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TICKET ARCHIVE -> Nathaniel
Nikilet - Aug 15, 2005 - 4:47 pm
Hi -- It's me again and my problem is a bit more extensive this time.
I received a CD with photos I need access to. The accompanying letter indicates the CD has been universally written for use on a Mac or PC, but I can not open the CD. I get a pop-up stating the disk can not be read by this computer and asking if I want to initialize, which I know will erase the disk.
The reason I don't think my CD-Rom Drive is bad is because I can open other disks.
However, my co-worker, also using an iMac, can open the disk and I can open it in my old iMac. I went into the help files and it sent me to the File Exchange but I don't understand enough about this stuff so didn't do anything.
Is there some setting or something that needs to be changed? If you can help I would really appreciate it.
Thank you,
Nikilet
A reminder that I have Mac OS 9.2.2
I received a CD with photos I need access to. The accompanying letter indicates the CD has been universally written for use on a Mac or PC, but I can not open the CD. I get a pop-up stating the disk can not be read by this computer and asking if I want to initialize, which I know will erase the disk.
The reason I don't think my CD-Rom Drive is bad is because I can open other disks.
However, my co-worker, also using an iMac, can open the disk and I can open it in my old iMac. I went into the help files and it sent me to the File Exchange but I don't understand enough about this stuff so didn't do anything.
Is there some setting or something that needs to be changed? If you can help I would really appreciate it.
Thank you,
Nikilet
A reminder that I have Mac OS 9.2.2
Natobasso - Aug 15, 2005 - 10:14 pm
Howdy! So the other computers are running OS X?
If those computers can open the photos you might consider transferring them using a "Crossover" ethernet cable or through your network.
Some newer cds burned on newer op systems might not work on older systems with older cd drives in them. If you can do the work around I just described you're home free.
It's entirely possible that the drive you have just won't read the type of discs that you're receiving from your vendor. If I knew the drive you had and the discs you're getting I could find out more.
--------
*Nathaniel
bass guitar. graphic design. junior IT.
If those computers can open the photos you might consider transferring them using a "Crossover" ethernet cable or through your network.
Some newer cds burned on newer op systems might not work on older systems with older cd drives in them. If you can do the work around I just described you're home free.
It's entirely possible that the drive you have just won't read the type of discs that you're receiving from your vendor. If I knew the drive you had and the discs you're getting I could find out more.
--------
*Nathaniel
bass guitar. graphic design. junior IT.
Nikilet - Aug 16, 2005 - 2:20 pm
Greetings!
The other computers mentioned are running OS 8.6 and 9.2.
I went into that File Exchange and under PC Exchange, at the bottom where it says "PC SCSI Disks" I checked the box tnat says "Mount at start up" and then also clicked on the button beside that which said "Mount Now." I didn't figure it could do much harm. I haven't a clue whether it was that which did the trick, but when I popped that CD in again it appeared on my desk top and opened.
I've also been having some problems with the CDs I receive from Metro Newspaper Service which have clip art on them. One time a disk will open just fine and the next time I put it in I just get a gray box with an error code number in it.
Anyway, thank you again for your work-around information, which I will keep for future use.
As long as I'm writing, I've been puzzled about another CD matter. In Applications/Utilities there appears an icon which is labeled "Burner." When you click on it a sign tells you to insert the media disk. Also, under the System Profiler/Devices and Volumes/CD-ROM Drive it says "Apple disc burning: Supported." Does this mean that I should be able to save items to a CD rather than using this external Iomega Zip Drive?
Later -- Nikilet
The other computers mentioned are running OS 8.6 and 9.2.
I went into that File Exchange and under PC Exchange, at the bottom where it says "PC SCSI Disks" I checked the box tnat says "Mount at start up" and then also clicked on the button beside that which said "Mount Now." I didn't figure it could do much harm. I haven't a clue whether it was that which did the trick, but when I popped that CD in again it appeared on my desk top and opened.
I've also been having some problems with the CDs I receive from Metro Newspaper Service which have clip art on them. One time a disk will open just fine and the next time I put it in I just get a gray box with an error code number in it.
Anyway, thank you again for your work-around information, which I will keep for future use.
