Using PDF reDirect: Error in PDF Created...

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Error in PDF Created...

Printed From: www.exp-systems.com
Category: PDF reDirect
Forum Name: Using PDF reDirect
Forum Discription: Questions and Comments on using PDF reDirect Freeware and Pro
URL: http://www.exp-systems.com/Forum_exp/forum_posts.asp?TID=142
Printed Date: 22 Nov 24 at 1:32PM

Topic: Error in PDF Created...

Posted By: jgottlieb
Subject: Error in PDF Created...
Date Posted: 15 Dec 05 at 2:51PM

I have created a 70-odd page document from a word file.

The file contains links to about 20 visio flowcharts...

Once the .pdf is scrolled past page 23, the following error is displayed:

Cannot find or create the font 'Helvetica-Bold~e0'. Some characters may not display or print correctly.

Everything after that point is garbled.

I cannot attach the file as it contains propritary data from my company.

Thanks for your help.

Replies:

Posted By: Michel_K17
Date Posted: 15 Dec 05 at 9:58PM

Hi,

   I think we have two options to fix the problem you are experiencing. The first is to change (in the printer settings) how fonts are converted. In your case, I would change from the "Outline" setting to the "Automatic" setting (see the screenshot below).

   Also, the new version of PDF reDirect (v2.1) which will be available for download on Monday Dec 19, should also fix the problem. That version has a more robust printer driver. If you want to be sure, you can try the latest PDF reDirect Pro "beta", but considering the official release is just a few days away, you might want to stick with solution #1 above, and then upgrade next week when the new version is released.

   Please let me know if any of the above do not fix the problem, and I will gladly help you troubleshoot further.

Posted By: jgottlieb
Date Posted: 16 Dec 05 at 11:16AM

I tried option 1 and that seemed to work, for the most part.

I did notice some slight degredation in the text of many of the flowcharts and the line weights in the flowcharts across the document wasn't consistent (not *that* much of a big deal). They were pretty close though.

I didn't see any appreciable text degredation in the main document.

I'll give option 2 a try next week when you GA version 2.1.

Thanks for your help.

Posted By: Michel_K17
Date Posted: 16 Dec 05 at 1:50PM

Thanks for the update! line weights should not (famous last words) have been affected by this settings change. However, it can get "funky" depending on the zoom level, and the anti-aliasing preferences in the Reader. Also, lines from Microsoft products that are set to "infinitely thin" can sometimes appear and disappear mysteriously, depending on the zoom level. Despite all of this, it should all print to a paper printer properly.

Looking forward to hearing how v2.1 helped resolve the issue completely (or not).

-------------
Michel Korwin-Szymanowski
EXP Systems LLC

Posted By: jgottlieb
Date Posted: 19 Dec 05 at 4:19PM

Well, the .pdf created and I can get to the end of the document without error (76 pages now). I'm still seeing some degredation in the text inside and outside my flowchart objects. Text in the Word doc proper is fine.

I'm still using these Visio files as linked objects in the Word file. Have you tried creating a document like this and printing it to .pdf?

Hmm... Interesting. I just printed out the document. The degredation I'm seeing on screen prints fine on paper when Acrobat prints the .pdf.

Posted By: Michel_K17
Date Posted: 19 Dec 05 at 10:52PM

Here are some suggestions:

1. Are your Visio boxes somewhat small? If this is so, you may be suffering from errors in placement as the default PDF resolution is 300 dpi. You can go in the PDF reDirect Printer properties and set a higher resolution (such as 600 dpi). You will find that object placement becomes more accurate and may address some of the issues you are seeing.

2. I have not played with Visio, in fact, I am fairly sure it does not come with Office Professional. I did have a user that complained about thin lines in tables that would mysteriously "appear" and then "disappear" depending on the zoom level. He was using Reader v4, and once he upgraded to a more recent version, it got better as long as the anti-aliasing was turned off. Have you tried playing with the PDF Reader Preferences? Click on the "Edit" menu, then "Preferences". Finally, select the "Page Display" category. Try turning on the "smooth line art" option.

3. You could also try viewing the same PDF in the Foxit PDF Reader (it's also free) to see if they do a better job of rendering the document.

Posted By: jgottlieb
Date Posted: 20 Dec 05 at 8:36AM

For option 1, I can look at the DPI setting on my next print (later today, I'm updating the doc now, actually).

For option 2, you're correct that Visio doesn't come with Office, any version, in fact (unless you've got MSDN :D). I'm using reader 7.0.5. Most people here are on some variant of 6.x or 7.x. And since this is a corporate enviornment, I need the PDF's to appear correctly with the "default" reader settings.

Option 3 falls into that category where our standard here is Adobe Acrobat reader and I need to create the PDF to that standard.

I'll let you know how option 1 goes later today.

Thanks for all your help. :)

Posted By: jgottlieb
Date Posted: 21 Dec 05 at 9:40AM

At 600 dpi I still had the text degredation in the parts of the .pdf that came from the Visio documents. It is less, though. My table line weights were no longer consistent. The new driver at 300 dpi had them fine.

If I have some time today, I will create a sample of these pages that has the information scrubbed and take some screen shots.

Incidentally, I created 2 .pdfs this morning. One that was just the final version of the document and the other that had the markups for all the changes. The bubbles that contain the original text looked fine. That text was not degraded at all. If I have time to do the screenshots, I'll try and get some of that too.

Posted By: Michel_K17
Date Posted: 22 Dec 05 at 12:14AM

Hi,

I'm wondering if some of the text degredation might be due to a different printer setting which is set during the installation, but maybe did not "take". In the Printer Properties, Select the "Device Settings" tab. Make sure that the "Minimum Font Size to Download as Outline is set to "0" or "1" (either is fine).

I am looking forward to the screenshots: they might help. Please e-mail them to me directly at exp-at-exp-systems.com.

Thanks!