Certain pdfs show characters as rectangles

Question

We have the problem that sometimes in pdfs from a another source the characters are shown as rectangles. this problem does not occur with every pdf and just certain people. We recently updated acrobat to 64 bit and using the newest version.

I also read, that the option "only use local fonts" was removed in dec. 2023. This option helped us in another case with the display of pdfs.

Is there another way to fix this problem?

AnandSri · Answer

Hello,

I hope you're doing well, and we apologize for the delayed response and the trouble.

Please ensure you have the latest version of Acrobat installed on the machine: 25.001.20428 Planned update, Mar 04, 2025. Check for any pending updates from the Menu > help > check for updates, install the updates, restart the app and the machine, and check. For more information, see this: https://adobe.ly/4bvN7Hf.

Embed Fonts in the PDF: If you have access to the source file, make sure all fonts are embedded when exporting the PDF. This can often be done in the export settings of the software used to create the PDF. https://adobe.ly/3F8RMTz

Use the Preflight Tool (Acrobat Pro): Tools > Preflight (Acrobat Pro only). Run the "PDF Analysis > Fonts" check to identify font issues. See the article for more details to fix the Font issues: Analyzing documents with the Preflight tool (Adobe Acrobat Pro)

Print as Image: If re-creating the PDF isn't feasible, try printing the document as an image. This method can bypass font issues and produce a correct printout.

Check System Fonts: Ensure that the necessary fonts are installed on your system. Sometimes, PDFs rely on system fonts that may not be available.

I hope this helps, and let us know how it goes.

Thanks,

Anand Sri.

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