Words and letters missing after exiting and reopening document

[karonnb6309714]

Over the past few days, my pdf's are missing letters and words after saving, closing, and reopening. The first time this happened was when I duplicated a page in the document. Ever since then, when I open files with "Open Sans" embedded font, the words and letters are randomly missing and it doesn't happen with all Open Sans text boxes. My only recourse has been to select the text box, change the font to another font, and switch back to the original font.

Any thoughts on how to resolve this issue permanently?

System Details:

Adobe Acrobat Pro DC Version: 20.13.20074.411690

OS Name: Microsoft Windows 10
OS Version: 10.0.18363

[Bevi Chagnon - PubCom.com · Accepted solution]

Permissions are controled within the individual PDF file, specifically in the File / Properties / Security settings.

However, font manufacturers can also restrict the embedding of fonts. See below.

1. Is the PDF file locked?

Look at the top of the left-hand panel. Is there a black lock icon? If so, you can't make any changes to the PDF unless you have the password to unlock the file.

A locked PDF.

However, if you're trying to embed a font that restricts embedding, then you also will get an error.

2. Are the fonts restricted? Or can they be embedded in a PDF?

Check the font's properties. In Windows File Explorer, right-click and view the font's Properties. Look for wording like embedable, editable, editable embedding, or something similar.

Font Properties - embedable.

Also check the manufacturer's licensing and ensure you have the licensed rights to embed the font into a PDF. In the above screen capture, the last line is License Description and when expanded, it states you have the right to embed it.

Most (but not all) of the fonts installed with Windows and MS Office can be embedded into PDFs. Several weights of the Lucida family can't.

Adobe states that all of its fonts installed through Creative Suite can be embedded.

Fonts purchased from many outside foundries, such as  Monotype/Linotype, have licensing restrictions. The cheap price lets you install the font on your computer and use it to print to your desktop printer. These are called "desktop fonts."

If you want to embed the font into a PDF or other form of electronic publication, you must buy a separate license to embed the font — for each individual publication, edition, or file you produce. Check the manufacturer's website for specific details ... they are all slightly different from each other.

Desktop font license.

Digital publication font license, COST PER WEIGHT.

Font license for a digital publication: PDF, EPUB, etc.

Best solution to correct font problems in PDFs:

• Always try to go back to the source file to correct the problems. Fixing a PDF is extremely time-consuming, costly, and often doesn't work. (I know, sometimes this isn't possible, but try to track down the source file...it's worth the extra effort. Someone somewhere has the original source file!)
• Always use Unicode/OpenType fonts. Since 2000, they have been the computer industry's standard font technology and are universally recognized by all technologies.
• Always ensure that each font is embeddable. (See above.)
• Always ensure that you have an end user license that allows the font to be embedded into PDFs and other digital publications. (See above.)
• When exporting from the source file to PDF, always "Export" or "Save As PDF/Save As Adobe PDF". Never print to Adobe PDF or any other virtual PDF printer.
• When exporting to PDF, always check the option to embed the fonts. If you can, select "subset if less than 100% of the characters were used." This embeds only those characters/glyphs that are used by the PDF and not the thousands of others on the font.
• If necessary, follow the instructions above (November 27, 2021) to embed fonts into the PDF with Acrobat. But honestly, if the previous steps are carried out, then there shouldn't be a need to embed them again with Acrobat's Preflight utility.

Hope this helps you find the problem and fix it. My best to you!

[S. S]

Hi @sean_8113,

Hope you are doing well. Sorry for the experience! 

We would definitely like to give it a good look and work towards a permanent fix.

Meanwhile, would you mind sharing a few pieces of information:

1. Do you see this with every file you work with, or specific file;

2. Is the issue restricted to MS fonts or all fonts;

3. Would you mind sharing a sample file with me over private messages? [To do so, click on my profile name followed by the blue "Send Message" button on the next page]

4. If possible, a screen recording describing what and how you see this would be even better.

Look forward to hearing from you.

-Souvik

[Tatiana29007974yaqu]

Hey mate. You just made my day. I was hopelessly trying to resolve this with the Adobe helpdesk (the person called Mohd just disconnected from the chat in the end). Thanks for sharing the obvious tip. 

[Karl Heinz Kremer]

Can you please tell us what exactly made it work for you? 

[RajXSpaceBear]

Try embedding the fonts or converting the fonts to outlines via Preflight and check.

[elena_4431]

This happens to me roughly once a month. It can be any document, ones I create or from other people. I save copies of any PDF that I have to sign so if something happens to the signed one I have the unsigned PDF. I go into "Fill and Sign" move the text around and 99.99% of the time it fixes the problem. Its like it has to update the text to show "Oh yes these letters are still here" Have never found a solution and I have been dealing with this since 2023. I have given up on Adobe ever fixing any thing.

[Karl Heinz Kremer]

Did you file a bug report with Adobe (https://www.adobe.com/products/wishform.html)?