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Brandy redux -> PDF Troubleshooting (7/20/2010 2:06:20 PM)
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NOTE: When a Broderbund project is saved as a *.pdf file, that *.pdf file cannot be opened in the Broderbund program that was used to save the *.pdf file. So, if project revisions are required, it will be necessary to open the original Broderbund project, make the revisions, then repeat the process for saving the project as a *.pdf file.
*.pdf files can be opened, viewed and printed from Adobe® Acrobat® Reader - which is a free download from here
Some Broderbund programs offer a 'Save As PDF' option in the 'File' menu - which can be used to save Broderbund projects in PDF format. Saving a project in PDF format allows professional printers to open and print the project without having the Broderbund program installed on their computers.
However, it is very important to keep in mind that most Broderbund programs are not able to create PDF files with embedded fonts. When fonts are not embedded in PDF files, file sizes can be quite large - because text and graphics are saved as one graphic image - similar to what happens when a project is exported to a graphic file format. This can also cause text to look "fuzzy". PDFs with embedded fonts have a smaller file size and the text prints sharp and looks sharp no matter how much you zoom in. At this time, Print Shop 2.0 and Calendar Creator are the only Broderbund programs which can create PDF files with embedded fonts.
The 'Save As PDF' option is not offered in all Broderbund products (even when the 'Help' file indicates that the installed version does offer the 'Save As PDF' option). And, the 'Save as PDF' option is not compatible with all Operating Systems.
If your Broderbund product does not offer the 'Save As PDF' option in the 'File' menu, or if you experience problems while trying to use the 'Save As PDF' option, it should be possible for you to 'Print to PDF' by doing this:
1. Select 'File' in the menubar, then select 'Print' in the menu that drops down.
2. When the 'Print' window opens, click on the down arrow next to the Printer 'Name' box.
3. When the list of installed printers drops down, select an installed PDF printer driver.
It is very important to keep in mind that regardless of whether you choose to 'Save As PDF' or 'Print to PDF', it is always best to select the PDF printer driver in 'Print Setup' BEFORE saving the project in PDF format - just in case the PDF printer driver causes the project to be changed or shifted in any way.
* For all versions of Print Shop EXCEPT Print Shop 2.0, the 'Print Setup' option is accessed by selecting 'File' in the menubar, then selecting 'Printing' then 'Print Setup' in the menu that drops down.
* For Print Shop 2.0, there is no way to select the PDF printer driver before clicking on the printer to print the project. So, if Print Shop 2.0 projects are not being printed properly when the PDF printer driver is selected, the recommended solution is to set the PDF printer driver as the default printer BEFORE starting Print Shop 2.0.
* For all versions of PrintMaster EXCEPT PrintMaster 2.0, the 'Print Setup' option is accessed by selecting 'File' in the menubar, then selecting 'Printer Setup' then 'Print Setup' in the menu that drops down.
* For PrintMaster 2.0, the 'Print Setup' option is accessed by selecting 'File' in the menubar, then selecting 'Printer' in the menu that drops down.
When the 'Print Setup' window opens, change the Printer 'Name' to the Broderbund PDF Converter (for WinXP) or to the Broderbund PDF Creator (for WinVista and Windows 7) or to any other installed PDF printer driver.
Look the project over to make sure that selecting the PDF printer driver didn't change anything. When you are sure that everything looks right, you are ready to save the project in PDF format. NOTE: Neither the Broderbund PDF Converter nor the Broderbund PDF Creator are compatible with either Vista or Windows 7 for some Broderbund products.
If you would rather not use either the Broderbund PDF Converter or Creator, or if you experience problems while trying to use the Broderbund PDF Converter or Creator, you can use any PDF printer driver which is installed on your computer.
CutePDF Writer, which can be downloaded for free by clicking on the link below
CutePDF Writer
and which is Vista and Windows 7 ready (for both the 32-bit version and the 64-bit version), is a popular alternative to the Broderbund PDF Converter/Creator.
Even though the cutepdf.com web site specifically says that a PS2PDF converter such as Ghostscript is required, it is not actually necessary to download that PS2PDF converter separately. All that is actually necessary is to click on the 'Free Download' link to download the CuteWriter.exe file. Then, during the installation of CuteWriter.exe, you will be asked if you want to download and install the PS2PDF converter. When you say YES, the download and install of the PS2PDF converter will be automatically performed during the installation of CuteWriter.exe.
