Acrobat Pro XI Mac won't print a .pdf file, but Apple Preview will print correctly

[LM02]

Hello,

I have Acrobat Pro XI for Mac.  recently I've run into pdf files that will show the document on screen ok, show up on print preview screen ok, but when I send it to a printer I either get:

1.  no printout... the document passes through the printer queue ok, but nothing comes out (no blank paper, nothing).  no data seems to even reach the printer/print server.  no error.  the print job basically vanishes into thin air like the job was never sent

2.  prints out with all the characters of a text substituted with squares (again, no error. just prints squares instead of text)

But when I print the same document using Apple's Preview program on the same machine, the file prints out fine.

I experience this problem with two different Macs, with two different OS versions.  Again both machines will print the .pdf file fine using Apple Preview, but not with Acrobat Pro XI.

I've searched for this problem, but no one seems to have this problem. I've tried just printing one page, etc., and no difference (won't print, or print wrong using Acrobat, but prints fine using Preview)

the files are typically sent via e-mail from a vendor, or a web downloaded form (invoice, forms filled out.  some are secure, some are not).  and these are from multiple sources.

Any ideas what might be the problem, and how to fix this?

system:

Mac Pro (early 2008) and MacBook Pro (mid-2011)

MacOS 10.8.4 and 10.6.8 (multiple computers have this same problem)

Acrobat Pro XI, 11.0.04

printer: HP LaserJet 5MP (yes.. old.. but it works) via HP JetDirect + print server on  LAN

[motoman4540]

After wasting literally hours on suggestion after suggestion on the forums, none of which worked, including trying to "flatten" the document in Preflight, changing security settings, etc., I installed a piece of freeware called PDF Writer (for Mac) from SourceForge.  One of the commenters there posted a very specific set of instructions to install it, and now I am able to print to PDF just like I used to be able to do.  My specific problem was that In using certain fillable forms for court websites, the forms were secured and could not be saved as a non-editable filled form.  Now I can.  So there, Adobe. four + years after removing this fundamental functionality, I finally found a work-around.  I note that rather than fix this basic problem that many have complained about with an update, Adobe has apparently included it in Acrobat DC to induce those of us frustrated affected users to pay for another round of upgrades.  Sorry Adobe.  PDF Writer beat you to it!

[JoePellicone]

This problem happened to me several times.

Deleting this file SOLVES THE PROBLEM

AdobePDFViewerNPAPI.plugin

On a Mac its located here...

Mac HD/ Library/ Internet Plugins/ AdobePDFViewerNPAPI.plugin

[angrytourist]

I've been having this same problem on and off for a long time, through various flavors of Acrobat. With this latest round it is my tax documents downloaded from TurboTax that refuse to print. It's not specific to the PDF, it has happend on files I've created from Indesign as well as files I've downloaded from the internets. Printing 15 pages or all 60 at once doesn't change a thing. I'm using an HP LaserJet 4000 with the most current Acrobat on OSX 10.7.5.

From what I've observed, when printing from Acrobat, the print software attempts to spool the entire job before starting printing. This spooling takes forever, and then for whatever reason the job just flushes out. In my case I get no errors, it simply just does not print.

[bnoof]

I am having this problem, but I think I have figured out the problem. In my Acrobat plug-ins, I am missing the Webkit built-in PDF reader. How can I download and reinstall this? I hate to have to reinstall the entire application.

[cworsey]

Yes there is something wrong with Acrobat.....or HP. Here's a little more info on what seems to work and not.

I have both a MacBook Pro Retna and an iMac 21.5. Running Adobe Reader XI on one and Acrobat X on the other.

I also have a networked HP CP2025 color laser and a Cannon MX880 (wireless networked).

The ONLY printing problem i have is when trying to print from either Reader XI or Acrobat X to the HP.  I can print to the Canon just fine from either.

Also I can print to the HP from ANY other software on either mac, even if i open the pdf up in Preview (which i now have to do as default).

The curious thing is the printer itself has the light flashing and says 'printing' (on the little display on the printer) yet it just stops eventually and nothing prints.  Very curious.  I've tried all kinds of options, reinstalling printer, etc. etc.  I've tried deleting the plugin as suggested inthis dialogue.

So....i'm out of options.  I guess i'll just use preview for printing.  Hope this additional info helps!

[bobcohn]

I have been having a similar problem for years, and it continues now even with the latest version of Acrobat. 

I am running Acrobat XI Pro on Windows 7 using VMWare, and the hardware is an iMac running OSX 10.9.3.  The printer is a Brother MFC-9970CDW.  All software and O/S's have been updated. 

I can print all PDF files with Preview on the iMac, but many documents won't print on Acrobat XI Pro under Windows 7.  I don't run Acrobat on the Mac -- just Adobe Reader.  Acrobat XI Pro completes the print to the printer on VMWare (i.e., spools it to the Mac printer), but it never prints.  I get an error message on the Mac printer driver saying "Stopped - Unable to convert postscript file".  The same document will print with no problem on Adobe Reader under Mac OSX and on Preview.

If you send me a link, I'm happy to send you a file which will fail every time on Acrobat XI Pro on Windows and print every time on Preview and Adobe Reader.

[JohnKramerDesign]

A dead thread, but I have a couple other clues:

It's not just Acrobat Pro for me (X11 11.0.10). It's also Indesign. (Haven't tested AI and PSD.)

If I go to the system printer from within the Adobe printer, then back out again, I can print.