As long as I'm writing, I've been puzzled about another CD matter. In Applications/Utilities there appears an icon which is labeled "Burner." When you click on it a sign tells you to insert the media disk. Also, under the System Profiler/Devices and Volumes/CD-ROM Drive it says "Apple disc burning: Supported." Does this mean that I should be able to save items to a CD rather than using this external Iomega Zip Drive?
Later -- Nikilet
Natobasso - Aug 16, 2005 - 4:39 pm
Glad you got it sorted. 
As long as that "Burning" icon is an app and you have a cd burner drive that works with it, you can most certainly burn cds of whatever data you want.
It all really depends on how accessible/changeable you want your data to be. Zip disks are portable and re-writable, and only CD-RW disks are rewritable. The CD-R's you've been using, I assume, you can only burn once.
Are you looking to archive and back up your data?
--------
*Nathaniel
bass guitar. graphic design. junior IT.
As long as that "Burning" icon is an app and you have a cd burner drive that works with it, you can most certainly burn cds of whatever data you want.
It all really depends on how accessible/changeable you want your data to be. Zip disks are portable and re-writable, and only CD-RW disks are rewritable. The CD-R's you've been using, I assume, you can only burn once.
Are you looking to archive and back up your data?
--------
*Nathaniel
bass guitar. graphic design. junior IT.
Nikilet - Aug 16, 2005 - 6:59 pm
I have to save a lot of clip art to use on ads and a CD-R would be so much better for that. Sometimes I have to put in three different disks to find what I want and a CD would hold a lot more data.
The "Burning" icon certainly appears to be an application. However, I don't have an external CD burner drive. Is that is what is required? I thought it was just incorporated into my CD drive on these iMacs. When I put a disk in and then try to initialize or erase it I get a sign that says this can not be accomplished because the disk is locked. When I select that disk icon and go to "Get Info" the little box at the bottom where you can check to lock or unlock an item is not there.
I know ... I'm pretty dumb about a LOT. Thanks for your patience.
Nikilet
The "Burning" icon certainly appears to be an application. However, I don't have an external CD burner drive. Is that is what is required? I thought it was just incorporated into my CD drive on these iMacs. When I put a disk in and then try to initialize or erase it I get a sign that says this can not be accomplished because the disk is locked. When I select that disk icon and go to "Get Info" the little box at the bottom where you can check to lock or unlock an item is not there.
I know ... I'm pretty dumb about a LOT. Thanks for your patience.
Nikilet
Natobasso - Aug 16, 2005 - 7:48 pm
Nah, you're definitely not dumb!
Older iMacs such as yours didn't come with cd burners so unless it was installed later you don't have one. You'll need to get an external burner for your mac. What model iMac do you have? The older ones before the flat panel G4 iMacs?
If you start burning a lot of cds you'll need to get an archiving program like Disk Wizard so you can catalog all your data and then be able to search everything you burn with its database instead of having to look at all your cds.
I search for the program…
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*Nathaniel
bass guitar. graphic design. junior IT.
Older iMacs such as yours didn't come with cd burners so unless it was installed later you don't have one. You'll need to get an external burner for your mac. What model iMac do you have? The older ones before the flat panel G4 iMacs?
If you start burning a lot of cds you'll need to get an archiving program like Disk Wizard so you can catalog all your data and then be able to search everything you burn with its database instead of having to look at all your cds.
I search for the program…
--------
*Nathaniel
bass guitar. graphic design. junior IT.
Nikilet - Aug 17, 2005 - 11:53 am
Thanks, Nathaniel. If you don't get too tired of me I may learn something yet!
Nikilet
Nikilet
Natobasso - Aug 17, 2005 - 1:10 pm
No problem! Here's the program. It's so good I still use Classic in OS X just so I can use it:
http://www.versiontracker.com/dyn/moreinfo/macos/1256
It's freeware.
--------
*Nathaniel
bass guitar. graphic design. junior IT.
http://www.versiontracker.com/dyn/moreinfo/macos/1256
It's freeware.
--------
*Nathaniel
bass guitar. graphic design. junior IT.
