Cannot print maps to .pdf. Either does not print at all or when "print to file" selected only have option to save a .prn (and then the programs crash).

Question

I'm generating maps in GIS software that I wanted printed as .pdf files so they can be edited in Illustrator. When prompted to print and selecting "Adobe PDF" nothing happens, as in even on the printer dialogue box there is no connection/no file being sent.  When I selected "print to file" I only have the option to save as .prn and then the programs crash. I've tried this on two different map programs, and experimented with other pdf programs (cutePDF and doPDF) who do not have the same issue.  I've tried re-mapping the printer and re-installing Adobe Acrobat and neither of those worked.

Abambo · Answer

You are on a Windows system, but you do not state the version. You should also state the Acrobat version. May be you should also state the GIS system and version.

Print to file creates a file that could be interpreted by the selected printer. It's not a finished file you can easily work with.

What you could do first:

look if select-copy (from the GIS program) and paste to Illustrator works.
look if a save to or export to PDF exists in your GIS program.
look if a save to or export to EPS exits in your GIS program.

What you could try (my old fashioned way, I rarely have this problem nowadays, so I never tried an updated version of this):

Install a postscript printer (at the time I used always a Laserwriter for this, but any Postscript printer will do).
Use that printer for print to file.
The file created should be a postscript file that may be dropped to Distiller. If you are lucky, Distiller produces a PDF file.

Sign up

To post, reply, or follow discussions, please sign in with your Adobe ID.

Sign in to Adobe Community

To post, reply, or follow discussions, please sign in with your Adobe ID.

Scanning file for viruses.

This file cannot be downloaded