Acrobat 9 seems incompatible with Snow Leopard

[thewildman]

Got my Snow Leopard late this afternoon and have had great luck with it so far (did an upgrade, not a clean install)...except for Acrobat 9. Ugh! Attempting to print to PDF via Adobe PDF 9.0 printer/driver causes the printer/driver to fire up and the progress windows indicates that distiller launches, but after that, the prompt for where to save the PDF to never appears and the file in the print queue disappears. Checking the log file shows quite a few errors are happening:

E [25/Aug/2009:18:35:44 -0500] Unable to execute /usr/libexec/cups/backend/pdf900: No such file or directory
E [25/Aug/2009:18:35:44 -0500] [Job 4] Stopping job because the sheduler could not execute the backend.
E [25/Aug/2009:18:37:12 -0500] Unable to execute /usr/libexec/cups/backend/pdf900: No such file or directory
E [25/Aug/2009:18:37:12 -0500] [Job 5] Stopping job because the sheduler could not execute the backend.
E [25/Aug/2009:21:49:33 -0500] Unable to update IPP DNS-SD record for AdobePDF9 - -65549
E [25/Aug/2009:21:49:33 -0500] Unable to update IPP DNS-SD record for AdobePDF9 - -65549
E [27/Aug/2009:18:35:41 -0500] [Job 7] Job aborted because the destination printer/class has gone away.
E [27/Aug/2009:18:45:43 -0500] Unable to execute /usr/libexec/cups/backend/pdf900: No such file or directory
E [27/Aug/2009:18:45:43 -0500] [Job 9] Stopping job because the sheduler could not execute the backend.
E [27/Aug/2009:19:38:42 -0500] cupsdAuthorize: pam_authenticate() returned 9 (authentication error)!
E [27/Aug/2009:21:16:59 -0500] Unable to execute /usr/libexec/cups/backend/pdf900: No such file or directory
E [27/Aug/2009:21:16:59 -0500] [Job 19] Stopping job because the sheduler could not execute the backend.

I've done a full uninstall and cleaned out all files, then reinstalled. I did the old repair/restore trick from the Help menu. I even tried printing to PDF after each patch/upgrade all the way to the latest version. No luck at all. And yes, all other CS4 apps I have work fine.

Any suggestions?

[thewildman]

Spliceguys....please report back to us your results when you can.

[spliceguys]

Well, I installed the 9.1 and the three subsequent updates manually. I've tried the new Save To Adobe PDF button.. It just usually crashes - kernal protection failure. I get the automator pop up to choose the quality and it starts to make a pdf.. Sometimes, it will complete the pdf before crashing, but usually crashes before there is any output..

[thewildman]

Spliceguys and I are getting the exact same result then. So far, Adobe Acrobat 9.1.3's "Save to PDF" print function and Snow Leopard do not appear to get along.

Thanks for following up Spliceguys!

[Steve Werner]

I am also getting a crash using the Save as Adobe PDF function on one of two MacBook Pros I installed Snow Leopard on. It worked on this computer two days ago, but began crashing consistently today.

I posted about the change to Save as Adobe PDF on InDesignSecrets.com this morning, and made reference to this thread, and the crashes:

http://indesignsecrets.com/acrobats-adobe-pdf-printer-replaced-in-snow-leopard.php

[Guest]

I've also posted a (shorter and less comprehensive) post about this at MacRumors here.

The first couple of times I tried this on my MBP I didn't have any problems, but a couple of times today I got the error that others have seen. After restarting (re-logging in didn't work) the Save as Adobe PDF option is working again.

[thewildman]

Teleccommunicate: can you tell me if it works for you consistently now that you have restarted?

Unfortunately, restarting did not help me, the Save as Adobe PDF is still crashing everytime.

[Steve Werner]

Restarting didn't help me either. I also tried to delete preferences but couldn't find the right one.

The issue has been passed on to the Acrobat powers-that-be, and they're looking into it. (See Leonard Rosenthol's response to my blog posting.)

[MichaelKazlow]

I'm not sure it will make a difference, but has anyone tried resetting the printer subsystem. I cannot try, my OS X.6 doesn't show up til tomorrow.

[spliceguys]

Yes, I have tried resetting the printer subsystem. It in fact deleted all my printers which had to be reinstalled. Didn't make a difference though as far as Acrobat crashing..

Interestingly, I seem to have better luck though when I choose the High Quality Print rather than Standard as the option. It still crashes, however it finishes creating the pdf before it crashes.. Almost like the standard one is trying too hard to compress and it crashes before it's done..

[Guest]

Hi all, things are still working for me. [Edit: not quite, see below.]

I've just successfully used the Save as Adobe PDF option from three different apps (current versions of Numbers, TextWrangler, Word), using both Standard and PDF-X options selected from the dialog box when printing.

I'm on an early 2008 MacBook Pro, OS 10.6 and Acrobat Pro 9.1.3 (I guess those last two are pretty clear).

Oh, wait, here's a new error.

Save as Adobe PDF quit unexpectedly while using the Adobe BIB plugin.

This error occurred when I selected Save as Adobe PDF from Safari while composing this message. I selected Press Quality from the printing options. I've just tried printing at Standard quality, and that works. In fact, Press Quality is now working again too!

[thewildman]

I was just able to get my first single "Press Quality" PDF created. I didn't do anything special, just selected "Press Quality" as 'telecommunicate' had suggested. But another immediate attempt at "Press Quality" crashed. So, "Press Quality" is my first and only successful PDF to be created thus far.

