Acrobat Pro 2020 opens endless notepad messages when you attemp to print an enrypted PDF

[James25403675wi8u]

I know re-distiling an Encrypted PDF is not supported. My issue is the fact the Adobe doesn't just print a single message but will open what seem to be endless copies of Notepad notifying you of this fact.

9 times out of 10 this will continue until the system runs out of memory and the user is required to do a hard reboot.

If I can get CMD open on the system multiple TASKKILL /F /FI "Notepad.exe" will get things working again until Adobe stops the spam.

Is there any way to stop this. I realize what the user(s) are doing isn't supported. But locking up the system isn't a suitable response.

[Bernd Alheit]

The user can close Notepad.

[James25403675wi8u]

I get that. The problem isn't that a single notepad instance is created. It just keeps on spawning them. Then the user is stuck playing wack-a-mole with Notepad until their system stops responding.

[John__Robson]

This is a really silly flip response. The user can close Notepad... but when the user opens Notepad again the messages reappear in endless quantities, even if the original txt file has been deleted.

[try67]

This is not normal behavior. It usually only opens it once. Are you maybe trying to print it as a part of an Action? Also, what's your exact version of Acrobat, and OS?

[James25403675wi8u]

I can reproduce the issue on my install as well. It is attempting to print encrypted PDF with alot of pages, not part of an action. File Print - Acrobat PDF driver.  Acrobat will spawn a large number of notepad windows with the message

"%%[ ProductName: Distiller ]%%
This PostScript file was created from an encrypted PDF file.
Redistilling encrypted PDF is not permitted.
%%[ Flushing: rest of job (to end-of-file) will be ignored ]%%
%%[ Warning: PostScript error. No PDF file produced. ] %%"

Like I said I get that you can't do that. It's the system crashing number of notepad instances that get spawned that is the issue.

OS: Windows 10 Version 21H2 (x64)

Acrobat: Acrobat Pro 2020 20.005.30362

[try67]

Can you share with us a sample file that causes this issue?

[James25403675wi8u]

I'll have to see if I can find an example that exhibits the problem. The particular ones I know about are full of PPI and private information that I cannot share.

[James25403675wi8u]

I've been trying to find an example PDF that I could legally share and haven't found any. Incidentally this seems to only happen on PDF's with a large number of pages. I have a few single or 2 page ones that only throw up one instance of notepad. I am wondering if there is something in the larger PDF's that is causing it. Perhaps some embeded item. So far I haven't found anything common between them though.

[Shirin37957785uvci]

I have the same issue with the statements from the banks which I can not provide the example too, I understand that it should open the error once and stop the printing but it will open hundres of notepads with the error.

[Shirin37957785uvci]

[GRD90U]

Same here, same error. Have tried multiple stations. Not sure how to resolve. 

[Jimmy McJimboface · Accepted solution]

In my case when printing to "Adobe PDF", especially from Excel. I need to ensure that "Rely on system fonts only; do not use document fonts" is unchecked in the printer properties. Otherwise the application will spam my desktop with hundreds or thousands of notepad files opened on top of themselves. It's a real blunder, entirely frustrating, and from my understanding of tother posts this is "working as designed". The setting automatically resets on my system with every update lmao.

 <Unchek that thingy

[Jimmy McJimboface]

Just confirming that with every opdate the setting for "Rely on system fonts onl; do not use document fonts" is enabled again. Everytime I miss the update and print even the simpliest word document to PDF - it ruins my day. So as a reminder to everyone paying for this product - don't miss the opportunity to uncheck that option. It will be enabled again with the next update. Removing the option has no negative impacts but missing that with an update will absolutely make you question your investment in this product.