Microsoft Publisher Woes Plaguing A Temp
October 3, 2013 8:46 AM
I've hit a wall with something I'm doing at a temp job, involving Microsoft Publisher 2007 - I'm trying to save my document as a PDF, but it is cheerfully ignoring 75% of the document when doing so. Please help.
I've laid out a greeting card, and there are 4 "pages" in the MS Publisher document - the front of the card, the inside with the greeting, and the company logo on the back of the card. All those elements are in place in the MS Publisher document. However, when I try to save the document as a PDF, what I get is a PDF with JUST the picture on the front of the card, laid out so it'd be in the right place when I fold my paper in half - but that's it. No logo, no inner greeting on a second page.
I have checked that I have the printer setting set to "top fold, half page". I have tried "selecting" all of the pages and selecting "print". I have tried "package to take to a publisher". These haven't helped.
I know it is possible - a consultant who was here for just the day yesterday figured out a way to do it, but I needed to edit the document and need to re-save.
Anyone who tells me to not use publisher will be flagged. I have no choice in that matter. Thank you.
I've laid out a greeting card, and there are 4 "pages" in the MS Publisher document - the front of the card, the inside with the greeting, and the company logo on the back of the card. All those elements are in place in the MS Publisher document. However, when I try to save the document as a PDF, what I get is a PDF with JUST the picture on the front of the card, laid out so it'd be in the right place when I fold my paper in half - but that's it. No logo, no inner greeting on a second page.
I have checked that I have the printer setting set to "top fold, half page". I have tried "selecting" all of the pages and selecting "print". I have tried "package to take to a publisher". These haven't helped.
I know it is possible - a consultant who was here for just the day yesterday figured out a way to do it, but I needed to edit the document and need to re-save.
Anyone who tells me to not use publisher will be flagged. I have no choice in that matter. Thank you.
Printing to PDF is precisely what i'm trying to do.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 8:51 AM on October 3, 2013
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 8:51 AM on October 3, 2013
Sorry, that wasn't clear - I've tried saving it as a PDF and I've tried printing it to PDF. The same problem happens with both instances - only 1 of the 4 images appears.
Or, sometimes when I send it to PDF, I get each page laid out on a separate page and blown up to 8x11 rather than being all in the proper place I laid them out in.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 8:52 AM on October 3, 2013
Or, sometimes when I send it to PDF, I get each page laid out on a separate page and blown up to 8x11 rather than being all in the proper place I laid them out in.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 8:52 AM on October 3, 2013
Ugh, how frustrating... Are you using the option to print multiple pages on a sheet? Apologies if you have...
- On the File menu, click Print, and then click the Publication and Paper Settings tab.
- Under Printing options, click Multiple pages per sheet.
- Click Print.
(source)
posted by mochapickle at 8:53 AM on October 3, 2013
- On the File menu, click Print, and then click the Publication and Paper Settings tab.
- Under Printing options, click Multiple pages per sheet.
- Click Print.
(source)
posted by mochapickle at 8:53 AM on October 3, 2013
- On the File menu, click Print, and then click the Publication and Paper Settings tab.
Check.
- Under Printing options, click Multiple pages per sheet.
"Multiple pages per sheet" is not listed as an option. However, "top fold half page" is indeed listed as an option, and I have selected that.
- Click Print.
I still only get the one image rather than all 4.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 9:03 AM on October 3, 2013
Check.
- Under Printing options, click Multiple pages per sheet.
"Multiple pages per sheet" is not listed as an option. However, "top fold half page" is indeed listed as an option, and I have selected that.
- Click Print.
I still only get the one image rather than all 4.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 9:03 AM on October 3, 2013
Okay, an update - "publish to PDF" is what makes it lay out all 4 images as separate pages. "print to PDF" just gives me just the first image in the right place but nothing else.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 9:06 AM on October 3, 2013
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 9:06 AM on October 3, 2013
My version of Publisher doesn't have "multiple pages per sheet" in the print dialog, but if you click "properties" up near the printer name, there is a section below the checkbox for 2-sided printing that lets you select ways to handle multi-page documents (mine defaults to having multiple pages off). (Unfortunately when I save as a PDF it defaults to all four sides on one sheet, and I can't find any way to turn that off, so can't advise as to what setting might work for saving.)
posted by mittens at 9:08 AM on October 3, 2013
posted by mittens at 9:08 AM on October 3, 2013
Mittens: I clicked "properties" as you suggested, but there is no option for how to handle multi-page documents.
I also just tried following these instructions for saving a document as a PDF file - except when I click "change" and go to "print options" on that screen, it does not give me any other option except for "one page per sheet".
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 9:15 AM on October 3, 2013
I also just tried following these instructions for saving a document as a PDF file - except when I click "change" and go to "print options" on that screen, it does not give me any other option except for "one page per sheet".
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 9:15 AM on October 3, 2013
You do have "all pages" selected under "page range," right?
posted by mittens at 9:25 AM on October 3, 2013
posted by mittens at 9:25 AM on October 3, 2013
Yup.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 9:31 AM on October 3, 2013
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 9:31 AM on October 3, 2013
PrimoPDF is a free utility for PC and Mac that, once installed, will show up as a printer option when you select "Print." I find it prints reliably to PDF, just as the document would look on paper.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 9:40 AM on October 3, 2013
posted by DirtyOldTown at 9:40 AM on October 3, 2013
It sounds like a PDF printer issue (i.e., when you click on the "properties" button in the print dialog). Maybe try changing some of the settings in the properties screen. Is there a "print as image" option? Also, I assume that when you print to a regular printer, it prints correctly, right?
posted by odin53 at 9:41 AM on October 3, 2013
posted by odin53 at 9:41 AM on October 3, 2013
What size paper are you using, and what are the dimensions of the finished card?
posted by Benny Andajetz at 9:44 AM on October 3, 2013
posted by Benny Andajetz at 9:44 AM on October 3, 2013
Odin: Huh! That actually may have been PART of the problem - I tried printing it on a regular printer, and it was putting the wrong pages in the wrong places. So I jiggered with that, and tried "print to PDF" - and it actually looks right now.
The real test will be when I send this PDF to my boss for her to print on HER printer, but this may have actually done it. fingers crossed.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 9:59 AM on October 3, 2013
The real test will be when I send this PDF to my boss for her to print on HER printer, but this may have actually done it. fingers crossed.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 9:59 AM on October 3, 2013
Odin ultimately had part of it - I tried printing it on a regular printer, and it was putting things in the wrong places. When I rejiggered that so it came out right on a regular printer, I then tried printing it as a PDF - and that suddenly worked properly.
I swear that trying to print it to a PDF before was only giving me one page; I have no idea what re-arranging the order of the pages in publisher did to make this work right, but it has. I am calling this resolved; many thanks.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 10:28 AM on October 3, 2013
I swear that trying to print it to a PDF before was only giving me one page; I have no idea what re-arranging the order of the pages in publisher did to make this work right, but it has. I am calling this resolved; many thanks.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 10:28 AM on October 3, 2013
You're not going crazy or anything. I manage a print shop. We deal with Publisher only reluctantly, out of necessity because it's what every non-graphics-pro user has. It is awful. It loves to mess up print settings, especially page order. Our standard procedure when receiving a Publisher file is to convert it to PDF and go from there. Random, unexplained behavior is part of the experience! ;)
posted by xedrik at 8:05 PM on October 3, 2013
posted by xedrik at 8:05 PM on October 3, 2013
« Older How to get started in freelance technical training | It's a flying visit - but I want to make it count!... Newer »
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by hapax_legomenon at 8:48 AM on October 3, 2013