2019: cannot print multi-page pdf using Acrobat

[Allen_Hart]

Using Revit 2019 and Adobe Acrobat DC on Windows 10, I cannot print multiple sheets to a single pdf file.  When I press OK, Acrobat's progress dialog pops up like normal and shows a few progress bars.  Then it stops, does nothing more, never finishes, never creates a file.  Neither Revit nor Acrobat is frozen and I can close the dialog and move on.  

I can print individual sheets to separate files just fine.  Also, Acrobat works fine with AutoCAD and Inventor.  What is the trick to make it work with Revit?

Allen

[Anonymous]

Is the project on Revit Server by chance?  I've had the same issue.. I would detach from central just to print.

If it is a central file on a local server, try detaching and see if that helps.  

[Allen_Hart]

Nope, not on a server, just on my local HD.

Allen

[Viveka_CD]

Hi @Allen_Hart

Sorry to hear that you re having issues!

As the first step, Have you updated you Revit version to 2019.0.1?

Please check your desktop app for updates.

Next, please check your graphics card for a driver update from the manufacturer's website.

A few questions to better understand your issue:

Does this occur with a particular model/ user/ machine?

Can you post the setting from your Adobe PDF printer?

Regards,

[Allen_Hart]

Hi, thanks for helping. 

All software is up to date.  Graphics card is FirePro W5100, driver ver.23.20.15018.16.

Issue occurs only with multi-page print, works fine with single-page print.

(Another pc I use has Windows 7 and Bluebeam and it works fine.)

Not sure what Adobe printer settings you are asking for; is it Revit's print dialogs? 

This one shows where it sits and does no more.  I can hide it or 'X' it and keep working.

[David_Knight]

I've had this happen before.

When it does - i usually just hide it, and print again.  A second dialog comes up and it usually prints then.

However as a work around - you can easily take all your individual pdf's and combine them by selecting them all and right clicking and picking "Combine files in Acrobat".

[Allen_Hart]

I get nothing when I keep trying.  Was hoping I missed a setting or something.  But as you say, the work around will get the job done, it just takes a little longer.

Thanks,

Allen

[Anonymous]

I always print my sheets individually...

First off, if there is an error I can reprint one instead of all.  Second I can arrange my sheets in the proper order when combining. (I don't have Xrev Transmit to do it for me.).  Third they bookmark properly when combined instead of funky file names.

[Allen_Hart]

True, good points. 

I use Revit to do shop drawings of panel wall systems, so my sheet names and numbers are pretty basic and don't need a lot of fiddling when PDF'd.  Being able to batch plot is pretty nice most of the time.  This is the first time I've not been able to do it.  Always worked in the past.  I'll just work around it for now.  Maybe a fix will appear some day.

Thanks

Allen

[Viveka_CD · Accepted solution]

Hi @Allen_Hart

Thanks for sharing the screenshots, can you try cleaning your temp folder and try printing again. This could be a memory issue. Try a repair of Revit, then Restart your computer and it clears its memory and memory cache.   

Also, can you confirm if you updated to the latest printer driver from the Adobe website?

If all fails, please send me a journal file.

Regards,

[Viveka_CD]

Hi @Allen_Hart

I was looking up similar case files and found something similar.

A few things you can try to resolve:

1.Is your active view a schedule view when you try multi-page PDF printing in Adobe? If so. can you not set it to schedule view? We would like to see if this fix will resolve the issue.

2. Look at your task manager and if you see acrotry.exe please disable it. See HERE for more information.

Also, a couple of questions to confirm:

• Is Acrobat or PDF Reader open when printing?
• Is the issue specific to models with a link?

Looking forward to your reply update.

Regards,

[Allen_Hart · Accepted solution]

SUCCESS!  I cleaned out all the TEMP folders and tried printing again.  Worked like a charm. Go figure.

Had to clean them all manually; Disk Cleanup wouldn't get it all.  Mystery solved.

Thanks a bunch,

Allen

[Viveka_CD]

Awesome! That’s good to know!

[robertpolkarchitect]

I am having issues with multi page printing with Revit version

19.1.0.112
20180806_1515(x64)
2019.1

Adobe Acrobat Pro DC  - Continuous Release : Version 2019.008.20080

It will not allow multiple page printing. Individual okay.

Cleared temp files, stopped acrotry.exe

If run on multi-page, printer window indicates starts, but locks after the first page printed and does not save printed first page.

https://vimeo.com/user35706600/review/299506921/fdfd8e29ea

[robk]

My similar issue maybe, where I think I'm printing and 45 minutes later I discover nothing has occurred whatsoever?  😕  I no longer stress over printing with this tip given to me by Bruno at Microdesk. 

My setup is Revit to PDF and adobe as the print driver. 

Hit Ctrl+P / print, go to Properties, UNCHECK 'Rely on system fonts only; do not use document fonts'

Cheers M8's

Rob

[robertpolkarchitect]

Thanks for the suggestion, however, I have found you must select a sheet border to be plotted (any sheet in the multi selection, or single sheet plot) - it should be in BOLD in the project browser after selection, which will bypass this limitation with the Adobe PDF plotter.

[Anonymous]

None of these fixes are working so far.  It's happening on three computers in the office, so I'm assuming it's a setting that's off.  

All machines are Windows 10 Pro.

Adobe Acrobat Standard 11 

Revit 19.2.0.65

When printing, I'm selecting - 

- Adobe PDF 

- Combine multiple selected views / sheets into a single file 

- Saving the PDF to a directory on the PC (not a network drive)

- unselected Rely on system fonts only; do not use document fonts 

When printing, Revit will do it's processing and then the Creating Adobe PDF window will appear, and stall out. 

System resources are nowhere near tapped out, so it's not a memory issue.  

I reinstalled Acrobat Reader.   

Cleared the temp folders.

Disabled the Acrobat Tray on startup. 

I can print single PDF files just fine.  

Thanks,

Chris 

[robertpolkarchitect]

I do not use a server solution, but I have found this easy workaround on a local machine:

1.) MOST IMPORTANT - Open an actual plot sheet on your screen, select the border, with border selected, go to File>Print.  Select any of the three options, This view, the visible portion, or multiple sheets. Set up your printer and print. As long as you START with selecting a Titleblock/border on the screen (and leave it selected before going to plot), multiple sheet plotting works fine, otherwise, it's a total lockup no matter what you set Adobe to or Revit.

[David_Knight]

still happens for me as well.

I created a new pdf "printer" that would not prompt me to name the file, open it when completed, or have any interaction with me at all.  It has solved my problem completely.

Here is how you do it - kinda long - best explained with images.  Of all the images - the changes in red on the last picture are the most important.

If you have questions, i'll do my best to answer 🙂

[robk · Accepted solution]

Hey Chris,

Another Revit workaround to print multiple sheets:  CTRL+P, hit Preview with Current window selected, do the preview, hit Print, once back at the print dialog window, check Selected views/sheets and also check/re-check Combine multiple selected views/sheets into a single file, choose file name and directory, and hit OK. 

This workaround contributed by a fellow Revit user somewhere amidst this forum I believe. I have had 100% success rate.

Cheers,

Rob