Serious Quark postscript and PDF question

[matsudairo]

Dear reader,

I'm having some difficulties printing my quark-document (Quark 5.0) in Distiller (5.0). There seem to be two possibilities.
1 file > export > to PDF
When I do this (with my distiller running) Quark indicates that in order to create a ps-file a postscript printer has to be selected. Where do I select that printer, isn't that simply my Distiler printer?
How can I make this work?

2 file > print an in the printing window select the Distiller as printer. When I hit print (with the Distiller running) the printing gives an error (there was an error printing ...*.pdf -retry or cancel). All this time the Distiller hasn't interacted in any way with Quark.

So how do I print into a post-script (and a pdf file) instead of to my HP printer. Then how do I import the file into distiller. Did I totally forget some fundamental actions? Is it a software problem?

Thanks in advance, Matthias Havenaar (The Neterlands)

PS.
This is my first time with distiller by the way.
I'm using a pc with win2000, QuarkXpress 5.0 and Distiller 5.0.

 

[el236]

*1 file > export > to PDF*

Well Matthias, what I can make out is that you may not have the right ppd configured for the QXP. just go to Utilities>PPD Manager>check if you have the PPD for adobe distiller there. If not then copy the distiller PPD ( could be adist14.ppd- I'm not sure)to the same destination folder as showing in the path there (C:\WINNT\system32\spool\drivers\w32x86\3) and click on update.

Also do check in the Edit>Preferences>Application and then in the PDF just check out the distiller path and workflow as "distill Immediately".

That should basically solve the problem for this part.

*2 file > print*

well with the error it looks as if your distiller installation has not been proper.for a test lets create a PDF.for this you need a virtual printer. how to go abt creating a virtual postscript printer is as follows:-
*go to start menu>settings>printers>add printer
*create a local printer
*choose the port as "file"
*choose "Apple" as manufacture and printer as "apple laserwriter II ntx".
*make it default and do not share the printer
* dont print a test page and then just finish the setup.

Now just move to the file>print. you must be having the same printer there showing in the printer tab. if this prints well then there may be some other problem.

Hope this helps.



EL236

~*The Art of Communication*~

 

[matsudairo]

el236, i wanted to thank you first for this pretty thorough reply. I got sorted out a few things, but didn't manage a to create a PDF file yet.
Method 1 still no effect. By creating the PDF document it gives an error (-1).
In Method 2 I was more succesful. I was able to create a ps-file, but when importing in distiller it gives a ps-error (%%[ Warning: PostScript error. No PDF file produced. ] %%). What could be the problem? In Quark? In Distiller? Or in the fact that I chose apple laserprinter II NTX (I run windows 2000)?

Greetings Matthias

 

[el236]

Sorry matthias, for the delay in replying.

Well it is not a QuarkXPress issue. As you are able to create a .ps file that means QuarkXPress is able to produce a .ps file.

Generally, when a PostScript error is generated, it is a result of damage to the document or a damaged element in the document like a graphic.

To narrow this down we could run a quick test.

Create a new document in QuarkXPress and type the word Test in the document. Now, try to create a PDF file of this document.

Chances are, it will distill as expected. If this is the case, it tells us that the problem you are currently experiencing is related directly to the document itself.

In that case, the first thing I would recommend is that you try a technique called a Thumbnail Drag which can help repair minor damage in documents.

For specific instructions on doing a Thumbnail Drag, go to;

http://www.quark.com/support/techinfo/technotes.jsp?idx=37

The other issue could be most probably font issue. try checking if you are using a font and try replacing with some system font such as courier etc.

Try these out and lets see.

EL236

~*The Art of Communication*~