Child Item

Error when trying to export Paper docs to .pdf files in Chrome

Device

macbook pro
Operating System/Browser (if using the web)

sequoia 15.4.1 (24E263)
Dropbox App Version (if using the app)

paper in chrome browser - no version # given there
Syncing Status

n/a

Trying to save older paper docs to PDF for archiving - have tried several time and the export to PDF keeps failing and telling me to 'try again later'.

What's going on? When's it going to work?

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Dropbox Paper

Export

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Accepted answers

pcdbigfoot

Okay - never did figure out why this didn't work for me. Also tried on a windows machine, in a third browser (edge) to no avail. Maybe worth mentioning that this files were larger (~10-12 MB), but it seemed to fail on files half that size too. Maybe something to do with my account - who knows.

Worked around this by printing the files, and saving them to PDF that way. Should any other unfortunate mention this odd and annoying bug, you can save them aggravation by recommending this simple workaround.

Moving away from paper, as you might also be doing, given that you're end-of-life-ing the mobile apps.

All comments

Hannah

Hi there, @pcdbigfoot, thanks for bringing this to our attention.

I just tested this on my end with the same browser and it worked for me; can you please restore your browser to its default settings and disable any browser plugins, to see if it helps?

Also, try to clear your browser's cache, that could help too.

I'd try from a different browser altogether or from Incognito as well, if that doesn't work.

Let me know how it goes!

pcdbigfoot

Tried exporting to PDF in safari - silent failure. No error, just no conversion/download.
Exporting to markdown in both chrome and safari works.
Exporting to word appears to hang (multiple minutes with a message saying "preparing files for export".
Why would incognito make any difference to this at all? Does your export logic key on that in any way?

The biggest reason I found this is because y'all don't properly preserve checkbox element (and its state) during copy/paste or other forms of export. I'm only half-confident that PDF will help with this at all

Not encouraging at all. Ideas?

Hannah

Thanks for the update, @pcdbigfoot.

I suggested incognito, so that you can try the process on a browser window with no plug-ins, add-ons etc.

Can you please let me know which version of Chrome you're using?

pcdbigfoot

Reproduced the issue on :

Chrome Version 139.0.7258.155 (Official Build) (arm64) - incognito
Safari 18.4 (20621.1.15.11.10) - InPrivate

Silent failures after resolving the 'preparing files' dialog. Nothing ever gets exported.

Nancy

Hey @pcdbigfoot. If I get this right, you’re having an issue with any Paper doc you try to export as a PDF on your Dropbox account. Correct?

As a test, can you try to export a different type of file as a PDF instead, and let me know if the behavior persists? I also checked this on my end, like Hannah did, and the feature seems to be working properly.

pcdbigfoot

Not sure I understand. You're asking me to export something other than a paper doc as a PDF? Was able to export a word doc as a PDF. In fact, was able to copy/paste from paper into word, and then export as a PDF.

Am I misunderstanding you?

Unless exporting to PDF preserves checkboxes and their state, I don't care.

Jay

Hi @pcdbigfoot, could you try incognito/private browsing mode without any extensions running to see if this could be affecting the export process?

pcdbigfoot

Already did that, both on safari and chrome (see above). Can someone tell me whether exporting to PDF preserves checkboxes and their state from the markdown?

pcdbigfoot

It feels like a small thing to ask (again). But can one of the moderators can tell me whether the PDF export preserves the checkbox and its state?

This will tell me whether I even care about the PDF export working or not.

Hannah

Hey @pcdbigfoot, regarding the preservation, do you mean that you'll be able to see the check boxes and if they're checked or not?

If so, then yet, it will show the line as a checkbox as well as if it's been checked off or not.

pcdbigfoot