They just crash and say try again, no indication of the object or page causing the crash, let alone actual solution advice. This drives me absolutely nuts, it basically reads as indesign not being able to do what I have used it for for years for no reason. I can't be alone in this, the lack of any detail in these crash messages is awful for my productivity.

    1 vote

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  9. pdf error

    trying to pdf a document and generates this error, have removed the images one by one and it still throws the same error

    1 vote

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  10. PDF Not updating on export

    Adobe InDesign 21.2
    I've been noticing when I export a pdf and override my last version that the changes do not update the new pdf version. I have to change the file name completely. I even deleted the file, re-exported, with the same name and it pulls the old PDF up!
    I've used this process for awhile and it's suddenly not working.

    1 vote

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    2 comments  ·  PDF Export  ·  Admin →
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  11. Tint on frame export to *.pdf issue

    InDesign 26.1 x64; Windows 11 25H2;
    1. Create new document with two pages, add 20% of black on each text frame.
    2. Export to pdf file (Standard PDF/X-3:202)
    expected pdf file - two pages with 20% tint
    actual: to white pages

    1 vote

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  12. rendering not as per illustrator

    1. Version of Adobe InDesign, InCopy or InDesign Server
      Adobe InDesign 21.1

    2. Steps to reproduce the issues
      When placing an artwork (from Illustrator via AI file) into InDesign, artwork appears to be distorted and different from the actual artwork. All settings are in place, same as before, InDesign is the latest version. Yet regardless what I do, the artwork is either

    3. Distorted

    4. Include multiple layers of the old, WIP and new, all in 1 view

    5. When exported, the render does not resolve itself, resulting in an incorrect artwork in the PDF

    6. Expected result
      Artwork placed is rendered as per the artwork.

    1 vote

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  13. Data merge icc

    InDesign 21.0.2
    During a data merge I exported to PDF and chose single pages. Associated PDF ICC profile is a v4, so I received this dialog 100 times -- 1 for each individual page. Probably not necessary.

    1 vote

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  14. When exporting to pdf documents are appearing glitched - 2026 update

    Recently updated Indesign to the 2026 version and so has the rest of the team in my company. We import a lot of InDesign files into our other InDesign documents so when the original file gets updated, we are able to easily relink the document . We have had to go through and convert all the InDesign files to the 2026 version but this is where it gets tricky. If I have converted or updated an original file and re-link it to my document, I have no issues when converting my document to a pdf. All images appear clear etc.…

    1 vote

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  15. Apple Dual monitor export pdf bug

    A software bug InDesign (21.0.2) Apple Sequoia (15.7.2) working whit DUAL monitor exporting .indd file from application frame tap to pdf all is OK but artwork is from other .indd file whits is floating in other monitor.

    1 vote

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  16. Indesign Layers in Illustrator

    I have a InDesign files that i export in PDF files, when i open this PDF files in Adobe Acrobat i have all my layers available
    But when i open it in Illustrator, i lost all my layers
    it's very important for me to work with InDesign and Illustrator and keep layers between those 2 software

    1 vote

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  17. Anchored elements missing in PDF when anchor is on a different page and in a table

    1. InDesign 21.0.1
    2. Create a table and set an anchor. The anchored object is a text box. Place the text box and the table on different pages. Export the document as a PDF.
    3. The anchored text box appears in the PDF.
    4. The anchored text box will not appear in the PDF. (It will appear only when both are on the same page or the anchor is in a textbox.)
    1 vote

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  18. When viewing an exported PDF images do not appear correctly

    I'm using InDesign 2026 version 21.0. These bugs are new after the latest update. We create primary 36+ page booklets with lots of text and linked files: Illustrator files (linked as .AI), JPG/PNG images, and PDFs. When creating a PDF using Adobe PDF preset for smallest file size some pages do not appear correctly. One example is a linked InDesign file with text and graphics where some of the text is missing (text missing bug.PDF). Another example images that appear fine in InDesign and in print but render incorrectly on the PDF, this is also a linked InDesign file (images…

    1 vote

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  19. pdf exports to new indd file

    When exporting (interactif or print) to pdf and selecting the option "view pdf after exporting", a new Indd file is created with an editable pdf in it. We can delete the file, but not the pdf (because in use by INDD??) On win 10 and in indesign 2026

    1 vote

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  20. Export to pdf

    When the export starts, it reports an error. It is necessary to close and reopen the program, then the export works.

    1 vote

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