PostScript Error - Causing Failure
Donald Gruener
Donald Gruener "1.2 - Export to PDF fails or creates unsatisfactory PDF" 5/3/02 12:57pm </cgi-bin/webx?50@@.ef851b6/0>
Donald Gruener "1.1 - General procedure for PDF creation" 5/3/02 12:51pm </cgi-bin/webx?50@@.ef851b3/0>
when I export to HTML, I get nothing but one text page.
I'll let Carl or someone else with more HTML experience handle that, but to parrot the others: Basically the general consensus is you can't count on PageMaker to generate HTML and are better off recreating your pages in a dedicated HTML editor.
PDF is a good route for posting documents to web sites if you want them to be viewed as you've formatted them.
Donald
J Estep
I'm working in a pagemaker document that is giving me an error message "Cannot write to Postscript file" (or something close to that) when I try to export to .PDF format. Also, when I export to HTML, I get nothing but one text page.
Please help!
All assistance is very appreciated.
J Estep
Donald Gruener
Along the way, there are numerous places for things to go wrong when PageMaker makes the wrong decision in various settings. Starting with the printer driver it attempts to use for the Export.
That is why I have always and steadfastedly recommended abandoning the Export route and suggested taking the steps above. This gives you far greater control over the creation of the PDF and a much higher success rate. And, when you become more familiar with Distiller and its automation capabilities, the print/distill method takes no longer than the Export method.
Try the print/distill route, then let me know if you're still running into trouble.
Donald
Ami Porat
In attempting to PDF from PMaker 6.52, I've now tried almost everything in the last 3 days, to no avail. In Win2kPro I've tried the HP5000 Adobe PS driver, the HP4V driver: from Distiller 4 I get
%%[ Error: undefined; OffendingCommand: Pscript_WinNT_Compat ]%%
I tried to print to PDF Writer and the PS fonts I need (Petrucci - music font & NewBaskerville) are not listed in the driver font list. Instead a TrueType font is listed producing a jagged output. ATM 4 DeLuxe does not run on Win2K; Acrobat 4 help says that I need ATM to embed Type 1 fonts. Please help
Ami Porat, Music Director
Mozart Classical Orchestra
Donald Gruener
I wouldn't use any driver with HP's name on it for creating PDFs. You can download for free Adobe's latest PostScript driver, which I've found to be the ONLY driver with which I can generate distillable PostScript using 6.52 under Win2K.
I know nothing of PDFWriter other than many other users here don't speak terribly highly of it.
Another route to consider would be the upgrade to PM7. This is definitely a problem with PM6.5 and Win2K. Under Win98 I could create a PDF using device-specific drivers/PPDs, but it simply does not work anymore under Win2K. Adobe's driver + Acrobat Distiller is the only thing that works for me.
Donald
Donald Gruener
I suggest:
* Don't use Export.
* Download and install Adobe's latest PostScript driver. http://www.adobe.com/support/downloads/detail.jsp?ftpID=1500 <http://www.adobe.com/support/downloads/detail.jsp?ftpID=1500>
* Select this driver when printing your PostScript file, along with the Distiller PPD.
* Be sure you are going to File>Print when creating your .ps file and not using the .ps file option of the Export.
Donald
Helen Westbrook
%%[ Error: undefined; OffendingCommand: DeleteMe ]%%
%%[ Flushing: rest of job (to end-of-file) will be ignored ]%%
%%[ Warning: PostScript error. No PDF file produced. ] %%
When trying to export Adobe PDF. I am running PM6.52 on WinNT 4.0.
I upgraded to distiller 3.02 and upgraded the PDF export plug-in based on info read on this site.
I also tried the 'print to PS' and 'distill' separately.
Nothing is working. I have tried several documents, including one I created today, with 1 sentence, no graphics. The original document I was trying to export was one that I did a while ago [and was able to export to PDF], and needed to make some minor edits and re-export.
I also had a co-worker on a different machine try to export to PDF and hers wouldn't work either.
Any advice appreciated.
Penny Sitler
ATM Deluxe 4.1 will run on Win2K. I am using it as we speak. Might consider an upgrade...I tried to look for a price, but that part of Adobe's site seems to be down for maintenance at the moment.
