Problem Creating a PDF 1

[Hopefulwriter]

I have PM 7.0, Win XP, Distiller 5
Please help! I'm trying to create a PDF for a book and thought I followed the directions correctly, but I'm still getting errors. It is approx. a 300-page book with many images. I moved it on zip disks from my old computer with Win 98 because it was too large to save there. Then I dragged the separate components into a folder on the hard drive of my XP computer named "WatersEdge." I had to convert my two fonts as they weren't compatible. When I click the Save button to save the PostScript file the box comes up in the screen with the heading of my original file name as follows: Find Pub: C:\MaryAugust25\Marybookpic\Marypics\Titleco. . . I had named the new folder "WatersEdge" and this comes up in the box for the folder, but the file is the first document in the book list "Halftitle.ps." The name of the book is "Water's Edge." So now I see all the parts of the book (13 in all) instead of a postscript file. It has boxes at the lower right: Open, Cancel, Ignore, and Ignore All. Something isn't right. When I click on Open it says, "Book list update error. Publication already in book list with a click box 'Continue.'" When I click on that the former screen with my 13 parts comes back. Also when I open the Acrobat Distiller it says Job Options: ebook. Is that what it is supposed to say? Other options are Press, Print and Screen. I thought it was to go to file. I'm not sure that this all makes sense. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

 

[BionicJohn]

I’m not sure I fully understand everything you’re saying. Let’s take one thing at time.

Book: You are talking about the PM Book facility which enables, in your case, 13 separate PM files (chapters?) to be combined at the time of printing. Yes?

If you have changed the folder structure when transferring the files to your WinXP, you will need to re-concatenate the files using the “Book” facility. I am assuming that any/all images are correctly linked and you have no font problems.

You are using the two-stage process to create the PDF, which fine.

So now I see all the parts of the book (13 in all) instead of a postscript file.

Whereabouts in the process do you see that?

Also when I open the Acrobat Distiller it says Job Options: ebook. Is that what it is supposed to say? Other options are Press, Print and Screen. I thought it was to go to file

Distiller takes the Postscript File and converts it to a PDF. The job options determine the quality and size of the PDF. “Press” is the highest quality, “Print” is for desktop printing and Screen is lo-rez for screen/internet viewing. You can also create your own bespoke Job options.

The alternate route to creating a PDF is to use the Export… AdobePDF… route. While this can be temperamental, when it works it does all for you.

Here's a link to several FAQs about creating PDFs from Pagemaker:

http://www.adobeforums.com/webx/.ef8500f/

Liverpool: Capital of Culture 2008
Anfield: Capital of Football since 1892
Iechyd da! John
Glannau Mersi, Lloegr.

 

[Hopefulwriter]

Mr. SlimJohn, thanks for answering. There is actually five parts to the book, the rest of the documents are the front pages i.e. title pages, dedication, preface. I have used the Book Utility and put them all in order. I see this window with all the parts right after I have clicked on Save at the Print Features window, which has Acrobat Distiller 3011.104, and the resolution is Printer's default. It says on that window: Click the Save button to save your PostScript file. About the fonts, they are Futura MD BT, used for the titles, and Futura Bk Bt, used for the text. Then I had to change the text Futura to Futura Lt BT, as the XP didn't have Futura Bk BT. I changed it from Temporary to Permanent. I also tried the Export PDF route, and it comes up with all kinds of little boxes including "Getting the number ofstories in publication" and Unable to open the publication." I will read the link you gave me and work a little more to try to resolve my problems. I'm sure you will be hearing from me again. Thanks so much!

 

[BionicJohn]

I also tried the Export PDF route, and it comes up with all kinds of little boxes including "Getting the number of stories in publication" and Unable to open the publication."

That suggest to me that you need to re-create the Book Publication List.

Liverpool: Capital of Culture 2008
Anfield: Capital of Football since 1892
Iechyd da! John
Glannau Mersi, Lloegr.

