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PDF prints wrong numbers

PDF prints wrong numbers

PDF prints wrong numbers

(OP)
I have seen on two seperate occasions PDF files of SE drawings I sent to vendours for fabrication prints out wrong dimensions. This even occurs when the PDF is correct on vendours screen but prints different. It is not just fonts missing and printing stars or squares but 2s printed as 7s etc.
As you can imagine this is very worring when the machineist gets a drawing with completely erroneous dimensions and the resultant wastages. Luckely so far the errors were so wildely off it made making pieces impossible.

Any ideas why this occurred and how to avoid in the future? Is there a more reliable method or sharing digital drafting information baring in mind the vendous may be using widely different and out of date computer equipment.

I have resorted to JPGs but how reliable is this?

Many thanks

RE: PDF prints wrong numbers

We used to have trouble with some GD&T symbols not coming through properly. If memory serves it came down to how the pdf was generated. If it was printed from PDF995Share I believe it came out OK. Some other folks were generating it another way (can't remember if it was save as or something else) and that created the problem.

Posting guidelines FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies http://eng-tips.com/market.cfm? (probably not aimed specifically at you)
What is Engineering anyway: FAQ1088-1484: In layman terms, what is "engineering"?

RE: PDF prints wrong numbers

I have also noticed this, but not for a while. Below are some troubleshooting steps, but first let us know what version and maintenance pack of SE you use.

Do some troubleshooting:
1) Save As pdf. Does this cause the problem?
2) Print to pdf. Does this cause the problem?

Some possible solutions:
1) Make sure everyone is running the same version of Acrobat Reader. Yes, I have found the cause to be the pdf reader, not the pdf writer.
2) Make sure to embed all fonts into the pdf. This deals more with missing or wrong characters due to font replacement, but sometimes tolerances are considered special characters or use a different font/style and they translate to pdf differently.

--Scott
www.wertel.pro

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