converting pdf to postscript: pdf2ps, pdftops and acroread

Message

nahpets · Post by **nahpets** » Thu Apr 01, 2004 11:30 pm

I have a pdf file that I want to convert to postscript. There are three ways I can do this (as far as I know).

1. pdf2ps (ghostscript package)
2. pdftops (xpdf package)
3. acroread (print to file)

When I use "pdf2ps" and view the output in gv or kghostview, there is no right margin. The text goes all the way to the edge of the page.

When I use pdftops, the output looks fine.

Whe I open the pdf in acroread and print-to-file, I can view the ps file in gv, but kghostview shows only blank pages with the following output:

Code: Select all

$ kghostview print.ps
kghostview: WARNING: KFilterBase::findFilterByExtension : no filter found for application/postscript

In fact, I get the same warning from kghostview every time I open a ps file.

Does anyone know what's going on here? Is there a configuration problem with ghostscript or something?

DigitalDan · Post by **DigitalDan** » Fri Apr 02, 2004 4:44 am

check out a2ps. It does all the work for you and has tons of options. It stands for anything to postscript.

nahpets · Post by **nahpets** » Fri Apr 02, 2004 8:20 am

Shame on me! I actually forgot about "a2ps"

I tried it out, and it converts to ps well, except that I can't open the resulting file in "kghostview". It keeps giving me that "no filter found" error message. Anyone know what's up with that?

misterLu · Post by **misterLu** » Sun Apr 18, 2004 9:03 pm

DigitalDan wrote:check out a2ps. It does all the work for you and has tons of options. It stands for anything to postscript.

It doesn't handle properly with doc or sxw files

Let's see this example:

Code: Select all

 # a2ps  szkola/mnum/sprawozdanie.sxw -o file.ps
[szkola/mnum/sprawozdanie.sxw (standard): 92 pages on 46 sheets]
[All: 92 pages on 46 sheets] written into `file.ps'
[355 lines wrapped]

Oryginal file.sxw had 7 pages, now file.ps has 92. That is not OK

.

how can I convert doc/sxw to ps ??

nahpets · Post by **nahpets** » Mon Apr 19, 2004 6:05 am

Use the "print to postscript" option in the "Print" dialog box. Instead of sending your document to a printer, it will be written to a ps file.

misterLu · Post by **misterLu** » Mon Apr 19, 2004 9:19 am

Thanks!
I have another idea: I export file to pdf, and then use a2ps.

Is there any program that lets you modify ps files ??
I have ghostscript , but I can use it as a previewer only.

nahpets · Post by **nahpets** » Mon Apr 19, 2004 7:52 pm

misterLu wrote:Thanks!
Is there any program that lets you modify ps files ??
I have ghostscript , but I can use it as a previewer only.

Well, you can always use a text editor. Not sure if there's a GUI editor for PS files though.

misterLu · Post by **misterLu** » Mon Apr 19, 2004 9:28 pm

Thanks!

And maybe you 've come across this problem:
http://forums.gentoo.org/viewtopic.php?t=163273

nahpets · Post by **nahpets** » Tue Apr 20, 2004 6:13 am

Nope. When I have a pdf file I want to convert to ps, I open it in "acroread" and print to file. I've never had any messages about missing fonts.

misterLu · Post by **misterLu** » Wed Apr 21, 2004 12:48 pm

This means I have a shity pdf-file. As far as I know, it has been somehow protected , that you can't open it in the editor and do 'copy-paste' content of the document. Is it possible ?

When I try to open it with acroread, i get this error:

Code: Select all

There was an error opening this document. The file is damaged and could not be repaired.

I use app-text/acroread-5.08

nahpets · Post by **nahpets** » Wed Apr 21, 2004 9:27 pm

Can you list the steps you took to create you PDF file?

misterLu · Post by **misterLu** » Fri Apr 23, 2004 12:15 pm

I can't

. I'm not the author of this document.
This is some kind "network technology tutorial" written in polish.
I can only show/send you this document.

nahpets · Post by **nahpets** » Fri Apr 23, 2004 12:20 pm

If it's written in Polish, chances are you don't have the fonts installed on your system (like the message says). You should search for "fonts AND acroread" or "fonts AND postscript" to find out how to install missing fonts.

misterLu · Post by **misterLu** » Fri Apr 23, 2004 1:39 pm

I'm afraid I have all avaible fonts installed. I coudn't find anything that seems to help solving me this.
I'll edit this ps file manually and try to change TimesNewRoman,BoldItalic-Identity-H
to some other font. Maybe this will help.