This page gets you a PDF that downloads and shows your drawing.

![Export choice dialog — Sharable link versus Export files](https://hel1.your-objectstorage.com/traffic-chart-tutorials/helpcenter/en/traffic-plans/export/01-export-choice.png)

Use it when **Export now** or **Export PDF** fails, the file is empty, or pages miss signs. If you have not drawn an export rectangle yet, that is the first fix — not a bug.

## Checklist

1. **Log in.** Some export paths need a session. **Export Feedback** may say **Export failed.** and **Please make sure you're logged in.** Then **Click** **here** **to log in.**
2. Draw at least one export rectangle:
   - Traffic plan: **Export** → **How would you like to export your map?** → **Export files**. **Draw new map** → **Detail** (or **XL** if your account allows it). Empty: **No export maps yet.** Disabled export: **Add at least one export map to enable export.**
   - Event plan: **Export**, then **Add area**. Empty state: **Draw an export area, then choose the paper size for the PDF page.**
3. Set **Paper size** and **Change orientation** for that map.
4. Tick the extras you need: **Map pages**, **Materials list** / **Include materials list**, **Post instructions** / **Include post orders**.
5. Click **Export now** (traffic) or **Export PDF** (event). Stay on the page until **Download started** or the file appears. Do not close the tab.
6. Use a current desktop Chrome, Edge, or Firefox. Allow downloads for this site.
7. Turn off ad blockers, or try a private window.

**XL** maps and **Download Excel** / **Materials Excel** need Pro or organization permission. You may see **XL maps require a PRO account.** or **This is a pro feature.** Excel also needs login (**Log in and save the plan before exporting Excel.**) and a rectangle (**Create an export map first.**). Paying for unlimited signs on one plan does not unlock them. [Feature not available for my account](/hc/test/articles/feature-not-available).

## Watch the export stages

The overlay title is **Export traffic plan**. Headers move through:

| Stage | Meaning |
|-------|---------|
| **Creating export** | Work has started |
| **Capturing the page image** | Map page is being snapped |
| **Adding materials list** | Extra **Materials list** pages |
| **Adding post instructions** | Extra **Post orders** pages |
| **Creating Excel** | **Materials Excel** |
| **Finishing export** | File is assembling |
| **Starting download** / **Download ready** | Browser should prompt |
| **Download started** | **Your export is ready and the PDF download has started.** / **Your download has started.** |

Row statuses include **Queued**, **Finished**, **Failed**. Detail lines include **Preparing your document**, **Preparing this page**, **Sizing the page**, **Positioning the map**, **Scaling signs and drawings**, **Waiting for map layers**, **Preparing bulk signs**, **Placing the page image**, **Adding the page header**, **Adding the scale and labels**, **Saving this page**, **Finalizing this export**.

Slow network: **This is taking longer than usual. A slow network connection can delay map tiles and layers. Please keep this window open while the export finishes.**

Degraded: **Some map layers took longer than expected to load. The export may be incomplete; please check the PDF before using it.** Open every page anyway.

Hard fail header: **Export failed**. Message: **Something went wrong while creating your export.**

Event stages can read **Preparing export** through **PDF exported successfully**. Keep that tab open the same way.

## Export Feedback

After a run, the app may ask **How did the export go?** The form title is **Export Feedback**.

- Not logged in: **Export failed.** **Please make sure you're logged in.**
- Logged in: **Logged in, but still experiencing issues or have other feedback?** Body: **Please fill in the form below and we will make sure you get your export emailed to you within 24 hours.** Placeholder: **Please enter your feedback here...** **Send feedback**. Success: **Feedback sent successfully. Thank you!** / **Feedback sent**. Fail: **Failed to send feedback. Please try again.** **Log in to send export feedback.** if the session dropped.

## Blank or incomplete PDF

- Frame the rectangle over the signs or objects you care about. **Detail** maps have a size limit so signs stay readable. Hint: **This detail map has reached its maximum size. Switch it to XL map if you want to export a larger map.**
- Temporarily turn off heavy layers such as **Show Melvin** or **Traffic signs (NDW)** and export again.
- Sketches print only inside the rectangle. [Drawing and measuring](/hc/test/articles/drawing-and-measuring).
- Include **Materials list** and post orders only if you need those extra pages. Empty materials: **No materials found**. Empty posts: **No post orders found**.
- For event plans, enlarge the export area so objects are not clipped.
- Do not start a PDF while **Opening Map Environment...** is still on screen.

## What good looks like

The browser downloads a PDF. Map pages show the basemap and your drawings inside the rectangle. Open every page before you send it. Prefer **Sharable link** (**RECOMMENDED**) when a live link is enough.

## If it still fails

Use **Export Feedback** when the form appears after a failure. Email [customer@traffic-chart.com](mailto:customer@traffic-chart.com) with the plan link, browser, and time.

Full paths: [Export and print traffic plans](/hc/test/articles/export-and-print) and [Export an event plan](/hc/test/articles/export-event-plan). [Contact support](/hc/test/articles/contact-support).