Penny
Timothy Botti
Donald Gruener
The printer hooked to your computer is immaterial when creating PDFs. You can install all the printer drivers you want; you select your driver in PM's print dialog.
Timothy Botti
Does it matter, when making a PDF file from a Pagemaker file, if graphics placed in the Pagemaker file are linked or stored within the document? Previously, I tried it with linked files and found that none appeared in the PDF document.
John Davies
If you've followed the advice given in the FAQ "General Graphics Handling Recommendations", <http://www.adobeforums.com/cgi-bin/webx?50@@.ef85028/0> you should have no problem.
Iechyd da! John
13:51 26/07/02 BST
Timothy Botti
The problem with following those instructions is that TIF and EPS formats lose transparencies and fine details in the graphics I am placing. Thus, I place rasterized Illustrator files as PDF files.
Timothy Botti
After downloading the latest Adobe PostScript driver, I tried the recommended method for turning Pagemaker files into PDF files but got a message saying general printer failure. Will upgrading to Pagemaker 7.01 take care of the problem?
Donald Gruener
Timothy,
That's not entirely true. A placed vector EPS will in fact retain its transparency, and a TIF can be made to retain transparency. This is further explained in these FAQs:
Donald Gruener "3.3 - EPS: White background" 1/27/02 11:25am </cgi-bin/webx?50@@.ef6344f/6>
Donald Gruener "3.6 - TIF: Maintaining transparency from Photoshop to PageMaker" 1/23/02 9:18am </cgi-bin/webx?50@@.ef64606/0>
In fact, those are the ONLY ways PageMaker supports transparency in a PostScript workflow - and PDF creation is a PostScript workflow, very much like printing your file to a PostScript laser or imagesetter. Unless all your documents are always output only on an office PCL laser or inkjet, maintaining a clean ps workflow is an important habit, because chances are your document will at one point either go to PDF or go to a commercial printer whose equipment works in postscript.
So forget about GIFs or JPEGs or WMFs or whatever other graphics that seem to look good on screen - they'll just mess you up down the road.
Okay, with that little speech out of the way... <g>
Will upgrading to Pagemaker 7.01 take care of the problem?
Well, if you are working in Windows2000 or XP, it won't hurt. PM 6.5 is, at least for me, definitely cranky when it comes to postscript output under Win2K. But the upgrade is no guarantee. If your files are not created properly and you haven't fillowed the graphics handling rules laid out in FAQ 3.1 that John linked you to, PM may continue to choke on the file...
Donald
Timothy Botti
I've been over this ground many times. However, I just tried both EPS and TIF again with the same negative results. EPS kept the transparency but came out grainy and lost fine text detail, making the result useless. TIF lost transparency. The basic problem remains, how to reliably produce PDF files from Pagemaker documents. From reading all the questions and comments from this and other issues, it seems we're in a real crap shoot.
Rich Beardsley
I produce high-resolution pdf's from pagemaker, reliably with eps and tif images, all the time. Are you loosing transparency on screen or when you print to file using distiller as your printer? What are your settings for "send image data" in the print dialog? A ti must have a clipping path in order to not have the "white box"
Rich
Donald Gruener
Again, a grayscale or CMYK TIF must have a clipping path to retain transparency. Otherwise it is not transparent. Does your TIF have a clipping path?
EPS kept the transparency but came out grainy and lost fine text detail
If the EPS looks rough in the PDF, go into Preferences in Acrobat Reader and enable "Smooth Line Art." EPS will always look rough printed from PageMaker to a non-PostScript printer, however should print fine from the PDF.
It's not a crap shoot. It's doing everything right. Like many of us here, I create PDFs for web and for high end output daily. They look good on screen and they print well.
Donald
Timothy Botti
Selectively taking passages out of messages and responding misses critical information contained therein. It is useless to respond to your questions when you have not read carefully and understood. As for Donald's comment that everything is just fine, that is simply wrong. I have been using Pagemaker, Illustrator, Acrobat, etc. for years. Because Pagemaker started as an Aldus product and was purchased by Adobe and never made fully compatible, we continue to experience all these problems. I have now downloaded the 7.0.1 tryout version of Pagemaker and found the same and other difficulties. Instead of stubbornly insisting that everything works fine when it does not, you should admit the flaws.