 

[Hopefulwriter]

Hi, Mr. SlimJim,
I thank you so much for your advice. I went back and re-created practically everything. It finally worked. I'm not sure if I did everything right or not, but I have a very nice looking PDF. One thing -- on the Print Paper step, my instructions said to check the boxes next to Printer's marks, Page information, and Center page in print area. But they were grayed out, so I couldn't. Also I didn't know whether to select press, e-book, or what for the way it was saved. And the only screen that came up about embedding fonts didn't have my Futura fonts on it, so I don't know how they will come out at the printer.
Another problem -- in my text in three different chapters I had an odd thing happen. The words are spaced out really strange and won't come together. I realize that this happens to an extent with right justify, but this is extreme. For instance, I have one that, on one normal line there are two words. Ex. "one guessing. . ."
I have tried to highlight the line plus line before and after and then click the correct font again, and also the font size. I've also deleted the space, but then the word connects to the word before it and when I put a space in it it goes back to where it was. Here is another example:
"activated a morphine drip thinking."
I have three altogether. They are very noticeable and aren't the regular right justification. Otherwise, I am in business, I THINK. I still feel very unsure, but am hoping everything will turn out wonderful. Looking forward to hearing from you soon. Thank you!

 

[BionicJohn]

So you're sending the PDF to professional printers?
What advice have they given you?

One thing -- on the Print Paper step, my instructions said to check the boxes next to Printer's marks, Page information, and Center page in print area. But they were grayed out, so I couldn't.

First make sure the "compose to printer" is the Postscript printer or Distiller for each of your publications.

In the PM Print Menu, under "Document" make sure the Postscript Printer is selected and the associated PPD.

If you can't find the PPD, here's a link on how to install it.

http://www.johndavies.mersinet.co.uk/exportpdf/ppd.htm

Then all should be well when you click "paper" in the PM Print Menu.

Liverpool: Capital of Culture 2008
Anfield: Capital of Football since 1892
Iechyd da! John
Glannau Mersi, Lloegr.

 

[Hopefulwriter]

Thanks, SlimJohn. I got everything taken care of in the last post except knowing for sure if my fonts come out right. I don't know why my Futura fonts don't show up in the Job Options box (fonts area). Just the Basic 14 show up. And the "Always Embed" area is grayed out so I can't put them in there. The PDF looks fine, but don't know if it still will at the Printer's.
When I mentioned "my instructions" I meant the ones that I searched for over the internet. If it isn't against the Tek-Tips rules I will tell you who is going to print our book. It is an online publisher.
Anyway, I now have another problem. The book is 6x9, and at one place in the many instructions I have read it said to make it an inch bigger around, which I did. Now the PDF is 7x10, and I think that is wrong. I can't seem to find exactly where I did this. In the Job Options it has Width 612.0 by Height 792.0 as the default, and when I changed that to 6x9 and saved it,the next time I went into it it was back to the default again. Thank you for your expert advice.

 

[BionicJohn]

You can check to see if the fonts are embedded by looking in the properties of the PDF.

As regards the margins needed for binding &c., the publisher will be able to advise. There is a setting in Distiller for the default page size, e.g. A4 (210mm × 297mm)

Liverpool: Capital of Culture 2008
Anfield: Capital of Football since 1892
Iechyd da! John
Glannau Mersi, Lloegr.

 

[Hopefulwriter]

SlimJohn:
Well, I thought everything was fine, as the printer/publisher said they don't need the printer's marks. When I took them off for some reason I was able to change the defaults to the 6x9 that my book is in. In the PDF Options, I'm not supposed to check "Embed Tags in PDF," am I?
Also I went back to my source folder and find that in Link Options that some of my Graphics, which I had checked "Store copy in Publication" are unchecked. I am going back in and correcting them.
When I tried to distill(second step) I was getting a PostScript error, "No PDF file produced." That seems to be the main problem but I don't know what is causing it.
In some instructions it said to put the PostScript on the Desktop, then drag into distiller, and that would do the final step. Well, I don't quite understand how to do this. Do I need to name my file Desktop\\halftitle.ps instead of C:\\WatersEdge\halftitle.ps to get it to the Desktop? Thanks for any help.

 

[BionicJohn]

I was getting a PostScript error, "No PDF file produced." That seems to be the main problem but I don't know what is causing it.
In some instructions it said to put the PostScript on the Desktop, then drag into distiller, and that would do the final step. Well, I don't quite understand how to do this. Do I need to name my file Desktop\halftitle.ps instead of C:\WatersEdge\halftitle.ps to get it to the Desktop?

