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C
CShute
Participating Frequently
October 30, 2009
Question

Problems with graphics when printing to PDF

  • October 30, 2009
  • 3 replies
  • 2015 views

When creating a PDF of a large document (8000+ pages) from FrameMaker 9.0p250, a graphic error message appears, the PDF stops generating, and the graphic images appear as gray boxes in the partially generated document. The error message states: "Cannot print some imported images. Click OK to continue."

The computer system was recently upgraded to a Dell Optiplex 755 with Intel Core2 vPro running Windows XP. Acrobat Pro v9.2.0 is also installed.

The problem occurs when generating the PDF from FrameMaker, as well as printing to file and using Acrobat Distiller to create the PDF.

A test was run on the previous system and the expected result was achieved. This system is a Dell Precision 380 with Intel Pentium 4 running Windows XP, FrameMaker upgraded to 9.0p250, and Acrobat Pro 8.1.7.

What parameters are sensitive and what should we be looking at in our operating system to correct this problem?

    This topic has been closed for replies.

    3 replies

    Arnis Gubins
    Arnis Gubins
    Inspiring
    October 30, 2009

    With 8000+ pages, it also quite possible that you're running out of resources. The (temporary) postscript file must be huge if you've used lot's of graphics.

    A
    Anonymous
    October 30, 2009

    Starting with the image itself, what kind is it? Where is it located, locally or on a network? How is it inserted in the FM file, i.e.  by reference or as an OLE object?

    Is this a single file or a book with multiple chapters? If it's multiple chapters, does the graphic behave correctly when PDFing the individual chapter? Are there other images of the same type and location that do print correctly?

    Can you confirm whether either or both systems have had the MS hotfix 952909 applied:

    > here are two links for the hotfix:

    >

    > http://blogs.adobe.com/techcomm/2008/07/hotfix_for_framemaker_1.html

    >

    > http://support.microsoft.com/kb/952909/en-us

    C
    CShuteAuthor
    Participating Frequently
    October 30, 2009

    The images are professionally created .jpg files located on a network server with a mapped drive and inserted into the FrameMaker files by reference.

    Arnis Gubins
    Arnis Gubins
    Inspiring
    October 30, 2009

    Have you tried doing split runs, i.e. generate page ranges for each half of the book at a time. If these both are succesful, then some sort of resource limit is being hit. If you get a failure, keep halving the splits until you don't get any grey boxes.

    Note: if the grey boxes start appearing at the same location always, I'd double-check the specific image files.

    A
    Art Campbell
    Inspiring
    October 30, 2009

    The first things I'd do/check :

    * Is this a single Frame file, or a book file with component files?

    * What version of XP? SP3 disables graphics imported as OLE objects, which would produce that symptom.

    * How much RAM and free disk space is on board? 8000 pages is going to eat up a huge amount of resources and /temp space.

    * Are the frame files local, or is there a network server involved?

    * Can you print/PDF component files or sets of pages containing the graphics OK?

    * How are you creating the PDF?  SaveAs or Printing to the Acrobat printer (recommended?)

    C
    CShuteAuthor
    Participating Frequently
    October 30, 2009

    Please note: this document has been in production for several years and has printed correctly over several versions of FrameMaker and Acrobat.

    • This is a book file containing about 435 component files.
    • Both systems are running XP 2002 SP3 (checking with IT about fix).
    • New systems have 3.25GB ram and 55+GB free disk space.
    • Frame files are located on a network server.
    • Component files containing 2000+ pages have printed correctly.
    • The PDF is created by printing to Acrobat PDF.

    Arnis Gubins
    Arnis Gubins
    Inspiring
    October 30, 2009

    Two possible issues.

    What format are the graphics and have they been imported by Reference or by Copy or simply copied & pasted into the documents?

    The files are located on a network server. FM sometimes has issues with networks depending upon whether you're using a mapped network drive or a URL. Sometimes aggressive anti-virus software also messes with FM by checking on the temp files being created during operations.

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