Rich Beardsley
Instead of stubbornly insisting that everything works fine when it does not, you should admit the flaws.<
What flaws? I have already stated that it works fine for me, and always has. I have used the same method in PM 6.5x on Win98 and NT, and 7.0x on NT and win2k. Just because YOU are having problems does not mean that I am, nor does it mean that it's a problem with Pagemaker. For me Pagemaker is compleatly compatible with pdf. If you choose not to follow the sugestions posted instead insisting that the fault is Pagemakers that is your affair, and I wish you well.
Rich
Donald Gruener
Please understand, we are sincerely interesting in helping you. We are trying to answer this question:
The basic problem remains, how to reliably produce PDF files from Pagemaker documents.
We are telling you how we reliably produce PDF files from PageMaker.
I read back over your posts to see what critical information I'm missing, but I'm just not seeing anything that alters my advice. By the same token, you haven't responded to my questions which can help rule out certain known issues and help us focus on what's causing your problem.
So let's review:
In order to reliably create PDF from PageMaker:
* Use TIF and EPS graphics only. Maintaining transparency with these formats has been explained at length.
* Use File>Place to import graphics. Do not use copy/paste or Insert Object.
* Print PostScript to file: -File>Print
-Select "Generic PostScript" for printer and "Distiller" for PPD
-Click on Options, set "TIF/Images" to "Normal" and check "Write PostScript to File."
-Click Save
* Launch Distiller. Set job options as needed.
* Open the .ps file with Distiller
* Check the PDF with Reader. If the EPS graphics look rough in the PDF, go to Edit>Preferences in Reader and check "Smooth Line Art."
Now, if you've actually done all that, we can narrow our troubleshooting. I'd really like to help you resolve this.
Donald
viol8ion
I have used the methods described very lucidly by Donald for creating PDFs and never have a problem. I have also set up watched directories and used 'export' successfully and with no problems. And I have accomplished this on 2 disparate systems.
I have however had manifold problems when deviating from an acceptable and proven workflow, that is using garohics othere than EPS & Tiff, that were copy/pasted and not file>placed, and when using crappy fonts.
But, I assume that since Timothy is not able to successfully create PFD, I must be having problems. If Donald & Rich can take their heads out of the sand and admit that PM will not make PDFs, maybe they can help me.
carl
Timothy Botti
I'll try one last time. With the multiple (7 to 25), large size, complicated Illustrator files containing both graphics images and text I am placing (not copying and pasting) in Pagemaker, EPS format does not, repeat not, produce high quality screen images or print output. TIFF format loses the transparencies. No amount of jiggling of settings and options has ever worked to change this fact. Thus, I have had to place the Illustrator files as PDF files, which has worked to produce beautiful results. Now, however, attempting to convert the Pagemaker files to PDF files using the file>print etc. method you have detailed above, the outcome is a "general printer error" message. If, with the understanding and trust that FOR MY PARTICULAR SITUATION EPS and TIFF file placements are an impossibility, you can help me solve this problem, I will be eternally grateful. Others of a more sarcastic nature, kindly back off.
viol8ion
TIFF will not retain trancparency in PM [i]unless[/i] you use a clipping path (in creating the TIFF in Photoshop).. even then, when plaing a TIFF in PM you will see a white bix on screen (solution is to rotate image 0.1°) but the image will print without the white box.
AI EPS graphics will print fine to a PS printer.. is your printer is PS?
carl
Donald Gruener
Before I installed the full version of Acrobat, Distiller did not show up as a printer on my system.
The Adobe PostScript driver that I downloaded and installed shows up as "Generic PostScript Printer." Using PM 6.5 and Distiller 3 on Win2k, it has been the ONLY driver that will create a distillable .ps file for me.
Now that I have the full Acrobat, I just print to distiller, don't even have to check "print postscript to file." Easy as pie. I work off the assumption that anyone who is having problems creating PDFs does not have the full version of Acrobat, but just Distiller that comes with PM.