"No PDF file produced." suggests the *.PS was empty or of zero length.

The location of the file "halftitle.ps" doesn't really matter, but knowing its exact location does.

C:\WatersEdge\halftitle.ps is fine.

You could then load up Distiller, click File->Open and navigate to the folder C:\Watersedge to find the file halftitle.ps

If you are sending the PDF to a commecrial printer, I would recommend using the JobOption "High Print Quality" or "Press".

I'm at work, and as we no loinger use or have PM installed, I can't post any screen shots. Also we're on Distiller 7 so I'm going on memory re: Distiller 5.

Liverpool: Capital of Culture 2008
Anfield: Capital of Football since 1892
Iechyd da! John
Glannau Mersi, Lloegr.

 

[Hopefulwriter]

I tried what you said and actually had tried before. In the Acrobat Distiller this is what is listed:

PDF File Time PSFile Size Settings PDF Folder
Halftitle 0.00 Halftitle.ps 73.3 Pres (1) WatersEdge

%%[ 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 ****

Then I doubleclicked on PDF Folder WatersEdge and got the following:

%%[ Error: Helvetica not found. Font cannot be embedded. ]%%
%%[ Error: invalidfont; OffendingCommand: findfont ]%%

Stack:
/Font
(Helvetica)
0
1
/_BFontUOThick
false

%%[ Flushing: rest of job (to end-of-file) will be ignored ]%%
%%[ Warning: PostScript error. No PDF file produced. ] %%

As I told you I made a partial successful PDF, but it is only 33 pages, and it seems it brings the size(73.3) it was up, even when I sent it to the Recycle Bin.

Is this a font problem?

By the way, I have Distiller 7.0 also. Does it matter which one I use? I couldn't see any difference when I tried it. I still got the error.

 

[BionicJohn]

By the way, I have Distiller 7.0 also.

Which are you using?
You shouldn't have both Ver5 and Ver7 installed on the same PC.

Does that mean you have Acrobat 7 as well?

If you have Acrobat 7 installed, than there should be a printer called "Adobe PDF" which should create the PDF easily.

%%[ Error: Helvetica not found. Font cannot be embedded. ]%%
%%[ Error: invalidfont; OffendingCommand: findfont ]%%

Here's an FAQ about this error:
Helvetica or Times Roman Error When Creating PDF

and a page in Adobe PM Support KB
Helvetica or Times Roman error occurs when you try to convert a PostScript file from PageMaker to PDF (Acrobat Distiller 5.x-7.x)


You need to make sure you're using PM7.0.1a

Help -> About PageMaker® and look in the top left hand corner to see which version you have.

Liverpool: Capital of Culture 2008
Anfield: Capital of Football since 1892
Iechyd da! John
Glannau Mersi, Lloegr.

 

[Hopefulwriter]

SlimJohn,
You are awesome! Thank you for sticking with me. It worked this time. I did have to download Pagemaker 7.0.1a. And I took out the Fonts Times and Helvetica to the Never Embed area. I feel like such a beginner, but the author (my friend) I'm doing this for is depending on me, so I had to get it done. I haven't tried the cover yet, but I think it will be much easier. I'm sure you will be hearing from me again. I have learned a lot. This has been hell week for me. But now I'm shouting. I will contribute. Thank you sooo much. Arlene

 

[BionicJohn]

Good to hear you're back on track. Hope the book is a best-seller!

Actually, all the above is in the guide I wrote in about five years ago.
Installing and Setting Up PM7's Export… Adobe PDF… using the “Application” CD-ROM

PM hasn't changed since then, but standing still on the escalator of life means going backwards.



Liverpool: Capital of Culture 2008
Anfield: Capital of Football since 1892
Iechyd da! John
Glannau Mersi, Lloegr.

 

[Hopefulwriter]

I will keep your instructions if I have problems again. Thanks from the bottom of my heart.