Here's something I just discovered that's interesting.....

It appears that waiting about two minutes or more between "Press Quality" attempts sometimes avoids the crash. Could just be coinsidence with waiting a small amount of time between attempts and just getting lucky that a crash didn't occur.

[-Singhal]

Hello thewildman,

Would it be possible for you to provide the latest stack trace as well as the files for this issue.

Thanks,

-Rohit

[-Singhal]

Hey spliceguys, could you provide the stacktrace as well as the files of the crash?

-Rohit

[malcrobe]

Just adding my $0.02. I'm getting the error message

The action "Save As Adobe PDF" could not be loaded because it could not be located.

Additionally, I did not even see the menu item until after I had run Repair Acrobat Installation from the Help menu. The only component it was allowing me to repair was Adobe PDFViewer Safari Plugin. Hopefully this little extra tidbit of information will help someone to fix this up.

[dpedpe]

I'm seeing something (perhaps related) different.  I'm able to "print" using the new menu choice, and the PDF file is generated, but when I try to open the "printed" file, preview and acrobat both are unable to.  This is a huge problem.  I'm working with Illustrator.

[malcrobe]

I've fixed the location error problem. I had Acrobat 9 in a folder called Acrobat 9 Pro (silly me) inside the Applications folder. So I moved it to reside directly in the Applications folder. I then deleted the Save As Adobe PDF from the Print menu. Opened Acrobat and ran the Repair Acrobat Installation from the Help menu. Seems to be working fine now with all options. I've only tried printing from Firefox, pages and Mail up to now though. I'll report back if I experience any other problems

[lm_t]

I found a fix that worked instantly!!!

Rosetta is not by default installed when you upgrade to Snow Leopard and must be installed for the Automator to run the Save as PDF workflow. If you click on an application like "Airport Setup Assistant for Graphite or Snow" in the Utilities folder, which requires Rosetta, it will prompt you to install.

I've tested the workflow in Mail and Safari and both work without any issues. I was initially seeing the AdobeACE plugin install error myself and decided to see what was going on with it and opened Automator to see how the workflow was configured. When you try to anything an error pops up saying it cannot be loaded because it is not "Universal" which immediately brought Rosetta to the forefront of what might be the problem.

Let me know if this works for everyone?

[Tommy Neumaier]

I can confirm this. I had upgraded from Leopard to Snow Leopard. The Adobe PDF printer failed. I removed it and installed Rosetta from the Snow Leopard CD. The “Save as Adobe PDF“ Automator action must be checked to launch with Rosetta, then it works fine. No crashes. Checked in Firefox, TextEdit, Entourage.

Tommy

[Steve Werner]

Installing Rosetta does NOT fix the problem on my MacBook Pro. I still get the message "Save as Adobe PDF quit unexpectedly."

I have found the problem sporadic, which makes it hard to figure out. It has worked a couple times, usually it does not.

[spliceguys]

I installed Rosetta with my upgrade and before I went through all my troubleshooting. But  some of you are mentioning that you have to specifically 'check' the Save to Adobe PDF workflow to run in Rosetta.. I've looked in several different workflow folders, but can't find it. Where is it located?  Please note that I DO show it in the printer window's button, but I'm just not finding the actual workflow in a finder folder.

[malcrobe]

Hi spliceguys,

You'll find it in the /Library/PDF Services folder.

I also installed Rosetta with the upgrade which might explain why mine is now working after relocating the software. One thing you might want to try is deleting the menu item (go to Edit Menu... , select Save as Adobe PDF and click the "-' button. Then open up Acrobat and run the repair install from the Help menu. Then try to print again. Worked for me anyway.

[Steve Werner]

I installed Rosetta. I used the Edit menu to uninstall Save as Adobe PDF. I went into Acrobat and repaired the installation.

But Save as Adobe PDF is still broken.

[tPetaccia]

Okay .. I tried the "Save as PDF" thingee and it works fine for me (Thank God) .. the only question I have is selecting JobOptions .. there does not seem to be a way to do this from the Print Dialog as in previous versions. Different commercial printers use different settings, plus some I customized for myself .. that kind of thing ..

I tried selecting "Edit Menu" from the "PDF" Print Dialog menu .. clicking the + (add) button , but it does not allow me to select (files greyed out) any "XXX.joboptions" file.
 
Does this mean I have to open up Distiller and select the job option, before creating the PDF ?
 
Or am I overlooking something?

Thanks.

[spliceguys]

fquartz,

When the print dialogue box is open, check to make sure that you're choosing the right pdf option..

The button that says Save As PDF is the standard, built in apple pdf option. This one does not have a problem..

While you're clicked on that button, a bit farther down there is a new one that says "Save as Adobe PDF". When you click on this one, it starts an automator workflow. A window pops up first off that allows you to select the different job options - or print qualities available. After choosing this option is when people are generally having the crash, while it's trying to output the pdf file.

If you're not seeing this pop up window, I think you're choosing the wrong save to pdf button.

[tPetaccia]

splice ..

You da man!  You called it, I was looking at the wrong option. Tried it. And it works perfectly.

Fortunately, I have not run into any of the problems reported by others.

I did the Snow Leopard install knowing I had to check to Rosetta .. maybe it's an "after the fact" thing for others, I don't know. I did find it odd that while Apple decided to have the Rosetta install option turned off by default, it had every foreign language variation turned on (I turned them all off before upgrading).

Anyway .. thanks again.