NOTE: The 'Save As PDF' option works ONLY with the Broderbund PDF Converter for WinXP and with the Broderbund PDF Creator for WinVista and Windows 7. So, if you do decide to use a PDF Converter other than the Broderbund PDF Converter or Creator, your only option will be to use the 'Print to PDF' option described above.
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Check the information below to view the most commonly recommended solutions for dealing with PDF problems.
********** Project File Saved as a PDF Is Extremely Large **********
When using the 'Save As PDF' option, the size of the resulting PDF document file can be larger than the original document or project file. Using the Group option can help reduce the file size.
1. Launch the Broderbund program and open the original project.
2. Select 'Edit' in the menu bar, then select 'Select All' in the menu that drops down.
3. If the Broderbund program you are using has an 'Arrange' option in the menu bar, select 'Arrange' in the menu bar, then select 'Group' in the menu that drops down - or, just press CTRL G
4. If the Broderbund program you are using has a 'Layout' option in the menu bar, select 'Layout' in the menu bar, then select 'Group' in the menu that drops down - or, just press CTRL G
5. Repeat Steps 2 thru 4 for each page in the project (Newsletters, Brochures, and others) or for each panel in the project (Booklets, Greeting Cards, and others).
6. When all pages or panels have been grouped, select 'File' in the menu bar, then select 'Save As PDF' in the menu that drops down.
7. Follow the on-screen prompts to complete the process. The file size will be reduced.
NOTE: If the original project requires editing, the objects must be "ungrouped" before editing can take place. To ungroup the objects for editing, repeat the steps above then select 'Ungroup'.
********** Saving Project as a PDF File Shifts Layout **********
In some cases, the PDF printer driver can interpret information differently than the default printer driver. When this happens, the text and graphics on the layout can shift when the project is saved in PDF format. To prevent this from happening, the PDF printer driver should be selected in 'Print Setup' BEFORE saving the project in PDF format.
* For all versions of Print Shop EXCEPT Print Shop 2.0, the 'Print Setup' option is accessed by selecting 'File' in the menubar, then selecting 'Printing' then 'Print Setup' in the menu that drops down.
* For Print Shop 2.0, there is no way to select the PDF printer driver before clicking on the printer to print the project. So, if Print Shop 2.0 projects are not being printed properly when the PDF printer driver is selected, the recommended solution is to set the PDF printer driver as the default printer BEFORE starting Print Shop 2.0.
* For all versions of PrintMaster EXCEPT PrintMaster 2.0, the 'Print Setup' option is accessed by selecting 'File' in the menubar, then selecting 'Printer Setup' then 'Print Setup' in the menu that drops down.
* For PrintMaster 2.0, the 'Print Setup' option is accessed by selecting 'File' in the menubar, then selecting 'Printer' in the menu that drops down.
When the 'Print Setup' window opens, change the Printer 'Name' to the Broderbund PDF Converter (for WinXP) or to the Broderbund PDF Creator (for WinVista and Windows 7).
NOTE: The Broderbund PDF Creator is not compatible with either Vista or Windows 7 for some Broderbund products.
If you would like to select either a specific resolution setting or a custom Paper Size, click on the 'Properties' button to do so. After making the desired selections, click on the 'OK' until you are returned to the workspace.
Look the project over to make sure that selecting the PDF driver didn't change anything. When you are sure that everything looks right, you are ready to save the project in PDF format.
NOTE: When a Broderbund project is saved as a *.pdf file, that *.pdf file cannot be opened in the Broderbund program that was used to save the *.pdf file. So, if project revisions are required, it will be necessary to open the original Broderbund project, make the revisions, then repeat the process for saving the project as a *.pdf file.
********** "Unable to Initialize the PDF Converter" ***********
********** "The Pdf Converter did not install" **********
********** This Feature Is Not Installed. **********
If a message similar to those listed above appears while attempting to use the Save As PDF option to create a PDF file, that would indicate that the Broderbund PDF Converter either has not been installed, has been uninstalled, has become corrupted, or is incompatible with the Operating System.
