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Problem converting a Postscript file to PDF using Distiller in Acrobat X Pro

drmark
Registered: Jun 14 2011
Posts: 3

I have a TeX dvi file that I'm trying to convert to pdf by first saving the file as a Postscript file and then using Acrobat Distiller in Acrobat X Pro to create the pdf file. Distiller keeps crashing saying that it's having a problem with a Times New Roman, Italic font. This font should be always embedded so I don't know why Distiller is having a problem. Anyone have an answer?

Dr. Mark T. Stollberg
Astronomical Applications Dept.
US Naval Observatory
Washington, DC 20392

My Product Information:
Acrobat Pro 10.0.2, Windows
Dov Isaacs
Expert
Registered: Nov 21 2005
Posts: 50
What do you mean by “crashing?” Is the program actually terminating or are you getting an error message with regards to processing the PostScript? There is a tremendous difference between the two!

Assuming the latter (PostScript error message), you really need to provide EXACTLY what that error message is including any error handler information in the log file. There could be any number of problems including the possibility that the Tex dvi to PostScript converter is producing dodgy PostScript (improperly embedding of a TrueType font as Type 42 or perhaps improperly referencing such a font if it isn't embedding it) or that perhaps you are using joboptions for distillation that are not appropriate for your desired results and the PostScript you have.

Provide more information and we'll try to narrow it down. (We might also need to see that actual PostScript file!)

- Dov

Dov Isaacs is a Principal Scientist at Adobe Systems Incorporated specializing in PDF publishing workflow, PDF print standards, prepress, and printing. He is also chair of the ISO TC130 WG2/TF2 group responsible for PDF/X standards.

drmark
Registered: Jun 14 2011
Posts: 3
Hi Dov,

Sorry about the vagueness of my post. I originally posted with more details including the error message from the log file, but that message somehow disappeared the next day when I went to see if anyone had replied. I'll try again.

Distiller doesn't fail. It tries to execute but coughs up on the Times New Roman, Italic font. Here's what the log file says:

Processing prologue.ps...
Done processing prologue.ps.
%%[ Error: invalidfont; OffendingCommand: definefont; ErrorInfo: .notdef --nostringval-- ]%%

Stack:
/Font
-dict-
/TimesNewRoman,Italic


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

Let me now point out that the settings we're using we've been using for a few years now and have worked fine with the three previous versions of Adobe Acrobat Pro. We've changed nothing on our end. While the typesetting program, PCTeX, has had one new version come out during this time, the process up until now has not been affected. This includes last year when we were running Adobe Acrobat Pro version 9.

I could send the postscript file, but I don't know how to attach it to this message. If there is a method, let me know. Otherwise, if you can provide an email address I can send it to, I'd be happy to send it along.

Dr. Mark T. Stollberg
Astronomical Applications Dept.
US Naval Observatory
Washington, DC 20392

Dov Isaacs
Expert
Registered: Nov 21 2005
Posts: 50
Mark,

OK. Apparently, the PostScript interpreter in Distiller is finding an error in the actual font definition, although from the error message itself it is not possible to determine whether the font is actually embedded in the PostScript file or whether it is being accessed by reference to the font installed on your system.

If you want us to look at this further, send the file to me "isaacs" at "adobe" dot "com" ...

- Dov

Dov Isaacs is a Principal Scientist at Adobe Systems Incorporated specializing in PDF publishing workflow, PDF print standards, prepress, and printing. He is also chair of the ISO TC130 WG2/TF2 group responsible for PDF/X standards.