Weird error creeating PDF from Word doc containing Lato font

[DaveRado]

I need to be able to create PDFs from Word documents containing the Lato font. The Lato font is a Google  OpenType font which I downoaded from here.

I'm using Word 2007 and Acrobat pro XI.

Whenever I try to print any Word document containing any of the Lato font family using the Adobe print driver, the print job fails and a log file is produced. The log file says:

%%[ ProductName: Distiller ]%%
Lato-Regular not found, using Courier.
%%[ Error: invalidfont; OffendingCommand: xshow ]%%

Stack:
[164 102 39 75 81 101 51 111 51 111 102 39 101 111 112 39 165 105 111
75 111 81 51 111 102 42 39 61 43 164 39 112 101 87 105 112 39 51 111
38 118 105 112 112 51 111 102 75 111 111 42 39 87 111 111 75 111 153
105 87 74 39 103 111 111 112 111 111 0]

(\) $  &)

%%[ Flushing: rest of job (to end-of-file) will be ignored ]%%
%%[ Warning: PostScript error. No PDF file produced. ] %%

(I tried to attach the log file to this message but got an error message when I tried to post the message, as follows:  "Correct the highlighted errors and try again. The attachment's loto test.log content type (application/octet-stream) does not match its file extension and has been removed." So I've pasted the message above instead).

I have attached a sample Word document containing the Lato font but it happens with any Word document containing a substabtial amount of text.  If the Word document contains a very small amount of text then a PDF does get produced but it just contains gobbledegook text.

However, if instead of using the Adobe print driver I use the Adobe "create PDF button" from the Adobe add-on on the Word toolbar, then a PDF does get created with the correct text! But I need to be able to use the print driver.

I don't get the problem with any Word document that doesn't contain the Lato font.

Can anyone help me get to the  bottom of this and fix it?

Many thanks in advance.

Dave

[Bevi Chagnon - PubCom.com]

Quote: "But I need to be able to use the print driver."

Why? This is the worst way to create a PDF file and generally is not recommended.

Also, you're working in a very outdated version of MS Word, and your Acrobat is outdated as well.

Are you able to print the Word document to a real printer and have the Lato fonts work?

[DaveRado]

Hi Bevi

I do have good reasons for needing to be able to do it using the Adobe print  driver, but it's a very long story and I don't want this thread to get sidetracdked by a long discussion about that, as that's really not my issue. I'd be very grateful if you could help me get to the bottom of the problem with the Adobe print driver and  the  Lato font. Adobe wouldn't provide the Adobe print driver if it wasn't ever supposed to be used.

Word documents containing the Lato font print without any problems on all my physical printers.

I've just discovered that Word documents containing the Lato font also create PDFs without any problems using the Adobe print driver on my old Windows 7 laptop. The laptop I'm unable to print them with using the PDF driver is running Windows 10.

I've also just discovered that Word documents containing the Lato font create PDFs without any problems using the Bullzip PDF print driver.

But I can create PDFs on my Windows 10 machine using the Adobe PDF driver from any Word document that doesn't contain the Lato font.

I've also just discovered that I get exactly the same problem if I try to create a PDF from a text document in Notepad that contains the Lato font, using the Adobe Print driver. So Word is definitely not the issue - the issue is a weird combination of the Adobe Print driver on my Windows 10 machine, and the Lato font.

Acrobat XI Pro and Word 2007 are both compatible with TrueType and OpenType fonts (I've just realised that Lato is actually a TrueType font that has Opentype layout, whatever that means) - and Acrobat XI Pro and Word 2007 are both compatible with Window 10; so their age shouldn't be an issue. The age of Word 2007 is in any case not be an issue, because the Adobe print driver is supposed to be able to print from any Windows application and because I get exactly the same problem if I use Notepad instead of Word. 

And as I say, I can print the attached document using the Adobe print driver on my old Windows 7 laptop using the same versions of Word and Acrobat; and I can create PDFs using the Adobe PDF print driver from any Word document that doesn't contain the Lato font on my Windows 10 machine. So it's very confusing.

The error message in the log file is also very confusing - it says the font isn't found - but it is installed - and it does get found when using the Adobe Word add-in, or when printing to a physical printer, or when using the Bullzip print driver. So I don't understand what the error message in the log file really means?

Dave

[DaveRado]

Also, I didn't get an email notification when you replied to my original post, and yet "email me when someone replies" is ticked. Any idea what could be causing the notifications not to be sent? There's definitely nothing in my spam folder.

[DaveRado]

Issue resolved..

[j.calo]

Can you post any details regarding what you did to resolve this issue? I had a user report the same problem earlier today. I haven't had a chance to take a close look yet. My current plan is to have the user change their document so that Lato-Regular is not being used. 

[Alexander Krakenstein]

This is an issue where Adobe cannot find the font and defaults to Courier, but is still unable to print the PDF. Fortunately there is a very quick fix!

• Step 1: Open the document/publisher file you are trying to make into a PDF. (WORD)
• Step 2: Select Print, but instead of printing, select "printer settings"
• Step 3: Under "Adobe Printer Settings" un-check the box that says ""Rely on system fonts only; do not use document fonts" (See below)
• Step 4: Print the document/publisher file and it will successfully print!

You are Welcome 😉

[DaveRado]

To make the fix semi-permenant, instead of doing it vis the Print dialog, you can do it via Windows Control Panel (or Settings) -> Printers, then right click on the Adobe PDF printer and select Preferences.

Unfortunately whenever Acrobat upgrades itself with a new maintenance release, it changes that setting back again, hence the fix is only semi-permenant but better than doing it every time you print.

Why that setting is the default beats me, when it causes so many problems. 

Dave

[DaveRado]

Problem Solved 🙂