Can't produce a pdf file in Distiller 1

[Mykal]

Hello: I am a student learning PageMaker 6.5 through a correspondence school ICS. I am having problems creating a pdf file in Acrobat Distiller, although the first one I did there was no problem at all then I started getting error messages, the first ones were that the file couldn't be exported because the Helvetica font couldn't be located even though pagemaker had substituted another font for it. I don't have a postscript printer, which I thought could be the problem so I tried various postscript drivers without the printer, still nogo. Recently I am getting an error that says I need a PS driver as soon as I click export to pdf and when I install a driver I get an error in notepad composed of greek computer language. Any possible solutions or sililar experiences would be much appreciated...

Best Mykal

 

[zefir]

For Distilling use ADistiller.PPD. Set for first trials default parameters.
This is a PS printer driver for PDF (especially for WEB) .
You can use Helvetica, because this is a A.Reader resident font
(like Times, Courier, Zapf and Adobe Symbol, opposed to TT Symbol).
Then it´s not useful to embed fonts.
After a clean install of PM and Acrobat Distiller everything will
work properly.
Minor problems may arise with some TrueType fonts in PM65plus.
G.Hoffmann

 

[Mykal]

Zefir/G. Hoffmann: Thanks for your response. Can you clarify further for me... (My computer IQ is a bit above beginner)
The distiller PPD you mentioned and installation... I should find the Distiller PPD and download it at the Adobie site I assume? and do I use this Distiller PPD as a driver for a postscript printer when I install one in Windows in the add printer wiz as part of a clean install? or does this driver just work on install separate form a printer instation. Can you give me some easy steps to follow... I've sent my CD pagemaker 6.5 plus back to the school for them to check out to see if the software itself is the source of the problem considering I did produce the first PDF file successfully. Thanks in advance

Myke

 

[zefir]

Myke: the Distiller is on the PM CD. Eventually it is necessary
to make a custom install (if not yet done).
The Distiller uses the Adistiller.PPD. This is a Postscript Printer
description, independent of any PostScript printer
(you don´t need one for Distilling).
Check for safety by Windows search, keyword "*.PPD" ,
whatever is installed.
For Export to PDF make a very simple PM file, for the first trials
without images, and use default settings. On top of the control
panel is a single-line menue with features. The assignment of the
PPD is done by "Acrobat" or "Distiller", the PPD itself is not
mentioned.
The PPD is not a driver. If it still doesn´t run, then it is eventually
necessary to install a driver.
I recommend to visit the Adobe User to User Forum "Windows Pagemaker"

http://www.adobeforums.com

Hope this helps a little ! G.Hoffmann

 

[hohriver]

Hold the presses! Literally.
I have had a similar problem with PageMaker 6.5. The first time I converted a document to .pdf, everything distilled properly and the effort was successful.

Since then, it only seems to make it "halfway" through the distill process, then tells me it was unable to complete the conversion and to check the 'log report'...wherever the heck that's supposed to be!

I'm thinking this is a distiller problem, but I'm not certain how to narrow it down, or how to FIX it? Anyone?
( Windows 98, BTW )

 

[zefir]

Ho:
The log report is in the same folder as the prospective pdf.
Export to PDF is reliable, with a few exceptions:
Pure blue=rgb=0,0,255 text
Elements outside the page
"Corrupted" fonts, re-installation of font is necessary
Grayscale images are treated as Color Bitmaps,
different JPEG settings are not valid here
G.Hoffmann

http://www.fho-emden.de/~hoffmann/howww41a.html

25kByte)

 

[chrismoore]

Why do I have to create an eps file in pagemaker 6.5 on my mac and then used the eps file to create the pdf file? I get an error message when I try to use "export" to create the pdf file.

 

[zefir]

Chris: I heard, there are incompatibilities about fonts
between Mac an Windows. You will get precise informations
by the experts in the above mentioned forum (Len Hewitt, Ian Wright).
I am familiar only with PM and Export to PDF for Windows.
G. Hoffmann

 

[Mykal]

Zefir: Thank-you for the help I, I have been busy of late to respond... There was a problem with the cd itself(PageMaker 6.5 Plus), according to the instructor, so when I get the replacement hopefully I won't have the PDF export problems anymore, I will install as you suggested when I receive, Thanks again and I have a question off topic here but I visited your site and tried to download one of you poem pdf files there and was unsuccessful, I tried right click, like it says, more mumbojumbo computer language, interesting site and your work, would be nice to see it, any suggestions how to download these files the right way?

Myke

 

[zefir]

Mykal: glad to help you.
The download of files is in my opinion confusing.
The PDFs are NOT corrupt. Everything tested very carefully.
Click by right mouse on the PDF URL . The window will offer
you something like "Save this link to folder...". Depends on the
browser. Then the folder is opened, e.g. C:\ and you can
start the download.
If you click directly (left mouse) then you can SEE the file, but
you can´t save it afterwards. Sorry, I never understood this, but
it´s true. Please try it again.

I appreciate any message about corrupted PDFs (Title Page, Email).
I have very often errors, sending PDFs by FTP transfer to the server.
By an appropriate combination of the transfer mode "ASCII/Binary/Automatic"
the errors can be avoided. I leave never "on purpose" corrupted PDFs in the Web.
These errors happen ONLY if I distill "for Acrobat 3.0". "For Acrobat 2.0" it works
correctly.
Gernot Hoffmann