Trados team:
Trados 2024 showed this error 'Object reference not set to an instance of an object' when it opens a large pdf file with scanned documentation. It is not able to open the file for translation.
Hi Olga,
The most likely reason this is happening is that there is some content in the PDF that is not allowing Trados to convert it to Word (Trados always creates a Word document from PDF files for translation).
Usually the best way to deal with this is to use the PDF Assistant for Trados Studio.
You can download the latest version for Trados 2024 from your onboard RWS AppStore in Studio.
So, open Studio, click on the Add-Ins tab, click on RWS AppStore then on AppStore, which will lead you to a list of available plugins. You will find PDF Assistant for Trados listed there.
NB: In the above screenshot, I have already installed PDF Assistant for Trados. Also, the '0' next to 'Installed plug-ins' means there are no updates available for my installed plugins.
To the right of the above window, you will be able to read a description and use links to loads more information and support:
Once you have installed the PDF Assistant, you will need to close and reopen Trados Studio.
Then, you will find a link to the PDF Assistant for Trados Toolbox has been added to your Add-Ins tab.
Click on it and the Wizard will open so you can start working on your PDF/s via Add folder or Add files:
NB2: It is a good idea to open the resulting .DOCX in Word (or in compatible word processing software) to check that everything is aligned correctly, and to smooth the text by highlighting and ensuring that it is all in the correct source language.
You can then create a new project if necessary from the corrected .DOCX file.
I hope this helps!
All the best,
Ali
All of that from the previous message was done before sending this message, e.g., the PDF assistant installation from the RWS App Store, checking the.DOCX in Word, etc. After all of that conversion in the .DOCX word format above mentioned, the file converted shows the count words "0" and only the first page for translation. The source PDF file has more than 200 pages.
If you didn’t run the Verify, I’d do it, since there may be a missing tag somewhere, and running Verify with F8 key will show you the tags with issues. Correct as needed and then try again saving the target file.
The Object reference not set to an instance of an object error is a general error, and it may not be related with the main issue.
Thank you for your help. There are no missing tags. I split the file in batches, but now the preview view is disabled.
In your reply to Jesús Prieto , you say you have split the file in batches but now preview is disabled. Which file did you split, the PDF or the resulting DOCX or SDLXLIFF file?
If the PDF, are you sure that the PDF itself contains accessible/searchable text? With the PDF open in Acrobat Reader for example, can you search for a word using Ctrl+F and does tthe find function find that word?
If not, the PDF is composed of text as images and only good OCR software is likely to convert those images to text accurately. OR if you have the full version of Adobe Acrobat, it can usually convert text saved as images back to accessible text...
If the DOCX or SDLXLIFF file, was the preview working before splitting?
Sorry to ask so many questions but the more information you can share, the more likely Jesús, I or someone else will be able to solve your problem.
All the best,
Ali 
In your reply to Jesús Prieto , you say you have split the file in batches but now preview is disabled. Which file did you split, the PDF or the resulting DOCX or SDLXLIFF file?
If the PDF, are you sure that the PDF itself contains accessible/searchable text? With the PDF open in Acrobat Reader for example, can you search for a word using Ctrl+F and does tthe find function find that word?
If not, the PDF is composed of text as images and only good OCR software is likely to convert those images to text accurately. OR if you have the full version of Adobe Acrobat, it can usually convert text saved as images back to accessible text...
If the DOCX or SDLXLIFF file, was the preview working before splitting?
Sorry to ask so many questions but the more information you can share, the more likely Jesús, I or someone else will be able to solve your problem.
All the best,
Ali
As in my previous messages: PDF Assistant for Trados=OCR software was used. The previous mode was working before splitting.
Here is why it is so important to give as MUCH information as possible when you first post a thread. The version of Studio, the method of taking a PDF through to a translatable file, whether the file splitting caused the problem or the lack of preview and where you were at in the process before the first post.
I have asked you a lot of questions and I still don't really know the scenario that you're asking for help with.
Jesús Prieto Paul Lydia Simplicio ... can any of you make sense of this?
Olga, the 'object reference...' error is such a vague error message because it occurs in such a wide range of possible scenarios, plus it's a Windows error rather than a Trados one.
I think it would be better if someone from Trados Team took a look at this remotely on your system.
All the very best,
Ali
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