 

[Hopefulwriter]

SlimJohnD,
You helped me so much, and I did the PDF on the book that I was working on and uploaded it to the Print On Demand company that we are using. I was so happy when we received the finished book, but it was printed rather light, like my draft print on my home printer, and the pictures aren't the best quality. What I asked them to do is to make the print darker so that the pictures and the print are both darker. They have sent us two books and the first book the pictures were darker than the second book. Their excuse that the pictures (images) are not good quality is that, for example, the dpi is only 135 on the one particular picture he mentioned. I explained to him that I had all the pictures in 300 dpi. I also went back in to my Pagemaker document and rechecked them. They are 300 dpi. They look just great on the PDF. In the Links Manager I have checked Store copy in Publication and Update automatically. I thought I did everything right in the PDF. Could I have done something wrong when I made the PDF? If you would like me to send you a chapter with some of the pictures I will try to upload to you. Thanks for anything you can do for me.

 

[BionicJohn]

In the Links Manager I have checked Store copy in Publication and Update automatically.

Best practice is NOT to store the image in the PM File. It makes the PM file very large, and increases the risk of corruption. PM does not create backups automatically, which means a small fault could runi everything.

This FAQ: describes the best way.

They are 300 dpi. They look just great on the PDF.

What looks good on the screen doesn't always print as expected.

You need to check your Distiller joboptions, and make sure they're "High Quality".

​

[url=http://www.liverpool08.com/]Liverpool: Capital of Culture 2008
Anfield: Capital of Football since 1892
Iechyd da! John
Glannau Mersi, Lloegr.

 

[Hopefulwriter]

SlimJohnD,
Thank you for your information. I checked my Distiller job options, and they were High Quality Print and just exactly like your illustration. I have already uploaded our book to the printer's website, and even though I apparently did a couple of things in not the preferred way, it is there and I am having problems doing it again. You indicated not to store copy in publication and update automatically, but the file sent was really not very large when made into a PDF. It was 23.5 MB. It uploaded without a problem. I used Place for the graphics. I did make a couple pictures larger, but they were all right in the book, except for the print quality. So I certainly would prefer leaving everything the way it is and have the printer print with a darker ink.
If I had to again make the PDF, I have another problem. I see that right now my file might be corrupted (thank goodness, I made a backup), but when I was trying to print from my Pagemaker book file, it again brings up the screen with all my files in it, and the Blue message area at the
top says, "Find Pub: C\MaryAug25\Marybookpics\. . . It just sets there and won't print. So don't know what that means. So as I say, I would rather go with the PDF I already uploaded. The information that you gave me to check makes me think that it is acceptable the way it is. If you have any other ideas for me, let me know. You have been a lifesaver. Thank you.

 

[Hopefulwriter]

SlimJohnD:
I finally got someone to answer me on a forum on Lulu.com, where I'm trying to get the book printed correctly. I was concerned that their print is very light, both on the text and the images. Can you figure this one out? I can't. Even if I have done something wrong I will still say the first book we bought (it is POD) would have been OK if they would have used a darker ink.
"Your pdf has images which have been created as layers within the file. You need to find a way of flattening these as the pdf is created, otherwise our digital printers won't handle them well and they will probably print faintly, as you're finding."

 

[BionicJohn]

Sorry, I've not replied sooner, but I've been away.

You indicated not to store copy in publication and update automatically, but the file sent was really not very large when made into a PDF. It was 23.5 MB.

You're confusing the PM file with the PDF. Always link the images to PM, don't embed them. A 25Mb PDF which is high quality is not excessive. If you were locating it on a website for download, you'd probably get it down to 2 or 3Mb, but the quality of pictures would be just good enough for screen display at 72dpi instead of 300.

message area at the
top says, "Find Pub: C\MaryAug25\Marybookpics\. . . It just sets there and won't print. So don't know what that means.

Clearly the links to other files has been lost. Whether it's corruption or not, I don't know. I can only suggest re-creating them.

I was concerned that their print is very light, both on the text and the images.

Are we talking black print coming out as say 80% or all colours?

This may help.

"Black" problem - a colour called "Auto"

Text imported directly from a Word doc will bring in its own colour - an RGB 'black' that shows up as 'auto' in the colour palette. Click on that colour in the palette and drag it to the trash bin - you will be asked if you want to replace all instances of auto with black. Say yes.

RE: Flattening the images - I would expect that if you are using TIFFs, this has almost certainly be done.

Liverpool: Capital of Culture 2008
Anfield: Capital of Football since 1892
Iechyd da! John
Glannau Mersi, Lloegr.