Can't save PDF "may not have permissions or file is in use"

There are a number of different problems floating around here but I have experienced the problem reported by the original poster ever since I began using InDesign on the Mac back in 2005. I continue to experience the problem to this day on OS X Mavericks and InDesign CC.

A review: if you have a PDF file selected in the Finder with a preview visible (whether in column view, QuickView, or any other kind), InDesign behaves as though the file is open and will not allow you to overwrite it.

I utilize two solutions to this problem depending on the circumstance:

1. The first solution involves a change of workflow. If I send a PDF to a client and they request a change, I return to InDesign, make the change, and export a new PDF with a new file name to reflect the change. (i.e. Original_File_v1.pdf, Original_File_v2.pdf) This not only circumvents the permissions error but it also helps my client and me to keep track of revisions, which can be especially useful when they change their mind or when the CEO wants to know why it took so long to produce a "simple" 3 fold booklet.
2. The second solution is a two second solution (see what I did there?). If I create a PDF and I discover an error before sending the file to a client, I switch to the finder, deselect the wayward PDF file, return to InDesign and overwrite the file. Not to be glib, but this is a relatively simple solution to a problem that appears to be far from a priority for either Apple or Adobe.

Cheers and happy PDFing.

Currently using InDesign CC and Mac OSX 10.9.1 (Mavericks) and server running Windows 2012, but been having issue like this for YEARS. If I launch InDesign, log in to the server and work on a file over the network, it works fine for a while. After I work on one or two InDesign files, it says I can't save the file I opened and editted because I don't have permissions. I quit InDesign, log off the server, launch InDesign, log on to the server, and can work on file, no problem. I can continue working on 2 or 3 files without problems. About the 3rd file, I usually get the permissions error. This is only working across the network. If it tells me I don't have permissions to save the file on the server, I save it to my hard drive, reopen it from my hard drive, and then save it back to the server again. Not ideal, but it's a workaround.

I have also found that I can copy or delete or rename a few files or folders from the server, but about the time I get to the third or fourth item, I get the permissions error again. (This is working directly within the OS...not from within InDesign.)

Had my IS team up my permissions to the highest level, and still having the problem...with all files but mostly InDesign files, pdf files, and folders.

I thought maybe InDesign was caching the file so you could open it from an "open recent files" menu or something, but I changed my preferences so file handling would show zero recent items, and that didn't fix it. When the IS Dept looks at the file, I have read and write permissions, but it won't let me make changes. IS can make changes. Once I log off and on, I can make changes fine.

Thought the preview might be causing this (when viewing files in columns mode, etc), but I've tried changing to icon or list view, and still get the same permissions error. Once it gives me the error, my only option is to restart InDesign and log off and back on to the server. As I said...been dealing with something like this for years, and I think it's much more than just a PDF issue.

Here we are at March 2015 and I STILL have the same issue (for many many months now). I simply quit mail program and can make PDFs again (for a while)...

Works every time but really annoying to quit mail and relaunch. (running 10.8.5)

Hello everyone. I realize it's been a long time since the original post.

I myself just had this issue arise this week. What I found was that my virus software was the culprit. I turned off the scanning and the problem was resolved. Not sure this would solve other's issues, but it completely eliminated the problem for me. I was running AVG for mac. Working on Mountain Lion and CS5. Hope that helps some of you!

Thanks a lot, this really helped. I just got a new Macbook Air with Indesign CC 2014 and OS X 10.10.3 and had the same problems kind of.

When opening Indesign files I get an error that says I do not have the right permissions or file in use which is not the case. When double clicking the file again it opens... So I have to open the files two times to see them. Very annoying. And I can not save files directly to the Mac server, only to hard drive and then copy paste to server. Also very very annoying since I work with loads of files every day.

But when turning of the Antivirus software installed by IT dept (System Center endpoint protection 2012 for Mac) it works! Will talk to IT service desk and see if they can fix this...

That's it! You nailed it. Mail is causing the problem. This has been happening to me for years and I hoped El Capitan would salve the problem, but it hasn't. It's Mail's fault. I just quit Mail and now I can save over PDFs with the same name (for the time being). At least I have a work around solution now. Thanks for your insight.

OK - I know it's been years since the original post. I am at my wits' end. I used InDesign for a few years without this issue. Then I didn't use it for a while. Once I started using it again, I looked for any relevant updates, tried to update, but was given some sort of error (can't remember exactly what) so I assumed that CS6 is too old to update and figured I'd just move along without the update. But now I'm at the point where I simply cannot export to pdf. I've tried every recommendation in this thread. I don't use anti-virus software, I never use Mail, I've changed all my permissions, I've made sure that the file isn't highlighted in Finder. Nothing works. I'm stuck and panicking because I'm down to the wire on a project. Does anyone have any other ideas?

Hi Anizmail. If its the problem described by the OP then just delete the original PDF file and then export to a new file. Its annoying but easily worked around. I had the problem for years and it recently just fixed itself, no idea why, I guess an OSX update.

It looks like there are other posters in this thread that describe different problems which sound similar but are likely unrelated. If your problem is not the same as the OP and you literally can't export to even a fresh PDF then I would start a new thread describing your exact setup and problems.

Is someone still having this very annoying problem?

I did, until today.

The problem was with Apple Mail and it's attachment viewing.

You have to change the attachment viewing as icons.

Go to Terminal and write:

defaults write com.apple.mail DisableInlineAttachmentViewing 1

Hit enter. That's it.

Worked for me and this has been a problem for me for a year when i started using mac.

Hopefully helps others too.

It's definitely Mac Mail related. It's been annoying me for as long as I can remember now!! Constantly quitting and restarting Mail is just a part of life it seems 😕

Oh and also check to see if the file is still open in Activity Monitor. Some times they can hang in the background.