Unable to open PDF file using Adobe on my iMac with "there's no content" error.

Question

Unable to open PDF file using Adobe on my iMac with "there's no content" error.

I have exported a file as a pdf from a reputable website for a while using Safari. My preferred pdf app is Adobe and the website exports it as anAdobe file.

When I try to open it, there is no content, yet if I open it with Preview or Firefox (using get info "open with"), the content is there !!!

Since I save this file with its changes regularly, it's a hassle to go thru "open with" each time.

Any thoughts as to where the problem is and how to solve it?

Thanks

[Re-Titled By Moderator]

iMac (2017 – 2020)

Posted on Oct 25, 2024 10:16 PM

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Answer 1

AlWeir

Level 5

4,862 points

Oct 27, 2024 6:22 AM in response to mrokloricred37

See if there is a update for Adobe running in Sequoia. Make sure you have v. 24.003.20121 installed.

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Answer 2

VikingOSX

Level 10

123,150 points

Oct 28, 2024 6:53 AM in response to mrokloricred37

I didn't include a link to the AppleScript that produces that dialog. It is complicated AppleScript/Objective-C that might be overwhelming to one new to AppleScript.

If you want all of your PDFs, not just the problematic one, to open in Preview when double-clicked, then do the following:

In Finder, select any arbitrary PDF document and press option+cmd+i to open a Get Info panel mid-screen.
On that panel is an Open With section and an application name. It may be currently set to Adobe Acrobat Reader, so click that selector and choose Preview instead. Then, click the Change All… button and follow through with its prompts.

Those two steps should be sufficient to make Apple's Preview the default opening application for all PDFs.

Apple's Preview has little AppleScript support to the extent it is nearly useless. The AppleScript that produced that previous dialog does not even talk to Preview to manipulate the internal PDF metadata.

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Answer 3

VikingOSX

Level 10

123,150 points

Oct 27, 2024 10:36 AM in response to mrokloricred37

What version of macOS are you running? I know that you posted in Sequoia but in these communities, that is no guarantee of the actual macOS version when not mentioned.

I too have that version of Acrobat Reader on both Ventura 13.7 and Sequoia 15.0.1 and I can open any PDF that was created by a litany of sources including one PDF that was created on the ATT Plan 9 operating system.

I suggest that you reach out to Adobe Support and see if they can explain a PDF opening as blank in the Acrobat Reader. They will likely want a PDF that causes this issue for their internal testing. No one in these user-supported communities can debug Acrobat Reader to determine the cause that you state.

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Answer 4

Oct 28, 2024 10:55 PM in response to mrokloricred37

My final fix is to save it as a .png Preview file

Then, control click it > Quick Action > Create pdf

It opens with Adobe and all content

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Answer 5

Oct 27, 2024 10:14 AM in response to AlWeir

The retitling of this post is a bit deceiving. "There is no content" error, to me means I get such an error. I do not. Adobe simply opens up the file and it is blank. There is no ERROR displayed.

To your point, I have:

And the Adobe app says I am up to date

Thanks

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Answer 6

Oct 27, 2024 10:53 AM in response to VikingOSX

Hi,

Sequoia 15.0.1

The problem with sharing this file is that it has personal information that I would not share.

My thought is that it has something to do with the website as I have been able to export it for a while in Adobe and suddenly it stopped. I can download other pdfs from same website with no problems.

I have been in contact with the website, but no help as yet.

Thanks

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Answer 7

VikingOSX

Level 10

123,150 points

Oct 27, 2024 11:20 AM in response to mrokloricred37

After I posted, I figured it was a PDF with personal information, so no go there. Yes, the website that generates the PDF may have changed their PDF generation code and that may be the culprit. Still, for Preview or a browser to open that PDF and the current Acrobat Reader failing, is most unusual.

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Answer 8

Oct 27, 2024 12:11 PM in response to mrokloricred37

Not sure how to use this as the link not showing an Applescript?

How to use it?

Better yet, how to script, if possible. make this Adobe file open with Preview and save it as a Preview document.

I do have this file as part of an AppleScript, but problems since the Adobe file is empty.

So, since the file name is always the same, possibility of opening the Adobe doc as a preview doc and save it as a Preview doc as an AppleScript? This avoids switching this file to a Preview doc each time as I rather have Adobe as default

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