NOTE: Neither the Broderbund PDF Converter nor the Broderbund PDF Creator are compatible with the 64-bit version of either WinXP or WinVista or Win7 for 1) PrintMaster 18 or earlier, 2) Print Shop 23 or earlier or 3) Calendar Creator 12.1.
For PrintMaster 18.1 and Print Shop 23.1, it is possible to tweak the Broderbund PDF Creator so that it will work with those products, by doing this:1. Open Devices and Printers from the Control Panel.
2. Right click on Broderbund PDF Creator.
3. Click on Printer Properties.
4. View the Ports tab.
5. Click on the Add Port… button.
6. Highlight “Local Port” and click on the New Port… button (Not New Port Type…)
7. Enter any name for the port.
8. Restart Your Computer
9. Return to the application.
10. Save your project as a PDF. If you would rather not use either the Broderbund PDF Converter or Creator, or if you experience problems while trying to use the Broderbund PDF Converter or Creator, you can use any PDF printer driver which is installed on your computer.
CutePDF Writer, which can be downloaded for free by clicking on the link below
CutePDF Writer
and which is Vista and Windows 7 ready (for both the 32-bit version and the 64-bit version), is a popular alternative to the Broderbund PDF Converter/Creator.
Even though the cutepdf.com web site specifically says that a PS2PDF converter such as Ghostscript is required, it is not actually necessary to download that PS2PDF converter separately. All that is actually necessary is to click on the 'Free Download' link to download the CuteWriter.exe file. Then, during the installation of CuteWriter.exe, you will be asked if you want to download and install the PS2PDF converter. When you say YES, the download and install of the PS2PDF converter will be automatically performed during the installation of CuteWriter.exe.
However, if you do choose to use a different PDF driver, it is important to keep in mind that it will be necessary for you to print to PDF, as is described in this FAQ
Save as PDF vs File | Print to PDF
- because the Save As PDF function works only with the Broderbund PDF Converter or Creator.
If you are using WinXP or an earlier Operating System, you should be able to solve the problem by deleting the Broderbund PDF Converter from the list of printers, then reinstalling the Broderbund PDF Converter, as described below.
Delete the Broderbund PDF Converter 2.10d:
1a. For Windows® 98/Me and Windows NT®, select 'Start', select 'Settings' in the menu that drops down, then select 'Printers'.
1b. For Windows XP, select 'Start', select 'Settings' in the menu that drops down, then select 'Printers and Faxes'
2. When the 'Printers' or 'Printers and Faxes' window opens, locate the Broderbund PDF Converter 2.10d icon.
NOTE: If the Broderbund PDF Converter 2.10d icon does not appear, close the window and continue with the "Installing the Broderbund PDF Converter" procedure below.
3. Right-click on that Broderbund PDF Converter 2.10d icon, then select 'Delete' from the menu that drops down.
4. Select 'Yes' to delete the printer "Broderbund PDF Converter 2.10d."
5. Close the 'Printers' or 'Printers and Faxes' window.
Installing the Broderbund PDF Converter
1. Double-click 'My Computer' then double-click the drive where The Print Shop is installed. (Typically, this is the C: drive.)
2. Double-click the 'Program folder' then double-click the 'The Print Shop' folder.
3. Double-click the PDFDriver folder.
NOTE: If the PDFDriver folder is not found, stop here and continue with the Installing the Broderbund PDF Converter from the Disc procedure below.
4. Double-click PDFInstaller.exe to begin the installation of the Broderbund PDF Converter.
5. Follow the prompts to complete the installation.
Installing the Broderbund PDF Converter from the Disc
1. Open the project that is to be saved as a PDF file.
2. Select 'File' in the menu bar, then select 'Save As PDF' from the menu that drops down.
3. In the 'Save Project As PDF' window, type a name for the file, then select 'Save As'.
4. When the 'Save As' window opens, select the desired 'Save in' location and 'File name', then select 'Save'. The "This feature is not installed." message - or a similar message - will reappear.
5. Select 'Yes' when you are asked if you want to install the feature.
6. Follow the onscreen steps to complete the installation of the Broderbund PDF Converter.
7. The Broderbund PDF Converter will install and the file will be saved in the location that was chosen with the name that was chosen in Step 4.
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