[Solved] PDF's won't print on Windows machines - Draw error

Issues with installing under all versions of MS Windows
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m3llomello
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[Solved] PDF's won't print on Windows machines - Draw error

Post by m3llomello »

I have certain spreadsheet documents that I create pdf's when doing invoices.
Sometimes some of my clients complain that they cant seem to print these pdf's.
I've tried all the different exporting options that there is, upgraded Openoffice, but there are still complaints comming through.
It's quite irritating, as it works perfectly on mac machines and can print it, and it's also fine on my wife's old Windows machine.
One client said it got an error saying something about a Adobe draw error.
I've researched one thread for Adobe saying that you need to upgrade, but that didn't solve the problem.

Anything else I can try?
Last edited by RoryOF on Thu Jul 30, 2015 12:18 pm, edited 2 times in total.
Reason: Added green tick [RoryOF, Moderator]
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Re: PDF's won't print on Windows machines - Draw error

Post by RusselB »

Suggest to your client(s) that they upgrade their version(s) of Adobe Acrobat.
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Re: PDF's won't print on Windows machines - Draw error

Post by m3llomello »

Like I mentioned in the original post, they did upgrade Adobe, but without effect...
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Re: PDF's won't print on Windows machines - Draw error

Post by acknak »

Can you attach a sample that's had the problem?

Can they print other pdfs?

Can they print a pdf made from OO but from a different spreadsheet?

Just a guess, but it may be that their Acrobat version is too new: a downgrade might be needed.
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Re: PDF's won't print on Windows machines - Draw error

Post by m3llomello »

It looks like the client can print other pdfs.
For instance a word document which was made in openoffice he could print successfully.
I'm not sure if this specific document I'm attaching is not printing, because i just took out the confidential details in this and re-exported it.
But I'm 90% sure this won't print either.
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test1.pdf
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Re: PDF's won't print on Windows machines - Draw error

Post by acknak »

Seems fine here, but I guess you'll need to hear back from someone on WIndows.
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Re: PDF's won't print on Windows machines - Draw error

Post by RusselB »

I can confirm that the PDF in the attachment does not print on a Windows machine.
While the PDF was in PDF/A compatibility mode I got 3 error messages.
These messages are: The document can not be printed., There are no pages selected to be printed., Draw error.

After removing the compatibility mode, the last error message stopped being displayed.

Can you attach the original (non-pdf) document? It would be interesting to see what results I get with that.
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Re: PDF's won't print on Windows machines - Draw error

Post by acknak »

RusselB: It might be helpful to know what software you used to view/print the pdf.

Did the document display correctly on the screen?
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Re: PDF's won't print on Windows machines - Draw error

Post by RusselB »

Document displayed on screen with no problems using Adobe Acrobat v. 2015.008.20082 on a system running Windows 7 Pro. AMD A8-3820 APU with Radeon HD graphics. This is a quad core processor running at 2.5 Ghz
16G ram
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Re: PDF's won't print on Windows machines - Draw error

Post by m3llomello »

The file is too big to post on this forum (280kb) - i'm allowed 128kb or something
I'm attaching a link for it to be downloaded.
https://katalyst.wetransfer.com/downloa ... 856/23a2ff

Thanks for checking it out for me :)
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Re: PDF's won't print on Windows machines - Draw error

Post by m3llomello »

Russel, just curious does it open and wanting to print on a different pdf viewer perhaps?
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Re: PDF's won't print on Windows machines - Draw error

Post by lgusaas »

It seems to be a problem with Adobe Reader rather than a Windows specific problem.

I tested the document on my Mac. It opens and prints using Preview.

It opens but does not print using Adobe Reader. I get the error messages "The document could not be printed", followed by "There were no pages selected to print". I had checked "All" under "Pages to Print"
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Re: PDF's won't print on Windows machines - Draw error

Post by RusselB »

Taking the original document, then using File -> Export to PDF
Leaving the settings for creating the PDF at default (as shown in the attachment), I generated a PDF file on my Windows 7 Pro machine that printed as expected using Adobe Acrobat
Export to PDF dialog settings
Export to PDF dialog settings
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Re: PDF's won't print on Windows machines - Draw error

Post by m3llomello »

Ok, so I did how you showed me in the picture you attached.
Would you check if this export wants to print?
Thanks
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Re: PDF's won't print on Windows machines - Draw error

Post by RusselB »

Well, so much for that idea.
I am, for now, at a loss of ideas as to why it's not printing.

