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Adobe PDF printer fails

Forum Index > PDF Creation > Adobe PDF printer fails
2010-07-02 09:48:11
ToeRex
Registered: Jul 2 2010
Posts: 7

I'm running Acrobat Standard 9.3.3 on a Windows 7 64-bit workstation. Regardless of the application, the Adobe PDF printer does not work. I've had this machine for about 3 months and had this problem only in the last month. No idea what caused it the first time, but it doesn't work now.

Here's a summary of the errors I get:
From Acrobat, "The document could not be printed.", then "There were no pages selected to print"
From Excel 2007, "Your file could bot be printed due to an error on Adobe PDF on Ne06:. There are several possible reasons:" (It then lists standard cable issues or memory issues, nothing related)
From Word 2007, "Windows cannot print due to a problem with the current printer setup."
When printing a test page from Devices and Printers I get no error but it crashes explorer.exe and no test page is created

I've deleted the printer, uninstalled/reinstalled Acrobat 9 multiple times, and googled the crap out of this for days but am completely stuck. PDFMaker appears to work as I can do a Save As - Adobe PDF from within Office, however that is not a good workaround for me as I need to be able to reprint pdf's from Acrobat that were created in AutoCAD (DWG to PDF). Since I only have Acrobat Standard and not Pro, this reprinting from Acrobat is the only way I've found to flatten layers, plus it helps with screen appearance of the pdf (This is important to me since my files printed from AutoCAD are often displayed on a projector).

Clear as mud? I'll be glad to provide any information that would be useful. I'm very computer savvy but am totally stumped here. Thanks folks!

My Product Information:
Acrobat Standard 9.3, Windows
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2010-07-26 07:49:12
#1
csialbany
Registered: Jul 26 2010
Posts: 5
Hi,

I'm having the same problem, I was wondering if you ever found a solution.

Thanks.
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2010-07-27 07:30:54
#2
ToeRex
Registered: Jul 2 2010
Posts: 7
Somebody out there is in my boat! I've not found a solution at all. The only workaround for me is to ask someone else in the office to reprint the pdf's. And that's annoying, to me and whomever I have to bother.

Anyone out there have an idea, anything?
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2010-08-04 08:59:57
#3
csialbany
Registered: Jul 26 2010
Posts: 5
Hi,

I have tried installing adobe acrobat 8 and 9 with the same problem. I found that the built in pdfmaker in excel 2010 works fine (file -> save and send -> Create PDF). In 2007 you might be able to go to File->Save As and choose PDF as the file type. Certainly not a solution but a workaround for the time being.
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2010-08-04 11:54:39
#4
csialbany
Registered: Jul 26 2010
Posts: 5
I just spoke with Adobe support and they said that Acrobat is not compatible with Office 2010. They suggested I use the built-in pdf creation method described in my previous post.
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2010-08-04 12:09:13
#5
ToeRex
Registered: Jul 2 2010
Posts: 7
Hey, csialbany, thanks for the follow up. I am using Office 2007 and am able to use the Save As...PDF function just fine as you described. There's still one kicker that keeps me from moving past this. The primary use I have for printing to Adobe PDF is from within Acrobat itself. When I create a PDF from AutoCAD it comes with layers and with screen visibility issues. Since many of my files get put in presentations to be displayed from a pc to a projector, screen quality is a major issue. Before I had this problem with the Adobe PDF printer, it was so easy to open the newly created PDF from CAD and simply reprint within Acrobat to Adobe PDF. This solved all my problems; it flattened the layers and vastly improved the screen appearance, not to mention roped in the file size better than 'reduce pdf size' has done. I posted the Office errors to try to provide as much info as possible, but truthfully the problem lies with the Adobe PDF printer. I've spent days on this problem, and as I type this I've got our network guy working on it, but even he is scratching his head and calling his boss now. Crazy stuff.
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2010-08-20 14:33:35
#6
rtperry
Registered: Aug 20 2010
Posts: 1
I would agree that in Office 2010 one can convert documents to PDF using File -> Save or Send and click on "create a PDF/XPS document".Beyond Office, though, I too am finding problems. For me it is IE 8, where printing to the PDF writer fails, sometimes with a log file, sometimes without any notification (other than the absence of the expected PDF file).

I am using Win 7 x64, Office 2010 x32, Acrobat 9.3.3, IE 8.0.7600

Thanks for raising the issue,
RP
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2010-08-25 09:00:59
#7
ToeRex
Registered: Jul 2 2010
Posts: 7
We're not sure why, but it turns out that any other profile on my pc IS able to print with Adobe PDF. So we trashed my current profile and created a new one, and all is right with the world. Kind of a pain, but it sure is nice to have this working again. This may be worth a shot as a workaround for the other users here having trouble...
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