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Combining/merge word files into a single pdf

tabcodawn
Registered: Mar 17 2010
Posts: 8
Answered

Ive been having problems with Adobe Acrobat Pro for some time. I was told by Adobe to upgrade (in order to fix the problem AND receive support). The support I received via phone call to Customer Service went no where, I was on the phone for 8 hours with someone who couldn’t understand or speak English and refused to get me to a person who would understand me. SO, Ive been dealing with it. Now the problems are getting worse.

My main use for Adobe Acrobat: I create reports (just documents in word) each page is saved separately, I may have up to 250 pages. After the report has been typed, proofed and corrected in word, I go to adobe to combine into one file to send to our customer.

I am using Adobe Acrobat 9.3.1 and Microsoft Office XP (2002).

I DO NOT have a problem converting each page through the pull down menu in word. I do not have a problem combing multiple .pdf files.

ORIGINALLY:

While combining files, I would get errors the normal.dot already exists and a word window would pop open prompting me to save normal.dot. I researched resolutions for this problem (remember, adobe told me to upgrade from 8 to fix this) on the internet and found to go search your computer for normal.dot and delete them, reopen word and all is good. This has been working yet I have to do it everytime I use the combine files feature, everytime a file is converted in the combining window a new “process” for winword is opened in which I have to ctrl alt del and click the processes tab and close each one manually (or each one will give me the normal.dot error) then reopen word, say no to keeping the files (which are a bunch of normal.dot) close word and reopen, click disable macros to keep this from happening while I am not using adobe.

This is how its getting worse:
Today I am trying to combine a 55 page report, some pages it converts others get a runtime error:

MICROSOFT VISUAL C++ RUNTIME LIBRARY

RUNTIME ERROR!

C:\PROGRAM FILES\MICROSOFTOFFICE\OFFICE10\WINWORD.EXE

ABNORMAL PROGRAM TERMINATION.

I click ok and another pops up:

CREATE ADOBE PDF

THE SECURITY LEVEL IS SET TO HIGH (I have it on moderate and adobe enabled)
PLEASE RUN THE APPLICATION THAT CREATED THIS DOCUMENT, IN THE SECURITY WARNING DIALOG SELECT BOX “ALWAYS TRUST MACROS FROM THIS SOURCE” AND ENABLE ADOBE MACROS (this is done)

Then, I found this on these forums here:
Try these things:

In Word, choose Adobe PDF > Change Conversion Settings.

1. Choose Smallest File Size from the Conversion Settings menu.
2. Click the Word tab, and then deselect all options.
3. Click the Bookmarks tab, and then deselect all Bookmark options.
4. Click the Security tab, and then deselect all Security options.

I did all of this and went to combine/merge files into a single pdf. It now hangs on the first page. Please help! I really don’t want to call India!!! :(
Oh, btw, I still have no problem converting each page from the pull down menu in word.
I have also ran the detect/repair in both programs.

My Product Information:
Acrobat Pro 9.3.1, Windows
daka630
Expert
Registered: Mar 1 2007
Posts: 1420
Quote:
I DO NOT have a problem converting each page through the pull down menu in word.
I do not have a problem combing multiple .pdf files.
Just me nattering here; but, I'd just convert the open "final" Word file to PDF.
For any given "finalized" Word file to achieve that status, typically, it has to be open at the point in time, no?
So, open DOC file converted to the PDF of the "final' content.
Once all are assembled, use Acrobat's Combine Files to bring the many PDFs into one PDF.
This avoids trying to process multiple DOC files through conversion to PDF and combining into one PDF
which appears to be the problem area.
Perhaps this approach would be less of a sisyphean task.

Be well...

Be well...

tabcodawn
Registered: Mar 17 2010
Posts: 8
Thank you for your reply. Although, that is how I am getting by the problem area now and it is very tedious, like I said at times I have up to 250 word docs to convert to pdf (which need to be combined into one file as a final report). The only reason we purchased this program was for the combine feature.. I need to be able to set all the files in to merge and walk away to do other work, not sit here for an hour and convert each page individually in word, then combine all the pages in acrobat.
Any other suggestions?

Important info left out:

The problems started when my computer was upgraded to a new one, I had a really old one here at work, combining files was slow as heck due to the lack of memory on that computer but it worked fine. The IT outsource we brought in to tranfer my stuff didnt deactivate acrobat before installing on the new computer, I had to contact Adobe to get it deactivated and activated on the new computer and thats when all of this started..
rbogie
Registered: Apr 28 2008
Posts: 432
a vexing issue. try this
ms word: tools | options | macro security | place check at 'trust all installed add-ins and templates'
adobe PDF (aka Acrobat PDFMaker): Restore Defaults
tabcodawn
Registered: Mar 17 2010
Posts: 8
nope :( got the runtime error on the first page t combine:

MICROSOFT VISUAL C++ RUNTIME LIBRARY

RUNTIME ERROR!

C:\PROGRAM FILES\MICROSOFTOFFICE\OFFICE10\WINWORD.EXE

ABNORMAL PROGRAM TERMINATION.
rbogie
Registered: Apr 28 2008
Posts: 432
the issue is not with Acrobat -- it's futile to call Adobe support
the issue is a MS component; see this from MS technet
http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en/itprovistaact/thread/b5d10db8-2980-4fe6-81e0-f232eab4037a

get assistance from your trusted tech pro
tabcodawn
Registered: Mar 17 2010
Posts: 8
Thank you, really appreciate it!!
lkassuba
ExpertTeam
Registered: Jun 28 2007
Posts: 3636
Do you have any antivirus software on your system? Sometimes that can cause this issues.

Also, there is a setting in Word that allow you to disable the promote to save the Normal.dot. In 2003 it's located at Tools > Options > Save uncheck "Prompt to Save Normal Template".

Lori Kassuba is an AUC Expert and Community Manager for AcrobatUsers.com.

tabcodawn
Registered: Mar 17 2010
Posts: 8
Hello, I do have antivirus software, Trend Microcillen. And the "prompt...." is unchecked.. We have used Trend for a few years, and like I said, with the old computer it was slow, but everything worked fine. Im just going to beg my boss on monday to get the IT company in here... Thanks everyone!