"Adobe PDF printer failed to create the PDF file."

Report · Apr 30, 2007

Hello! Please help? I am trying to solve this error: http://www.adobe.com/cfusion/knowledgebase/index.cfm?id=328791

I have tried the replace the .ics file and no joy!. The user has Windows XP on a fast system. I have removed BOTH Office XP as well as Acrobat 7.09. Then, reinstalled Office XP, patched it to all latest patches. THEN reinstalled Acrobat and brought it up to the version 7.09. When I open a powerpoint file and then hit the convert icon on the toolbar I get the same error, "Adobe PDF printer failed to create the PDF file."

Could anyone please point out my next steps to solve this? All help is very much appreciated.
Thanks
(There are many other Adobe products installed. Does this matter?)

Report · Sep 21, 2010

Several things:

1. AA7 is up to version 7.1.4.

2. Can you print to the Adobe PDF printer? If not, what error is produced?

3. If no to (2), can you print to the Adobe PDF printer with print-to-file selected? If so, open that file in Distiller and see if a PDF is produced. These are all necessary parts of the create option you are trying to use (PDF Maker).

In the link, you have information related to the output of Distiller, implying that the aspect of (2) is not the problem. As I recall, changing the color profile may resolve the issue, but am not sure. You have do to that with the printer properties in the job settings.

Report · Sep 22, 2010

i don't understand

2010/9/21 Bill@VT <forums@adobe.com>

Several things:

>

1. AA7 is up to version 7.1.4.

>

2. Can you print to the Adobe PDF printer? If not, what error is produced?

>

3. If no to (2), can you print to the Adobe PDF printer with print-to-file
selected? If so, open that file in Distiller and see if a PDF is produced.
These are all necessary parts of the create option you are trying to use
(PDF Maker).

>

In the link, you have information related to the output of Distiller,
implying that the aspect of (2) is not the problem. As I recall, changing
the color profile may resolve the issue, but am not sure. You have do to
that with the printer properties in the job settings.

>

Report · Sep 22, 2010

1. AA7 is up to version 7.1.4. === Have you updated your Acrobat? The current update is AA7.1.4. The update should be able to be done from the help menu. Otherwise you can go to Adobe.Com>Downloads>Updates and download the updates, installing each one in order (can't skip). I don't remember if you gave the OS. AA7 really only works reliably on WinXP or earlier.

2. Can you print to the Adobe PDF printer? If not, what error is produced? === In an application like work, select File>Print and print to the Adobe PDF printer. If it does not work, what error messages or other things do you get.

3. If no to (2), can you print to the Adobe PDF printer with print-to-file selected? If so, open that file in Distiller and see if a PDF is produced. These are all necessary parts of the create option you are trying to use (PDF Maker). === If you got an error in (2), then repeat the process with the print-to-file selected. Then open the file in Distiller to see if any error messages occur or you get a PDF.

As I indicated, the link you provided shows an error produced by Distiller in the printing process. That is what I was asking for in (2) if you got that far. Do you get such a message? If so, cut and paste it in its entirity so we can see what is happening. Sorry, but we can't see your screen and you have to let us know what is happening in detail. Each step you took and the end result. I am not sure how I can clarify it much further.

Report · Sep 23, 2010

thank you very much

2010/9/22 Bill@VT <forums@adobe.com>

1. AA7 is up to version 7.1.4. === Have you updated your Acrobat? The
current update is AA7.1.4. The update should be able to be done from the
help menu. Otherwise you can go to Adobe.Com>Downloads>Updates and download
the updates, installing each one in order (can't skip). I don't remember if
you gave the OS. AA7 really only works reliably on WinXP or earlier.

>

2. Can you print to the Adobe PDF printer? If not, what error is produced?
=== In an application like work, select File>Print and print to the Adobe
PDF printer. If it does not work, what error messages or other things do you
get.

>

3. If no to (2), can you print to the Adobe PDF printer with print-to-file
selected? If so, open that file in Distiller and see if a PDF is produced.
These are all necessary parts of the create option you are trying to use
(PDF Maker). === If you got an error in (2), then repeat the process with
the print-to-file selected. Then open the file in Distiller to see if any
error messages occur or you get a PDF.

>

As I indicated, the link you provided shows an error produced by Distiller
in the printing process. That is what I was asking for in (2) if you got
that far. Do you get such a message? If so, cut and paste it in its entirity
so we can see what is happening. Sorry, but we can't see your screen and you
have to let us know what is happening in detail. Each step you took and the
end result. I am not sure how I can clarify it much further.

>

Report · Nov 03, 2010

I've been messing around with this problem for YEARS. It's been going on (as far as I know) since Version 7. I'm guessing it's something Adobe can't really fix without a tremendous amount of cooperation from other software companies - they'd have to have a workaround, or develop code for each different app. I've heard Extensis is the problem, then MS is the problem, removing Acro speed launcher from startup is the problem, certain Adobe fonts not activated in Extensis Suitcase...yadda, yadda, yadda. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't, etc., etc., etc.

It's always the same for me: I do a fresh install of Windows, Adobe Suite, MS Office and everything's fine for while, then, after installing more programs the same error mentioned above starts popping up. It only seems to happen with products that are not Adobe based. The apps in the suite, I believe, mostly rely on their own app-centered PDF creation engines, but other progs are dependent on certain Adobe files and interfacing code, etc.

AAAAANNNYYYYYway...

The only work around that's been so far more successful than not has been to do a typical PDF print setup making sure your settings are to the needed resolution or higher, then print the doc to file (check the "Print to file" checkbox in whatever app) which will produce a *.PRN file. Start Acro Distiller and drag/open the *.PRN file into Distiller making sure you've set the needed PDF profile beforehand. Likely it will produce the needed PDF. It's a pain in the a**, but it works. If your app allows printing to a postscript file (*.ps), then do that - the quality might be a tad higher and your fonts wont get "broken" up. The *.PRN file will work well too, but, for me, tends to fuzz (pixelate) the raster graphics in the file, tho it shouldn't as much as it does.

Anyone have any other ideas?