Converted files are BLANK

[mrjacoby1]

Hi all,
Lately, I've been having issues with the PDF files created via XnView. The original documents we get from our customer are in .CAL format. These are blueprints. I am required to convert these into PDF's for our engineering and sales staff. To do this, I use "File | Save As | PDF " ... sometimes I use the FAX compression option, sometimes Packbits.
Sometimes --- not always --- the XnView software will create a PDF file that is blank. The PDF exists, it has some file size to it (I've seen these blanks range from 190 Kb to 3.4 Mb), but .... when you open them up in Adobe --- they're blank! There's NOTHING in them. At least nothing I can see.
Anyone have any idea WHY this is happeneing? More importantly, how do I prevent it from happening?

The problem doesn't seem to be compression-type related. A Packbits file has just a good a chance as being blank as a FAX-compressed file. As a matter of fact -- with the limited tersting I've done on this --- I have fouind that if a file can convert correctly using FAX compression, it will also convert correctly using PAckbits compression. The FAX files are smaller (Kb-wise), though.

One thing that may provide a clue: it seems that the files that DO convert properly are smaller in paper-size. That is, the ones that convert OK look like they could print out on a single 8.5" X 11" sheet; the CAL files that produce blanks are longer rectangles --- they wouldn't fit on a single sheet of paper (well, I guess you could "shrink to fit" perhaps, but that would likely produce type so small as to be useless).

Any ideas on how to solve would be great. Thanks.

[mrjacoby1]

Interesting .... these "wider" CAL files --- I can export them as JPEG's. That's through the "File | Export" menu. And the JPEG's turn out fine. I only run into issues when I try to "Save As" a PDF.

[mrjacoby1]

See the attachment please. Maybe this will explain my problem better.

[cday]

You're sure that the files are blank, and you're not just looking zoomed in to a white area? I know that's very nearly a silly question, but pressing Ctrl+0 should fit the whole image to the screen, if you need a quick check .

Next, do you have a small 'blank' PDF image that you could upload, in case that helps troubleshoot the problem -- 1MB max for attachments, or post to the cloud.

More promisingly, perhaps, the images that don't seem to convert have larger -- in fact very large -- pixel dimensions, which seems like a more likely issue, although it isn't immediately obvious why you're nonetheless get an output. If you are using XnView 'Classic', it is 32-bit software and there is a limit to the memory that can be addressed...

If you are using a 64-bit operating system, you might try installing XnViewMP x64 and see if that resolves the problem. Note that the compression settings are for some reason set in File > Format settings... rather than in the File > Save as... menu.

[mrjacoby1]

Here's one of the blank PDF's.

(Removed by author)

[mrjacoby1]

I am on a 64-bit OS. Win 7. I will try the MP 64-bit version and report back. Thanks.

[cday]

Stop!

Your file opens correctly in Nitro Pro 8 software but is blank, as you say, in Adobe Reader...

That is a puzzle, especially as Adobe Reader is said to be more tolerant of malformed PDF files than other software, explaining its large download size...

[mrjacoby1]

No change using XnView MP, 64-bit. PDFs from the "wider" CAL files are still blank. XnViewMP-64 can create JPG's, same as the regular XnView version.

[cday]

In the PDF file properties (File > Properties... or Ctrl+D) the page size is given as '5,080 x 2,413 mm' which seems rather large for an engineering drawing: that page size could plausibly be acceptable to Nitro Pro but overflow Adobe Reader...

Perhaps there is a scaling setting somewhere in the file conversion from CAL that needs to be changed?

[cday]

Pending any better idea, a quick experiment you can do:

When you have the CAL image open in XnView or 'MP, select Image > Canvas resize... and double the DPI setting, which should halve the print size, then save as a PDF and test that file. (Or maybe multiply the image DPI by four, and check the print size is reduced by four).

[cday]

I suspect that the little known CAL files are rasterised with Ghostscript when they are opened in XnView and that the default Ghostscript DPI value of 72 it much too low in relation to the engineering drawing DPI, resulting in print dimensions that are too large for Adobe Reader to display.

If the 'Canvas resize' test results in a PDF file that can be opened, you could try changing your Ghostscript DPI seting to, for example, 300 and then try converting a CAL file: if that works you would then be able to produce readable PDF files directly from CAL files. For an exact page size match with the original engineering drawing you would need to know its dimensions.

Tools > Options > Read/Write -- Read -- EPS/PS/AI/PDF -- DPI

[XnTriq]

This problem has been reported before, but the cause wasn't determined.
Could you upload samples for in- and output (or provide a download link via PM), mrjacoby1?

[mrjacoby1]

I'm going to try cday's suggestions. Will report back later this AM.

[mrjacoby1]

cday, Wow. It worked. Manually, anyway. DPI was at 72. I changed to 200 (Image > Set DPI) manually. Did it to both X and Y. Saving the CAL file as a PDF (FAX compression, 100% quality) generated a readable, reasonably-sized PDF file. Way to go!

But .... I couldn't get those settings to "stick" with the "Tools>Options...." settings change. I changed that value to 200. Closed the software, relaunched, then opened the same CAL file. Checking its DPI, I found it was still at 72. I rechecked in "Tools>Options..." and it was at 200.

Hmmmmmm.....

[mrjacoby1]

Thank you, cday.