How Do I Interpret Entres In \Adobe\Acrobat\Distiller 5\messages.log

[Peter R. Fisher]

The full log is at the end.

I especially would like to know what these entries are trying to tell me:

FIRST:
%%[P%%[ Error: /EMC pdfmark without matching BMC/BDC.]%%
age: 28]%%

SECOND:
%%[ Error: limitcheck; OffendingCommand: pdfmark ]%%

I am running Word97 on WindowsXP Home & am trying to convert Word Doc to PDF using Acrobat 5.0.5 via PDFMaker.

I access PDFMaker from Acrobat on the Word Menu Bar choosing the option "Convert To Adobe PDF"

I have the following options checked:

In The [Office Tab]
Under General
Convert Internet Links
All others are unchecked
Under Word Features
Cross-References & TOC Links
All others are unchecked
Under Document Tag
Embed sctruture in PDF is unchecked

In The [Bookmarks Tab]
Convert Word Headings To Bookmarks
All others are unchecked

Acrobat begins the process and then hangs when it gets to "PRINT".

The contents of the subbject "messages.log" are:

Acrobat Distiller 5.0
Started: Saturday, November 23, 2002 at 3:15 PM

Adobe PostScript software version: 3011.104
Start Time: Saturday, November 23, 2002 at 3:15 PM
Destination: C:\DOCUME~1\PRFisher\LOCALS~1\Temp\Acr123.pdf
Source: PMtoDistiller:Minus 23- Minus Parts Of 22
Processing prologue.ps...
Done processing prologue.ps.
%%[ ProductName: Distiller ]%%
%%[Page: 1]%%
%%[Page: 2]%%
%%[Page: 3]%%
%%[Page: 4]%%
%%[Page: 5]%%
%%[Page: 6]%%
%%[Page: 7]%%
%%[Page: 8]%%
%%[Page: 9]%%
%%[Page: 10]%%
%%[Page: 11]%%
%%[Page: 12]%%
%%[Page: 13]%%
%%[Page: 14]%%
%%[Page: 15]%%
%%[Page: 16]%%
%%[Page: 17]%%
%%[Page: 18]%%
%%[Page: 19]%%
%%[Page: 20]%%
%%[Page: 21]%%
%%[Page: 22]%%
%%[Page: 23]%%
%%[Page: 24]%%
%%[Page: 25]%%
%%[Page: 26]%%
%%[Page: 27]%%
%%[P%%[ Error: /EMC pdfmark without matching BMC/BDC.]%%
age: 28]%%
%%[Page: 29]%%
%%[Page: 30]%%
%%[ Error: limitcheck; OffendingCommand: pdfmark ]%%

Stack:
[]
-mark-

%%[ Flushing: rest of job (to end-of-file) will be ignored ]%%
%%[ Warning: PostScript error. No PDF file produced. ] %%
Distill Time: 5 seconds (00:00:05)
* *** End of Job ****

[William A. Davis]

It is very likely that you have some formating problems in the WORD document and do not realize it. Most MS products are pretty sloppy about programming (the reason there are so many security holes in windows and part of the reason it has grown by over 10 times). I would search for the possible formating error before going further. There is a PDFMark on page 28 that has a problem. You may be able to look up the PDFMark messages in the PDFMark help file. Is it accessible from the help menu in Distiller.

[Peter R. Fisher]

The problems with MS products not withstanding, Acrobat should give better indicators as to what caused it to have a problem.

I had to ferret out the "message.log" to even get some Idea of what was causing Acrobat to HANG. If Acrobat thinks pointing me to a page is good enuf, I must disagree.

By the way Help in Distiller is as cryptic as the error log.

[Aandi Inston]

>The problems with MS products not withstanding, Acrobat should give better indicators as to what caused it to have a problem.

It has done, to the best of its ability. That is, one part of
Acrobat, working with Word, makes PostScript.

Distiller reads the PostScript, and found it is wrong. Just like
finding a page missing from a book, it can only say what it finds, not
what caused it.

There is more information on PostScript errors on
http://www.quite.com/ps/errors.htm.

Something

Aandi Inston

[Peter R. Fisher]

Thanks. The page you mentioned for PostScript errors helped me solve my problem.

I'm still not happy with Acrobat. I purchased it for 1 reason "To Convert Word97 Docs To PDF With Links".

As such I should NEVER HAVE TO BE CONCERNED with PostScript errors, if Acrobat needs PostScript to do the job it should be transparent to me. To me if a Word97 Doc prints with no errors it's a good doc and Acrobat should convert it and if he finds a problem he should tell me EXACTLY what sentence, if not the exact word, caused hime to puke.

Thanks again.

[Aandi Inston]

Yes, of course it should work, and you've found a bug. Why not tell
Adobe...

Aandi Inston

[de Siem]

Aandi don't be so cruel.
Peter Distiller's working is fully explained in the manual actually...(page 32)

[Peter R. Fisher]

After 47 years as a computer professional I've come to love wiseasses like de Siem who always seem to have the answer long after the problem is solved.

[de Siem]

If you've been 47 years in computers, why haven't you read the manual for Acrobat? Seems to me you had plenty of time.
And you should know that software isn't all that transparent....

I've been in software for about 4 years, but seen more than my share of whinging old men like you. COme to love them too though.

[Guy Smiley]

Now who's grumpy?
-Mike Nitabach

[de Siem]

Still full of love Mike. :)It's 5 so my day just got better.

[Guy Smiley]

Going to the coffee bar?
-Mike Nitabach