Please note that while it didn't print, I got the same messages as reported by Larry.
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Re: PDF's won't print on Windows machines - Draw error

Post by lgusaas »

m3llomello wrote:Ok, so I did how you showed me in the picture you attached.
Would you check if this export wants to print?
Thanks
Still doesn't print using Adobe Reader. Prints using Preview.

Try uploading the original file you used to make the PDF.
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Re: PDF's won't print on Windows machines - Draw error

Post by m3llomello »

It was te same file as the xls i uploaded earlier. The only difference I made was that I ticked Selection in stead of All, and I ticked reduce dpi to 200 (to reduce the size of my pdf).
Ill do one exactly like u did, and Ill post the link for the upload
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Re: PDF's won't print on Windows machines - Draw error

Post by m3llomello »

Here's the link for the original XLS document
https://katalyst.wetransfer.com/downloa ... 856/23a2ff

Here's the link for my export with a picture of the settings how I exported it.
https://katalyst.wetransfer.com/downloa ... 437/78786a
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Re: PDF's won't print on Windows machines - Draw error

Post by RusselB »

I opened the XLS file using Open Office
Then I used File -> Export to PDF
Next I used the default settings in the dialog that came up, as I pictured earlier.
Then saved the PDF file.
Next I opened the PDF using Adobe Acrobat DC
Then I printed the PDF from Adobe Acrobat.

However, when I try to print the PDF that is in the .zip file that you linked to, I still got the same messages about not being able to print.

As I stated earlier, at this point, I'm stumped as to why this is happening.
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Re: PDF's won't print on Windows machines - Draw error

Post by m3llomello »

U think upgrading to 4.1.1 might be worth a shot..?
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Re: PDF's won't print on Windows machines - Draw error

Post by RusselB »

Shouldn't make a difference, since I'm using 4.1.1 and having the difficulty you're reporting.
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Re: PDF's won't print on Windows machines - Draw error

Post by m3llomello »

I'm open for any other suggestions?
Other versions perhaps..?
Could this be reported to the programmers of OO or should I try another version like Neo Office..?
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Re: PDF's won't print on Windows machines - Draw error

Post by lgusaas »

RusselB wrote:I opened the XLS file using Open Office
Then I used File -> Export to PDF
Next I used the default settings in the dialog that came up, as I pictured earlier.
Then saved the PDF file.
Next I opened the PDF using Adobe Acrobat DC
Then I printed the PDF from Adobe Acrobat.

However, when I try to print the PDF that is in the .zip file that you linked to, I still got the same messages about not being able to print.

As I stated earlier, at this point, I'm stumped as to why this is happening.
I did the same process to create a PDF from the sample XLS file.
It does not print using Adobe Reader.
I installed Adobe Acrobat Pro DC. Does not print
It does print with Preview.

I saved the test XLS file as a ODS file and exported it as a PDF. Same problem.

It seems to be a Mac specific problem.
I don't normally use or print spreadsheets. Will do some more testing later when I have time.

Addendum I did further testing.Exported to PDF from a ODS file, and from a XLSX file. Both open and print in Adobe Reader.


Workaround on Macs
Open the XLS file
click on File/Print
When print dialogue window opens click on the PDF drop-down menu in the lower left corner.
Click "Save as PDF"
That PDF will print in Adobe Reader on my Mac.
print PDF.png
print PDF.png (109.18 KiB) Viewed 23772 times
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Re: PDF's won't print on Windows machines - Draw error

Post by m3llomello »

I've "printed" this Pdf as suggested

Please check if this has worked ?
(holding thumbs here)
https://katalyst.wetransfer.com/downloa ... 642/502f05
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Re: PDF's won't print on Windows machines - Draw error

Post by lgusaas »

m3llomello wrote:I've "printed" this Pdf as suggested

Please check if this has worked ?
(holding thumbs here)
https://katalyst.wetransfer.com/downloa ... 642/502f05
Prints with Adobe Reader and Adobe Acrobat.

You could download and install Adobe Reader on your Mac so you could test your PDF's yourself. It is free. https://get.adobe.com/reader/
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Re: [solved] PDF's won't print on Windows machines - Draw er

Post by m3llomello »

Thanks for the work around. Ill do that for now.
Appreciate all the support! :)
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