Were you able to install Distiller as a printer without owning the full version of Acrobat?
Rich Beardsley
Distiller should be postscript.
Donald,
In your post 21 you said to select "generic postscript printer" I wonder if using distiller as the printer will help correct Timothy's "general printer error"
Rich
Donald Gruener
I'm afraid I don't know what else to tell you. You seem angry that I'm not listening to you but you have steadfastedly refused to answer my or anyone else's questions.
Please remember that you came here asking for help and we are trying - at no cost to you - to help you. If you want to actually read and try what I've written above, and let me know that you have and what exactly went wrong when you did, I'll be happy to continue working through with you.
If there's any part of my suggestions you need help with, like clipping paths or something else, then please say - we can work through that too.
Donald Gruener
you use a clipping path (in creating the TIFF in Photoshop).. even then, when plaing a TIFF in PM you will see a white bix on screen (solution is to rotate image 0.1°)
Hmmm...are you sure about that? When I place a TIF with a clipping path in PageMaker I get just the clipped image as it's supposed to be, no white box...
And to nitpick futher, the rotate trick (which for me has only worked with EPS) need be only 0.01° - virtually imperceptible, and a whole lot less rotation than 0.1°... ;^)
Rich Beardsley
Rich
Donald Gruener
Donald Gruener
Jealous I am!
Rich Beardsley
I'll be thinking of you during the first sip.
:~)
Rich Beardsley
Ian? John? Bob? Others?
ps - Happy Friday to all. I'm about 45 minutes from an ice cold lager.
Rich
John Davies
> I'll bet Ian or John or Bob (or others) knows for sure.....
>
I only obtained Acrobat5 recently, and for several years only had the
facilities supplied with PM - which perhaps goes along to explaining why I'm
happy with export to PDF.
IIRC, PM6.52 did not automatically install everything required to Export to PDF
- it was necessary to install Distiller and the AdobePS driver separately. And
when installing the AdobePS driver, finding the Distiller PPD was no easy task.
In fact many people never did find it and used the Generic Colour PPD instead
which, being generic, had shortcomings.
So it was possible to have "Distiller on File" as a printer without having
Acrobat installed, but now installing Acrobat does it all.
Iechyd da! John
Merseyside UK
Written at Sat, 27 Jul 2002 00:44 +0100, probably posted later.
John Davies
> when I woke up at 6 this morning it was, what, 4 your time.
>
It'd be about noon here, then. The pubs would have been open for an hour!
Iechyd da! John
Merseyside UK
Written at Sat, 27 Jul 2002 00:54 +0100, probably posted later.
Donald Gruener
John, how do you do this? I have never been able to select Distiller as the printer in PM's print dialog, I've only been able to select the Distiller PPD.
The pubs would have been open for an hour!
Whooboy, am I ever ready for a pub today..!
It's finally 5 in my time zone, I'm outta here, back Monday. Good weekend all.
Donald
John Davies
> John, how do you do this? I have never been able to select Distiller as the printer in PM's print dialog,
>
It took some digging around on the PM6.52 CD to get the essentials installed and then some tweaking.
I haven't used PM6.52 for some time now, but if I can find the time and a win98 PC at work, I'll see if I
can recreate it all.
I've just been promoted at work, and which means less time with computers and more time on strategy and
supervision. :-(
> It's finally 5 in my time zone
>
Well past my bedtime here.
Iechyd da! John
Merseyside UK
viol8ion
now I am recovering from a lost weekend... zydeco music and beer and Bushmills and Black Bush and oysters and full body massage and too much Singha beer and Burmese food... happy to be back at work and start being lucid again...
Donald Gruener
viol8ion
John Davies
> to think that I was once an upstanding citizen....
>
I'm going to be one when I grow up.
Iechyd da! John
Merseyside UK
Written at Mon, 29 Jul 2002 20:22 +0100, probably posted later.
John Davies
> It's not all it's cracked up to be.
>
I'll continue to spend my money on wine, women and gambling and waste the rest
then.
Iechyd da! John
Merseyside UK
Written at Mon, 29 Jul 2002 20:44 +0100, probably posted later.
viol8ion
Been there, done that. It's not all it's cracked up to be.
carl