Job Processor not creating PDF

[mrB_Young]

I've been setting up a new job processor at my work but for some reason PDFs aren't being generated.

When  design files are changed to Released state, the job processor synchronizes properties, updates the visualization file and I've configured it to generate PDF, DXF and STP files.
Revision numbers are synced between the Inventor files and design representation files.



Problem is though, as long as DXF is on/selected PDFs are not generated.
And there are no errors on the Job Serve Queue. I follow what happens on the queue and PDF never shows up. I see the jobs for sync., rev. table sync, STP creation, DXF creation etc etc. But PDF never shows up.
There are no errors in the job server queue.

If I turn off DXF then the PDF gets generated.
Same as above, I follow what happens on the job server queue, I see all the same things, except that PDF is now created instead of DXF.
And still no errors in the job server queue.

BUT ... to make things interesting ..... with DWF, DXF, PDF & STP enabled - if I force an error (which shows in the job queue) by changing the revision scheme for the design representation files from numerical to alphabetical (design files use numerical) then a PDF is generated but there are errors in the job queue.
Doing this still allows for creation of design representation files, it's just that the job processor can't sync the revisions.
This is the error message:
An error occurred while attempting to synchronize revisions between the source and the DXF file: Invalid Revision Definition change.

It's like it generates the DXF first, then thinks "I've finished processing this .idw. Next!"  And skips the PDF because it's already made a design representation of that file.
But if there's an error, it'll try the next thing in line which is to try create a PDF.

I've also noted by following what happens on the job server queue, then DXF generation always comes before PDF.

Am I missing something here, or is this bizarre behaviour?
How do I rectify this and get the PDFs to generate?

[mrB_Young]

Just wanted to ad that I can create PDFs manually without error.
It really seems that PDF creation isn't getting triggered after the DXF has executed.

[Gabriel_Watson]

Have you created a "Design Representation" Category for PDF files? See the below article and attached document.
https://www.autodesk.com/support/technical/article/caas/sfdcarticles/sfdcarticles/Vault-PDF-Creation...

Have you tried an "iisreset" at the server cmd?

It would be nice if you could attach the Vault publishing settings for these exports here, so people could analyze them (I'm sure Autodesk support would ask for the same or check those during a call).
It is also interesting to know what Vault version you are running on server and Job Processor, what folder you are saving these exports to (network or Vault).

[mrB_Young]

Yes I have a design rep. category for design rep. files.

I've used the information in the link you posted, or rather here:

https://help.autodesk.com/view/VAULT/2024/ENU/?guid=GUID-F05BFEAF-A362-4070-BBA6-F3A74602967E 

And I've already seen the information you attached as well.  I've followed all the instructions.

Vault server using latest version of Vault Pro. 2024
Vault client using latest version of Vault Pro. 2024
Files are being saved back to the Vault, same directory as source files.   I haven't tried saving locally, I can give that go as part of trouble shooting.

But is there a reason why PDF creation won't trigger when DXF creation is on?  Is there some setting for this behaviour? I don't remember seeing it anywhere.
As soon as I uncheck the DXF creation box, the PDFs are created. Check DXF back on and PDFs are skipped.
And all design rep. files that are created are all created correctly - the correct category, the correct rev. sync etc.

I've restarted both the Vault sever and Job Processor. Still the same.

Anyways, I'll try saving locally and I'll post again later with some screendumps of the settings that are in use.

[Gabriel_Watson]

Did you install the latest Vault Enterprise Add-on (VAO) and purchase a license for it?
https://www.autodesk.com/support/technical/article/caas/sfdcarticles/sfdcarticles/Can-DXF-files-be-a...
https://help.autodesk.com/view/VAULT/2024/ENU/?guid=GUID-00601127-E984-4CC8-8E8C-31421F643382

I could not find anything else on this same problem, so then we may need some help from Autodesk support on this one.

[mrB_Young]

These are the categories defined in the Vault:

All Inventor files are categorised as Engineering.
All design reps. are categorised as Manufacturing.

The two lifecycles, one for Inventor design files and one for design reps.

Both Engineering and design reps. use the same revision scheme

Manufacturing single rule of Classification is Design Rep.

Design rep. lifecycle with three states. Released is set to be the released state.
Old revision is set to be the Obsolete state

Admin-JP is the account that the Job Processor uses - full rights and not denied by Everyone.

Same for the Inventor Design files - full rights for the Job Processor and not denied by Everyone

Transition from WIP to Released.

Job types on the Job Processor


Did I miss anything?

No, we do not have Vault Enterprise Add-on (VAO).

[mrB_Young]

As mentioned before, whenever a design rep. is created by the Job Processor, it is created correctly - as specified by the above rules/settings etc ...
The category is set correctly, the revision is set correctly, the state is set correctly.
The design reps. are uploaded to the same Vault folder as the source files as per configuration.
There are no errors generated in the JP queue.
It's all correct.

