Skip navigation
G\'dru
G\'dru Calculating status...
Currently Being Moderated

Cannot print to Adobe PDF in certain programs

Aug 2, 2012 7:55 AM

I'm using Acrobat Professional 8.0 on Windows Vista 32 bit.  I can created PDFs from MS Word, Excel etc, but when I try to print to PDF from my work software (16 bit application), the dialogue box comes up as "printing to PDF/Documents" and then nothing happens.  The dialogue box disappears.  I checked the printer settings while I try to print, and the Distiller does spool, but that's it.  When I print from say Excel, it prompts me to save as a file name, and then creates the PDF, so I am a loss as to why this is happening. Help!

1130 Views   8 Replies   Latest reply: G\'dru, Aug 3, 2012 11:56 AM
 
Replies
  • David Kastendick
    3,218 posts
    Apr 7, 2010
    Currently Being Moderated
    1. David Kastendick,
    Aug 2, 2012 8:58 AM   in reply to G\'dru
    Report

    Does your application print to a regular (paper) printer without issue?  If so, what about a postscript printer? 

     

    You may also want to try to Print to File, then process the postscript file through Distiller.

     

    -David

     
    |
    Mark as:
  • G\'dru
    Currently Being Moderated
    2. G\'dru,
    Aug 2, 2012 9:46 AM   in reply to David Kastendick
    Report

    Thank you David for your response.  Yes, I can print to a regular printer without issue.  I've tried printing to a "spooled file" which is an option in my software but the same issue occurs.  The Adobe PDF printing dialogue box appears and then disappears with no results.

     

    I am unfamiliar with postscript printers so I haven't pursued that avenue yet.  Could you elaborate when convienient?  Many thanks,
    Greg

     
    |
    Mark as:
  • Bill@VT
    Currently Being Moderated
    3. Bill@VT,
    Aug 2, 2012 12:41 PM   in reply to G\'dru
    Report

    The Adobe PDF printer is a PS printer. Just select print-to-file (the default extension if PRN, even though it is a PS file) and note the name and location you use. Then open the file in Distiller. You should get an error dialog in Distiller. Copy this dialog back to the forum.

     
    |
    Mark as:
  • G\'dru
    Currently Being Moderated
    4. G\'dru,
    Aug 2, 2012 2:19 PM   in reply to Bill@VT
    Report

    Thanks for your response.  I've printed to a spooled file and when trying to open with Adobe, here's the dialogue box.

     

    Adobe Error.JPG

     

    Thanks, Greg

     
    |
    Mark as:
  • Sabian Zildjian
    Currently Being Moderated
    5. Sabian Zildjian,
    Aug 2, 2012 2:41 PM   in reply to G\'dru
    Report

    Open your "test.pdf" in a text editor like notepad.

     

    Do you see this text at the beginning of the file?

     

    %PDF-1.6

    %‚„œ”

     

     

    If not, then it's doesn't have the correct file information.

     
    |
    Mark as:
  • G\'dru
    Currently Being Moderated
    6. G\'dru,
    Aug 2, 2012 5:25 PM   in reply to Sabian Zildjian
    Report

    The text at the beginning is

    %!PS Adobe-3.0

    %%Title: Intercept

    %% Creator:  PScript5.dll Version 5.2.2

     

    Any guesses?  What boggles me is the fact I have no problem printing to a PDF in either Word or Excel, Outlook etc.  I run the same tandem programs on my desktop (using Windows XP SP3) and it works fine.  I wonder if its a Vista issue that there is a "fix" for.

     
    |
    Mark as:
  • Bill@VT
    Currently Being Moderated
    7. Bill@VT,
    Aug 3, 2012 5:33 AM   in reply to G\'dru
    Report

    It appears that you have printed to file and not the Adobe PDF port. The result is a PS file that still needs to be processed by Distiller. At this point, simply open the file in Distiller to complete the conversion to PDF. In the future, be sure that the print-to-file is not active. In addition, AcroTray needs to be running in the background to process the PS file that is created in the Adobe PDF port and automate the process of running it through Distiller.

     
    |
    Mark as:
  • G\'dru
    Currently Being Moderated
    8. G\'dru,
    Aug 3, 2012 11:56 AM   in reply to Bill@VT
    Report

    Thank you.  I've opened the file and converted to a PDF using distiller.  I still am somewhat confused as to why this extra step but at least I can print these files now on my business software.  Much appreciated.

     
    |
    Mark as:
Actions

More Like This

  • Retrieving data ...

Bookmarked By (0)

Answers + Points = Status

  • 10 points awarded for Correct Answers
  • 5 points awarded for Helpful Answers
  • 10,000+ points
  • 1,001-10,000 points
  • 501-1,000 points
  • 5-500 points