Save as Adobe pdf issues

I encountered this problem while trying to save a book in PDF/X-1a: 2001 format.

Usual procedure:

Print/ Save as Adobe pdf

Thhe document compiles

Then I am offered a selection box.

Select PDFX1a 2001

Save as "named file"

"An error occured while saving file." is what I always get.

I have tried this in Nisus Pro and I originally thought the problem lay there. Then I tried Word 2008 for Mac with the same result.

The only solution it seems (and this is a lot of work) is to convert the file in Indesign to produce the pdf output I want.

I use OSX Mavericks.

If anyone has a solution to this I would be grateful.