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Gary,
As you are hopefully aware, PostScript is not really device
independent. In the general case, you cannot assume that PostScript
generated correctly for a LaserJet 5siMX (using your example) is capable
of being distilled without error. And in fact, PostScript for the
LaserJet 5siMX is for a PostScript language level 2 grayscale device;
Acrobat Distiller is a PostScript language level 3 color device. If you
had color images, there was a good chance they would have ended up in
grayscale in your PDF file.
Anyway, you were lucky and also, without intending to, demonstrated
what your REAL problem is. The problem is not Acrobat 5 or Acrobat 6.
Nor is it the virtual printer (the "Acrobat Distiller" or "Adobe PDF"
PostScript printer driver instances, respectively) itself. What IS the
problem is how Microsoft Access is interacting with the PostScript driver
based upon "device resolution" of the "current device." The LaserJet 5siMX
PostScript printer driver instance reports itself to Windows and
subsequently to the application (Microsoft Access) as a 600 DPI device.
The "Acrobat Distiller" or "Adobe PDF" PostScript printer driver instances
default to 1200 DPI. What is probably happening is that Microsoft Access
is "printing" a one unit wide (either a 1/600 inch or 1/1200 inch) line
via GDI to the PostScript driver yielding the OK line with the LaserJet
5siMX driver and the "skipped" (probably an exceptionally thin) line
for the "Acrobat Distiller" / "Adobe PDF" driver.
The workaround is to use the driver settings I have been recommending
for a few years now -- 600dpi for either the Acrobat Distiller or Adobe PDF
PostScript printer driver instance. Those settings are fairly well buried
in the printer properties. You need to set both the "default" and the
"preferences" and tunnel down to the "layout" tab and then the "advanced"
button and then to the resolution setting.
By the way, there are other circumstances in which real hairlines get
into PDF, usually via AutoCAD. They use the PostScript construct
"0 setlinewidth" which results in a comparable PDF construct which
calls for a single pixel linewidth, regardless of the resolution.
At 4800 dpi for example, that linewidth is 1/4800 of an inch, hardly
if at all visible. There is a workaround from Creo that you can download
from their site (after registering) call the "Creo Distiller Assistant"
which consists of Distiller startup files to automatically detect and
fix such problems (and a number of other similar annoyances!).
- Dov
At 8/13/2003 09:22 AM, Wong, Gary A wrote:
>I have Acrobat 6.0 Pro. The standard virtual printer does not generate the pdf file
>correctly of my MS Access output.
>Both Acrobat 5.0 and 6.0 has this problem in generating hairline vertical lines and
>horizonal lines. They skip sometimes.
>
>I have tried a test case of printing the MS Access to a post script file and running
>the distiller (It works)!!
>
>I used a HP 5SI MX PS printer selection and printed to file. Then open distiller
>and created the pdf file.
>
>What I need is a way of automatically generating the pdf file when I print my MS
>Access program.
>
>On my current technqiue, this is happening:
>
>1) Printing to a file, the system prompts me for a filename.
>2) It writes to some location.
>3) I use the distiller and locating the post script file and open it which
>generates my pdf file.
>
>I am looking for a way of generating the pdf file just by printing to some virtual
>printer and the pdf file is generated.
>The default virtual printer doesn't work for my MS Access application completely.
>
>Can anyone help me with this!!!
>
>
>Your help is deeply appreciated. Thank You.
>
>
>Gary
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