Anyone having "export-to-PDF" issue with R2024.2?

[HVAC-Novice]

I've been using the export to PDF function since it was introduced in Revit a few years back. Never had a problem. Today I exported to PDF the first time since updating to R2024.2.  It is Arch E with 19 sheets.

The PDF set only had anything on the first two sheets. The last 17 pages were empty and when I scrolled through it in Bluebeam, it closed the file. PDF file was ~ 17MB. I re-created the PDF with " export" multiple times to no avail. Even after re-starting my PC it still produced the same garbage. 

I then broke down and did the regular "print tp PDF" and used Bluebeam as PDF printer. File is now 76MB and I can see all 19 sheets fine in Bluebeam. I guess that is a workaround for now. I noticed the pages aren't named by sheet-number and name anymore (like it is when " exporting" )

Did anyone else with the latest update R2024.2) experience something like that when EXPORTING to PDF? 

Preferably experiences with relatively large sheet sets.  

[barthbradley]

Yep, same here. Just tested. 

You know, I think 2024 is going to be remembered as the red-headed stepchild in the Autodesk family. Kind of like 2021, but redder.  

Half kidding. 

😉  

[barthbradley]

Follow-up: second attempt burped up all 55 sheets.  FWIW.  

[HVAC-Novice]

Oh .... Just when I got more conservative and decided to not upgrade to a new version before the end of the year, Autodesk decides to break the software before end of the year.

I probably have to be even more conservative and push an upgrade out an entire year till the new version is released. So, upgrade to R2025 in April 2025? And this assuming they fix R2024 and R2025 gets all its issues fixed by 2025. 

Maybe the reason they call the version they publish in 2023 is R2024 because they know they can't make it work properly before 2024 (hopefully). Like an R2024 beta and in January 2024 they publish the actual R2024 version to be released to the public? 

BTW, where do officially we report bugs? I found some threads that linked to Autodesk sites, but those all were not functioning. Is there an actually working bug-report page? 

[imankassab2015]

Hey mate i tried it in the same update nothing wrong with... file - export - pdf export in 2024.2 last update

I tried it very well using selected views /sheets to combine them in a single pdf 3 sheets went well as experimental to your Qoute.

Accept my answer if it is helpful 

[catherineliu]

@HVAC-Novice  @barthbradley  Thank you for bringing this issue to our attention. Regrettably, we have been unable to reproduce the problem using our in-house datasets. If it's possible and convenient for you, could you please share the Revit journal with us at the time the PDF export issue occurs? This would greatly assist us in troubleshooting and resolving the issue. Thank you for your cooperation.

[HVAC-Novice]

Thanks for looking into this. I tried again and it didn't create anew journal file. See screenhsot only showing the older journal files. am i doing that wrong? 

Here is what the sheets look in bluebeam. Only the first 2 sheets show something. I attached the PDF (16MB). Bluebeam closes when I try to open a sheet beyond the 2nd. 

The 3rd sheet is where it gets hung up. that one has a high-resolution PDF (a google satellite picture) linked in. i bet that is what it doesn't like. If you have a way to upload my model (100MB) I can upload it for analysis.

I won't have that map in actual construction documents (that is just for zoning approval). but nevertheless, it should work and does work when I " print"  from Revit with Bluebeam. 

[catherineliu · Accepted solution]

Thanks for quick response. I was able to open the PDF you shared without any problem, in Adobe Acrobat Reader.

It might be a problem with Bluebeam reader when trying to load images in the pdf.

I believe the reason for the variation in file size when using the "Print to PDF" function is likely due to the utilization of different PDF driver and resolutions.

[HVAC-Novice]

Oh, egg on face. Sounds like it isn't a Revit issue then. 

I tried Adobe now, and it also works. I guess then forget the entire thread for now. thanks for checking. I should have tried that first, I just never use Adobe. 

I'll have to contact Bluebeam then. Did you by any chance try to open it n Bluebeam as well? 

[barthbradley]

---

@catherineliu wrote:

@HVAC-Novice  @barthbradley  Thank you for bringing this issue to our attention. Regrettably, we have been unable to reproduce the problem using our in-house datasets. If it's possible and convenient for you, could you please share the Revit journal with us at the time the PDF export issue occurs? This would greatly assist us in troubleshooting and resolving the issue. Thank you for your cooperation.

---

For the record @catherineliu, I didn't bring this issue. I tested it. First attempt yielded results similar to what @HVAC-Novice described. Second attempt was successful. See message #3.  I stand by my "red-headed stepchild" quip, though.  2024 is constantly crashing, which should be evidenced by the numerous "Error Reports" that have been submitted to Autodesk - at least my assumption is that those Error Reports go to Autodesk. I just agree at the prompt that asks if I want to submit the report to Autodesk.   I'm not really sure where they go or how they are acted on. This is the first version of Revit that I have started submitting those crash reports.  In the past, I have always declined because crashes were so rare. In 2024, they happen so often that I'm wondering if they are one of the "New Product Features".  Only half kidding. 😉  

Barth,

Loyal Autodesk Customer for 30 years.  

[HVAC-Novice]

Just an update to this. The original PDF causing this issue was able to be opened in Adobe, and in varying browsers. Bluebeam was the only PDF software not being able to open it. I contacted BB support. they experienced the same issue with my file. They had me make some changes to the rendering settings in BB and update Visual C++, to no avail. BB support stated they were able to open the PDF after applying those changes. So, I'm not sure why it didn't work for me. 

What worked is to convert the PDF with Bluebeam to a PDF (using the staple function in explorer). That would create a PDF Bluebeam can open. Basically printing the PDF to PDF. This obviously is a bit a workaround and if I share the PDF with someone, it needs tot nave widest-possible compatibility since I have no control how people view a PDF. 

I made some changes to my Revit project. Instead of linking a high-dpi PDF, I use a lower resolution jpg. So far, that seems to allow exported PDF of small file size Bluebeam can read right away. 

I hope with a more space-efficient way of using pictures, I can avoid this problem. I don't think this is a Revit issue after all. Bluebeam support don't think it is their problem either since stapling the PDF makes it work... I still think there is a compatibility issue on BB side, though. 

Maybe this helps someone. 

[luisPDAN6]

We are continuously exporting PDFs (single and combined) with the Docuflow tool for Revit and never had problems opening it with Bluebeam. Here goes the link to the Docuflow page where you can get the trial free of charge to test on your end.

[JaimalP]

Usually I just print to pdf, but a coworker has been pushing the export to pdf function.  This week I used it for about eight different files.  I can open them on my machine, but none of them can be opened by the users I've sent them to.  I tried the export to pdf button about a year ago and had a host of different problems then, as well.  I'll just stick with the clunky, tried and true, print to pdf - If you don't want to take eight steps to print, then it's probably not worth printing . . . .