Cannot extract the embedded font

Typically, you'd need the applicable font installed on the local machine.

Be well...

You can try this workaround : open the PDF file in Acrobat > select the "Print as Image" (or may be "Image", or "Bitmap") checkbox in Print > Advanced
Then, print as PDF.

Another way to do the same thing is to protect the file against hight-res printing : then print as PDF (this will force low-res printing).

This tip save me some docs… but in any case all the file content will be 150 dpi downsampled.

;-)

Dear daka630,

Thank you for the tip, but how can I install that font on my computer?

Dear Merlin,

Thanks for your reply but this is not working. Even after I print as image, I still see the dots since the missing characters weren't there in the first place.

Bon dias Cheetah,

Unfortunately, getting the font could be awkward.
Presuming it is only an issue related to identification, acquisition, and installation of the font;
you'd have to chase down who made the PDF.
What process was used to create the source content from which the PDF was made.
In that process, what fonts were used?
For instance, some report generation software can be configured to output PDF.
If that's the case you might have to root out who maintains the routine.

Alternatively, the PDF may have been produced by a content author (individual)
working out of an application (FrameMaker, InDesign, QuarkXpress, Word, whatever).
Speaking with this individual could lead to identification of what specific fonts were used
in the authoring file.

A starting point would be to look at the information available in the PDF's
Document Properties under the Description tab.
Sometimes useful information is available regarding the Application and PDF Producer used.
Example: A PDF I am working on just now shows -
Application: FrameMaker 8.0
PDF Producer: Acrobat Distiller 8.1.0 (Windows)

From that you know the PDF came from an individual using an authoring application.
Thus, at a minimum, any fonts used would be associated with those provided when FrameMaker is installed.
However, MS Office install or Corel (WordPerfect) install would provide other fonts.
Then, if other fonts from, say a fonts package, were on the local machine then they might have been used.

Point is, by speaking with this PDF's content author you'd be able to ferret out what font or fonts are in play.
Not quite as straight forward if you have a PDF from a Crystal Reports or Ghostscript routine.

All in all, it becomes something of a "science project", no?
If you can get in touch with whomever created the PDF it might be easier to ask them to redo
the source content using more generic fonts that are typically available on all
Windows/Apple boxes.

Back in the day, some Federal agencies would use WP from which a PDF was made.
Symbols would be pulled from the WP Iconic Symbols set.
Often, reserved characters would be given a WP designated symbol.
Ok if you had WP installed.
Without WP and in Windows, the symbol became something else
(MS maps reserved characters for some of the wingdigs.
In context of the content, you'd see some odd things when bulleted lists where used.

All of this reinforces the need for content authors or those who build application routines
to pay attention to the use of characters that correctly map to Unicode characters if the
deliverable is to be PDF.

Be well...

Dear daka630,

Thank you for the hint. I contacted the person who had created the PDF and asked him to send me the original file (in PPT format). Afterwards, I created the PDF on my machine and everything works perfectly now.

I have the same error message with Acrobat Pro 9 (9.4.3). I use a Apple MacBook Pro 2.53 Ghz Dual Core with 4GB of memory. I created my pdf from Sibelius (6.2) using the save to pdf method and also save to Adobe pdf, and in some instances the application hangs and I have to restart. The document almost always opens with the error message or crashes. I have managed to open a few pdf's, which have identical characters, so I don't quite understand what is happening.

Note
I can open any of the pdf files in Preview, on my iPhone or iPad using built in apps or even iBooks without any problems. Is it possible to reset settings or preferences to default or is this wishful thinking. Any help would be appreciated. I don't accept that Acrobat can't open the pdf. If it was damaged I guess even Preview wouldn't manage to open it. I can upload a problem file for analysis if this is possible to do. Is Adobe aware of this issue? Thanks

Forgot to add..... Sibelius 6 has a Handbook and Reference Book built in with all of the symbols and characters that can be used in a Sibelius document. Each of these pdf documents open...no problem. My pdf's do not contain anything not found in the Handbook or Reference Book. Puzzling?

This appears to be an Apple OS X 10.6.7. update problem. See the discussion on Font problems after 10.6.7.