Re: Text reflow

This doesn't surprise me.

I always created documents using PostScript, because that's what most
commercial photosetters used. On one occasion, I switched from PostScript to
the HP page-description language -- and the layout changed, altering the
page breaks.

This sort of thing shouldn't occur, but it does.

I'd suggest you create PRN (printer) files in PostScript format and send
those to your service bureau. The bureau can then convert them to the
necessary PostScript files.

Several years ago I paid $100 for a PageMaker update that included the
Distiller, and have never regretted it. Do you have a friend with PostScript
Distiller?

DEAK JAHN, Gabor wrote:

> But
> still, this is a very strange phenomenon.

William --

Gabor is right -- this is a bit strange. In V8, reflow results from
pulling font metrics through the Windows at the current printer
resolution. When the current printer is changed, the metrics are
repulled and the text is reflowed using the new metrics. What happens
is that the font metrics are rounded to the current printer resolution.
So the greater the difference in resolutions, the more likely the
rounding differences will result in text reflow.

When this happens in V8, it is usually triggered by switching between
PCL and PS printer drivers. In rare instances, switching between PS
drivers also can cause this problem.

This was fixed in V10 by retrieving all font metrics at 1200 dpi
through an internal Ventura printer driver that is hidden from the user.

As Gabor has pointed out, the easiest workaround is to print to file
using your normal PS driver, then distill (jaws) that.

Alternatively, if the document is relatively short (e.g., 50 pages or
less), switch to the Jaws printer driver (which causes the reflow).
Then compare what's on-screen with what you got through the original
print driver. Looking line-by-line, you can see where a line breaks
differently, and usually a little strategic kerning or line breaks can
force the lines to break where you want them. Sounds like it would be
tedious, but I would expect this to take at most 15-30 minutes for 50
pages.


-- Eric
[C_TECH Volunteer]

Check out the Ventura FAQ at:
http://www.draw.nu/venturafaq/

or download a PDF copy at:
http://www.fhcomm.com/VenturaFAQ.pdf

Hello. I am using Ventura 8.559. I think I understand the text reflow issues
surrounding font metrics (ie character widths). The problem I am having is
that text that fits vertically onto a page under my usual Postscript printer
driver, no longer fits when I switch to the Jaws PDF Creator driver in order
to output the file to send to the print bureau. Removing 1pt of
interparagraph space on the affected pages fixes the problem, but it is a
chore to find all the affected pages. Is there something simpler I can do?

Shantavira

My brain isn't working.

When I had to send a document to a printer, I always sent PostScript PRN
files for their PS-based photosetter. I never, ever sent PDF files.

Why would anyone send PDF files? Isn't that the issue?

> William Sommerwerck wrote:

>> Why would anyone send PDF files? Isn't that the issue?

> Hardly. In fact, PDF files are now the lingua franca of the prepress
> world. A properly made PDF file is just as good as a PRN file for
> prepress -- and you can actually see what it's supposed to look like
> before it comes out of the imagesetter which makes it easier for the
> vendor to detect problems.

> These days, we don't work with vendors who cannot handle PDFs --
> and that hasn't really stopped us from working with anyone.

Then we're back to issue of why this supposedly "superior" product
changes
the page breaks...

I might add that when I created PostScript PRN files, I _never_ had a
problem with a change in appearance. The final printed document exactly
matched what I saw on the computer's monitor.