Mac PDF to PC problems

[artisticjenn@adobeforums.com]

I've created a few PDF's with the new version 7 distiller. Everything seems fine on my machine (mac) and I've emailed the docs to a few other "pc's" and all is good. However, there are more and more "pc's" having problems opening these docs. Errors come up and the PDF will not open for them. Anyone else having a similar problem? Perhaps some Distiller settings? (I've tried every setting known to man, but if anyone has any other suggestions, that would be a plus)....

THANKS!!!

[Dr._Goodspeed@adobeforums.com]

what in the hell is a mac?

[Montgomery_Ed@adobeforums.com]

It's McDonald's food. See? <http://www.mcdonalds.com/>

[MikeKazlow@adobeforums.com]

Dr._Goodspeed,

Please curb your language. If you cannot add positive contributions to a
thread, please do not respond.

Mike Kazlow
Forum Host

[MikeKazlow@adobeforums.com]

Jenn,

Try emailing the file compressed as a zip file.

Mike

[artisticjenn@adobeforums.com]

Alright... seems to be the error is user error, more than anything.

When you make a PDF using the new version of Distiller, and try opening
it with a lower version of Acrobat, the message stating that "you need to
update your viewer to the most recent version" pops up. Apparently, this
is freaking everyone out. All you have to do his hit "OK" and there then
ceases to be a problem. This is difficult to explain to the salespeople that
have this PDF and are sending it to customers.

Compliments to upgrades on that one. Any way to turn that deal off? I
will assume not.

[Aandi_Inston@adobeforums.com]

>Alright... seems to be the error is user error, more than anything.

>
>When you make a PDF using the new version of Distiller, and try opening
>it with a lower version of Acrobat, the message stating that "you need to
>update your viewer to the most recent version" pops up. Apparently, this
>is freaking everyone out. All you have to do his hit "OK" and there then
>ceases to be a problem. This is difficult to explain to the salespeople that
>have this PDF and are sending it to customers.

Well, not exactly. The message is important. It might be that a PDF
made with the newest version of Distiller has errors or missing items
in an older version of Acrobat. You should face this problem head on
by doing always the first, and possibly both of the following:

1. Tell clearly each person to whom you send a PDF what version of
Reader or Acrobat they will need to read it (and make sure this
information is passed on).

2. (a) if the file is made with Distiller and not edited in Acrobat,
set an older PDF version in the Distiller options. Choose a suitable
version and document accordingly; or
(b) If the file is edited in Acrobat, use Advanced > PDF Optimizer to
save the file back to a selected earlier PDF format.

Aandi Inston

[sws@adobeforums.com]

None of the default settings from Acrobat Distiller 7 require Acrobat 7 to open them. As a matter of fact, none of the default settings require anything newer than Reader 5.0. PDFs are cross platform; create on one platform, open on any.

[artisticjenn@adobeforums.com]

Well, Adobe says:

There is no way to get rid of the message. These people are going to have to upgrade to the newest version of Reader.

So, there you have it... Try explaining that to a salesforce that does not get along well with computers and then have them explain that to their customers.

[pjonesCET@adobeforums.com]

Unlike Acrobat 6 which was Backward compatible. I could create PDF in 6 Pro and I could send to anyone. With 7 Pro if its left in 7 format even Preview will not view it. And if you do get info on the document formats prior to 7 would show up as thumbnail previews in getinfo. All you see where the thumnails should be is the acrobat symbol, in Acrobat 7. (This continues as well in Tiger on my Laptop 17")

So each time I create a PDF I automatically reopen it and do the PDF Optimizer and set it for Acrobat 5 Compatibilty.

Regardless of how you have Distiller set if you use "Save AS" it automatically saves in Acrobat 7 Format. If however; you remeber to use "Save" it will use Distiller settings. Distiller settings should take precendent regardless of using Save or Save AS. I would prefer using Save AS because it create a brand new fresh copy of the document. Where Save just tacks on changes to the end of the document.

[Gary_A.@adobeforums.com]

Unlike Acrobat 6 which was Backward compatible.




Actually, no it wasn't. Acrobat 6 creates PDF 1.5 documents which could potentially contain objects not supported by earlier versions. With Acrobat 7 Adobe (wisely IMO) decided to make it show a warning dialog so that people might understand why a document didn't print or view correctly in their older version of Acrobat.

[pjonesCET@adobeforums.com]

Well I am explaining the shortcomings of Acrobat 7.

Acrobat 6 had a bunch to in addition to the problem you state. The PDF Optimer even though shown did nothing. It was known it did nothing. One reason 7 came out as fast as it did. Had Acrobat 7, worked correctly and not had the bugs it did, we might still be using Acrobat 6.

[sws@adobeforums.com]

"Acrobat 6 had a bunch to in addition to the problem you state. The PDF Optimer even though shown did nothing. It was known it did nothing."

Absolutely untrue. I used the PDF Optimizer from pre-release all the way through the life cycle of 6. This claim is ridiculous. Just because you don't know how to use a feature doesn't mean it doesn't work.

[pjonesCET@adobeforums.com]

Look I tried using the optimer on Acrobat 6 and it had zero, Nada, zilch effect. I even set it to set all forms of Graphics to 72dpi. after runing it it had no affect what so ever. It was an advantage to changing the File type to acrobat 5/1.4. But no affect on File size.

On Acrobat 7 go to optimer and set garphics to 72dpi from 1200 dpi and there is a comaparible decrease in file size. (I use most of my PDF's on websites.)

[sws@adobeforums.com]

And so with your single instance you can come on this forum and make claims like "It was known to do nothing."? Look, I've seen you be helpful in the past, but making wild statements like this doesn't get anyone closer to a solution to a problem.

[pjonesCET@adobeforums.com]

If this group has archives dig out the archives on A6 for the first 4 months. You'll find I wasn't the only one compalining about this and there were other short comings as well. And just about this issue. Adobe don't usually come out with new versions in short of time as they did between 6 and 7. People had to use e5.0.5 or better for a long time after OSX came out.

Just because I point out a problem I had, it gets dissmissed like it's coming from a Crackpot.

I glad you never , ever, ever, ever, have any problem with Acrobat. You live a charmed life. Acrobat must have some problems or there would be no point to this forum.

My First Mac was an SE/30. I worked for a school system and dealt with SE's and Fat Mac's. Remember when a Fat Mac was out? I've been using Acrobat since version 3 so its not like I am a neophyte.

[de_Siem@adobeforums.com]

There a Dutch proverb (losely translated) that seems applicable here:
You heard the belling ringing, but have no idea where the clapper is.

[pjonesCET@adobeforums.com]

Funny. :-|

[sws@adobeforums.com]

If you believe I've never seen a bug in Acrobat you're sadly mistaken. If you think you've used Acrobat for a longer time or more than me, you're in over your head. What does it have to do with anything, anyway? I never said you were a neophyte. I actually said that I've seen you offer help in the past. The point I was trying to make, pardon me, the point I made is that this forum is a place to try to help people find solutions to problems they are having; help them with some part of the application that they don't understand. Not to make wild unfounded claims about how bad the software is. But I understand this is my fault. I should ignore your more useless posts and be thankful for your helpful ones.