Cannot extract the embedded font 'AAAAAB+Helvetica' error generating OCR PDFs with ScanSnap

[alramonl]

Hi,

I'm getting an error message popping up on Adobe Acrobat Reader (Continuous Release version 2023.003. 20244) when opening PDF files generated with the ScanSnap Home software (2.12) on my MacOS Ventura 13.5: "Cannot extract the embedded font 'AAAAAB+Helvetica'. Some characters may not display or print correctly."

After having Googled and read similar threads, I am almost certain the problem resides with the way ScanSnap Home software generates these PDF files after manually running an OCR on them and supposedly embedding the fonts.

I have an open ticket with the vendor, and despite the vendor having been able to reproduce the issue on their side, I am hitting a dead end since their solution is for me not to open the PDF with Adobe Acrobat Reader, but use other PDF reading software, or just keep the option to automatically OCR all scanned documents (which curiously produces PDFs with differences on the embedded fonts). 

I have attached two example PDFs: one presenting the issue (20230728_error_doc.pdf) and one that doesn't (20230728_fine_doc.pdf)

I would like to check with you, if it would be possible to point to the particular issue in the PDF structure of the problematic file.

Thank you in advance!

[S. S]

Hi @alramonl,

Hope you are doing well. Thank you for writing in!

I checked with the PDF you shared, and the issue here is with the color profiles that have been added, along with the incomplete embedding of the Helvetica font family being used at the time of creation.

A simple workaround I could devise was creating a copy of the file by going to File-> Print-> Adobe PDF.

When in the Print Dialog box, click on properties-> uncheck the checkbox "Use System Fonts Only." 

This minimizes the chances of the file getting created with different embedded fonts.

Hope this helps.

-Souvik

[alramonl]

Thank you very much for your response Souvik. I will pass it to the vendor to see if they can find the root cause of them not properly embedding the Helvetica font family when they generate the OCRd version of the scan PDF file.

Meanwhile, I have tried to follow your workaround for those documents that I have already corrupted and cannot scan again. I am unable to find Adobe PDF from the Adobe Acrobat Reader File->Print menu. I find a "Printer..." button and then in the bottom there is PDF->Save As PDF... menu option. But I can't find that particular property regarding the "Use System Fonts Only". Are the steps applicable for MacOS?