PDF's from Quark problem

[Vernon@localgreenpress]

Hi out there,
I've got Quark 6 and recently it won't generate pdf's in export "failed to generate...".
Older customers are in Quark and I do corrections & create pdf's and bring them into Indesign to run to platemaker - more of a printer than designer, so not a techie!. Recently installed Linotype FontExplorerX to manage my fonts instead of Suitcase. Any help would be greatly appreciated as taking files to local printers and using their macs is a bit tiresome

Thanks

Vernon

[Greg_Firestone]

Can you generate PDFs from brand new Quark documents that you create? It might help eliminate the issue. Also try doing a simple file with type and with without.

Greg

[claude72]

I've got Quark 6 and recently it won't generate pdf's in export "failed to generate...".

Quark 6 PDF export is a piece of crap... it works a little bit less bad with the update 6.5, but the best way is either to output a .PS file and distill, or to upgrade to Quark 7.5.

[Vernon@localgreenpress]

I tried creating a pdf without text, first of all with nothing at all in the Doc. and it didn't create anything.
Then with a coloured box in it and same "unable to create" message came up. Went into preferences and changes .pdf to create .ps and still the same message came up. Not in a position to upgrade, especially as it's not a programme I use now, so unwilling to spend the money - esp. in today's climate

[Al Ferrari]

In your first post you stated "I've got Quark 6 and recently it won't generate pdf's in export ...".

Does this mean that it did generate them at an earlier time?

Al

[Vernon@localgreenpress]

yes Al, created them with all the trimmings, now nothing

[Greg_Firestone]

yes Al, created them with all the trimmings, now nothing

Have you tried trashing your Quark 6 preferences or re-installing? I think Quark 6.5 was a free upgrade from Quark 6, but I can't remember exactly.

You could always just output a PS file and you distiller to create your PDF.

Greg

[Shawn]

Hi Vernon

Trashing preferences is always a good start. Just be careful to trash the prefs in your user folder, not your main library or you'll mess up your Quark licensing on that machine.

You could also try to empty out the JAWS folder in the Quark folder. That caches data for the PDF engine and can sometimes get corrupt, especially if you've been loading and unloading lots of fonts.

Finally see if turning the slug/crop marks on or off makes any sort of difference. I had the same thing happen a few years ago on one workstation, and it that drove me nuts trying to figure it out. That copy would fail generating a PDF from .ps no matter what we did, even for a blank page. It turned out to be related to an old/corrupt version of Courier that was being used for the slug in Quark. Replacing that copy of Courier fixed the problem.

Shawn

[Vernon@localgreenpress]

Hi Shawn
I've tried your suggestions but to no avail. Some designer mates have given me their Quark 7 as they've never used it - moved everything over to Indesign.
Things are now working fine in the pdf stakes.
Thanks for all your help guys in trying to resolve this problem from a non techie litho printer
cheers
Vernon

[claude72]

Some designer mates have given me their Quark 7 as they've never used it...

Don't forget to update to 7.5!