What Is a JOBOPTIONS File?

A file with the JOBOPTIONS file extension is an Adobe PDF Preset file.

Adobe products use a JOBOPTIONS file to define the properties of a PDF file that's to be generated. Some of the settings controlled in a JOBOPTIONS file include the PDF's fonts, image resolutions, color schemes, and security settings.

Older versions of Adobe products save PDF presets as files with the .PDFS file extension instead of .JOBOPTIONS.

How to Open a JOBOPTIONS File

Acrobat Distiller is responsible for creating PDF files, and so it, of course, can open and properly use JOBOPTIONS files.

Also, because PDF support is integrated into Adobe Creative Suite programs, any of those programs, like InDesign, Illustrator, Acrobat, or Photoshop, also open JOBOPTIONS files.

In Photoshop, for example, open a JOBOPTIONS through the Edit > Adobe PDF Presets > Load option. Similar steps work with other Adobe tools. Try the File menu if you can't find it in the Edit menu.

JOBOPTIONS files are text-only files, which means you can also open them with a simple text editor. Using an editor like Windows Notepad or Notepad++ lets you view the instructions that the JOBOPTIONS file contains—you won't actually be able to use the file to define the creation of the PDF.

If you find that a program on your computer tries to open the JOBOPTIONS file but it's the wrong application, or if you would rather have another installed program open JOBOPTIONS files, you might need to change the default program or file extension.

How to Convert a JOBOPTIONS File

Older versions of Adobe InDesign uses the .PDFS file extension to store PDF presets. This older format can be converted to .JOBOPTIONS if you import the PDFS into InDesign CS2 or newer and then export or save it.

Given the niche role of JOBOPTIONS, there's no benefit to attempting conversion to any other format.

More Information on JOBOPTIONS Files

New JOBOPTIONS files that you import into an Adobe product are stored in the C:\ProgramData\Adobe\Adobe PDF\ folder, at least in newer versions of Windows.

In Windows XP, this location is C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Adobe\Adobe PDF\.

In macOS the system stores .JOBOPTIONS files in /Library/Application Support/Adobe/Adobe PDF/.

Still Can't Open Your File?

If your file doesn't open with the suggestions from above, then it's likely that you're misreading the file extension and don't actually have a JOBOPTIONS file.

One of the closest file extensions to this one is .JOB, which can be used for both MetaCAM Nest Job files and Windows Task Scheduler Job files, neither of which are related to PDF files or used with an Adobe program.

If your file has the .JOB suffix instead of .JOBOPTIONS, it might work with a Metamation program or the Task Scheduler program built-in to Windows.