Retry Final PDF After a QCDS completion_failed State

A completion_failed Request means the required signer work is already complete but QCDS could not finish the protected completed PDF. The signer values, signatures, timestamps, and immutable Request snapshot remain stored; recovery is about finalizing the document, not collecting signatures again.

Recognize a Finalization Failure

On Request Details → Overview, QCDS shows Final PDF needs to be retried when the Request is in completion_failed. The page can also show the stored blocked reason so you can see what prevented finalization.

Do not ask signers to repeat their work. QCDS explicitly preserves completed signer values while the Request waits for recovery.

Automatic Recovery Is Bounded

QCDS maintains a completion-recovery record for a fully signed failed Request. Automatic recovery is capped at three attempts. After the first failed attempt, the next try is scheduled about five minutes later; after the second failure, the final automatic try waits about 30 minutes.

If the exact frozen PDF pages are already prepared, Joomla Scheduled Tasks can process the recovery. Older or legacy Requests whose frozen PDF render set is not ready can wait for an authorized QCDS browser session to prepare the exact canonical pages with the bundled PDF.js renderer before finalization continues.

Use Retry Final PDF

  1. Open the Request in completion_failed.
  2. Review the blocked reason if one is shown.
  3. Click Retry Final PDF.
  4. Allow QCDS to prepare any required frozen PDF pages and run finalization again.

An explicit manual retry resets the bounded automatic-recovery attempt counter and immediately calls the normal completion finalizer. It does not modify the Request snapshot or stored signer facts.

What Success Does

On success, QCDS produces and verifies the completed artifact, marks the Request Completed, records completion history, clears the recovery state, and processes the normal completed-document delivery flow. The signer is not asked to sign again.

If Retry Still Fails

Repeated failure usually means the exact frozen PDF/render inputs still cannot be prepared or another finalization requirement is failing. Preserve the Request as-is and troubleshoot the blocked reason rather than altering signer evidence.

Community Discussion

Want to compare workflows, share practical tips, or discuss how you use this QCDS feature? Visit the QC Digital Signature Community. For private support, bug reports, account-specific issues, or feature requests, use the QuantaCade support system.