When the WIP -> Released state change occurs and triggers the creation of design reps. the PDF creation is "skipped".
Immediately after the Job Processor is done processing files from the state change, and without changing any settings, I can perform a manual create PDF from within Vault on the very same files, which sends the job to the very same Job Processor (we have only 1) and PDFs are created as per the above rules/settings.
Again, category, revision, state - all correct.

And if I uncheck/disable DXF for the WIP -> Released transition then the PDFs is created. (but not DXF, obviously)
And everything about the PDFs created from the state transition are correct - category, revision, state.

[mrB_Young]

I've now tried exporting to a local folder.  Still the same thing happening - PDFs are skipped when DXF is checked/enabled.

[mrB_Young]

Getting a bit frustrated now ....

Today the Job Processor has decided that it won't create PDFs even by doing it manually.
No settings have been changed since it was last working.

From the job server queue:
Status:  Error
Results:  It looks like an error occurred during the file export. Please try again.

WOW! Thanks for the informative error message.

STP and DXF file are still being created properly.

[mrB_Young]

Regarding my last message about PDFs not exporting manually and resulting in errors:

I have solved that problem.
The problem files all came from one single user.  All of the problem files were created with Inventor 2023.2,  but with all the part files being made from Save As or Save Copy As of older files made with Inventor 2021.
All the drawing files are new based off the new Save As .ipt were also made with Inventor 2023.2
We are now working with Inventor & Vault 2024.

It got me thinking that maybe there was some compatibility issues with the files.

I first tested one of the problem files by checking out the part file in Inventor, performed a Rebuild All and then created a PDF manually in Vault.   It worked!  🙂

So I broke out the Task Scheduler and forced Rebuild All on all the files in that project and now PDF export works - manually.

The original issue of Automatic PDF creation not being triggered is still not solved, though.
I've reached out to Autodesk support regarding that issue.  Have a meeting scheduled for Monday next week.

[mrB_Young]

Update:

I have installed the Vault 2024.0.1 Update on all workstations, server and Job Processor.
The problem of PDF files not being created on lifecycle change has been rectified.

Job Processor is still making some errors on PDF creation.  I have an open case with support, will continue to work with them.

[mrB_Young]

I still haven't got the JP running 100%, which is very frustrating.
There was a couple of small things that has caused some issues which we have sorted out.

But we do still get errors where the PDF doesn't even get created, see the following.

General 25.05.2023 14:07:41
DWFGenerator.BasePublish.ExportPDF | 'Start to Publish Document'

General 25.05.2023 14:07:45
Unspecified error (Exception from HRESULT: 0x80004005 (E_FAIL))

General 25.05.2023 14:07:45
DWFGenerator.BasePublish.ExportDWF | 'Close the file'

General 25.05.2023 14:07:46
DWFGenerator.InventorDWFEngine.CreateDWF | 'PublishResult' | 'Export Failed'

I've looked up the error code myself, and have had help from Autodesk support and our Autodesk software provider but we can't figure out why this is happening.

But we have found out something that temporarily relieves the problem:
When errors occur, by changing the PDF vector resolution in the settings the JP will start working again.

It doesn't seem that it's linked to any specific resolution, as it errors happen at an resolution.  And by changing it to another resolution "fixes" the problem.

It's almost as if the JP is getting stuck and by receiving a new resolution to work with kicks it back into life.

Anyone seen this behaviour before?

[nick.del-greco]

Hi MrB,

After having Job Processor running without issue for a while, we've recently been having issues with PDF Create, getting the same helpful error message as you: "It looks like an error occurred during the file export. Please try again."

I saw your post and tried changing the Vector Resolution and this seems to have resolved the issue for us.

Like you, I have no idea why or for how long this will resolve the issue for, but just wanted you to know you're not alone.

Nick

[DavidWarta]

On our end we see the same issues and more. When the highest vector resolution is selected adobe Acrobat reader does not open the pdf for larger drawings.

Sometimes the pdf generated is not from the latest version. Should not be possible but it happens.

Something seems off for the job processor and pdfs.

These issues could be related to files not being migrated or some other file issues. However manual local pdf creation works fine. 

These issues makes us reluctant to use vault based workflows.

[mrB_Young]

I was silly enough to move over the Inventor and Vault 2024 pretty much as soon as it was released.
The big draw was the generation of PDF, DXF, & STP files without third party software which we didn't already have.

Once the 2024.0.1 update was released then most of the problems for me went away.
I'm guessing this:
Resolved issue where the creation of PDF/DWF failed on state transition if Job Retry is enabled. PDM-39187

may have had something to do with it.  But there were still issues.
Once 2024.1 was released then I stopped having the problems.  It works fine now.  But I have PDF vector resolution is set to 600, not max.  Haven't tried that.

Though I would like to see more customization options.  Especially being able to define folders for the exported files in Vault relative to the the source file.
The ability to only export STP files of .ipt files and not assemblies or large assemblies filtered out by file size, for example.