Nikilet - Jun 28, 2006 - 2:54 pm
Nathaniel -- Don't know if you are even still available but I have a new problem and tho I posted the question to support wanted to try and contact you. Here it is:
When trying to create a pdf I was getting a message that "DistillerLib failed to start due to an internal error." I removed all AdobePS files and reinstalled and thought that solved it.
Then, another problem cropped up. I'd open Quark 5 and designate the page size at 4" x3" and the ad itself ran off fine in Quark, but after creating pdf and opening that the document size in pdf showed 3" x4". I've tried everything and can't figure out why that is happening.
Then I got word from the head office that my pdfs were corrupt. If I drop a pdf I have created into Adobe PS 6.0 I get the message "The embedded ICC profile can't be used because it is invalid."
I'm a novice. Does this have anything to do with the printer you select when you go under pdf preferences in Quark?
I have Mac OS 9.2 operating system.
I'd appreciate any help you can offer.
Nikilet
When trying to create a pdf I was getting a message that "DistillerLib failed to start due to an internal error." I removed all AdobePS files and reinstalled and thought that solved it.
Then, another problem cropped up. I'd open Quark 5 and designate the page size at 4" x3" and the ad itself ran off fine in Quark, but after creating pdf and opening that the document size in pdf showed 3" x4". I've tried everything and can't figure out why that is happening.
Then I got word from the head office that my pdfs were corrupt. If I drop a pdf I have created into Adobe PS 6.0 I get the message "The embedded ICC profile can't be used because it is invalid."
I'm a novice. Does this have anything to do with the printer you select when you go under pdf preferences in Quark?
I have Mac OS 9.2 operating system.
I'd appreciate any help you can offer.
Nikilet
Natobasso - Jun 28, 2006 - 4:19 pm
Hi! I'm always available.
Make sure you pick the Acrobat PDF printer for quark so you'll export your pdfs through that.
Try exporting a .ps (postscript) or .eps file and distilling that and see if you still get the error when you use distiller.
(Can you upgrade to OS X sometime soon, he he?!)
Is it possible you have any RGB and/or jpg images in your document?
Make sure you pick the Acrobat PDF printer for quark so you'll export your pdfs through that.
Try exporting a .ps (postscript) or .eps file and distilling that and see if you still get the error when you use distiller.
(Can you upgrade to OS X sometime soon, he he?!)
Is it possible you have any RGB and/or jpg images in your document?
Nikilet - Jun 28, 2006 - 6:04 pm
I went to Chooser, selected Acrobat PDFWriter. Then, when I took a Quark file and selected "Export to PDF" I got a message that I have to have a Laserwriter printer to do this.
The place I was talking about selecting the printer is when you have Quark open, go to Edit-Preferences-PDF. On that last tab I make sure it says Grayscale and then I select Laserwriter 2100 series because that's what my printer is. Maybe the problem is in setting up the printer to use for AdobePS under the chooser. Perhaps I did something wrong there.
I know none of the images are jpgs, however, I don't know about the RGB deal. How do I check for that?
When I select to Export to PDF and it activates the Distiller 4.0, I can see on my desktop that first there is a postscript file and then it changes to a pdf.
I'm really lost here. I can follow the laid out steps to create a pdf but if it doesn't work then I don't know where to go.
I just created a pdf out of one of my quark files and the pdf looked fine when I opened it but I got a sign that said something to the effect that there was trouble viewing this file. Error -12.
This is awful long but I have another question. I had Create Adobe PDF that I downloaded and it was working fine except that I couldn't figure out how to customize the pdf document size. I would select the proper size page for my quart page based on the size of the ad, but after dropping it in Create Adobe PDF it would always come out the full page size instead of being customized to the same size as the ad.
I'll wait to hear ...
Thanks for being willing to help
Nikilet
The place I was talking about selecting the printer is when you have Quark open, go to Edit-Preferences-PDF. On that last tab I make sure it says Grayscale and then I select Laserwriter 2100 series because that's what my printer is. Maybe the problem is in setting up the printer to use for AdobePS under the chooser. Perhaps I did something wrong there.
I know none of the images are jpgs, however, I don't know about the RGB deal. How do I check for that?
When I select to Export to PDF and it activates the Distiller 4.0, I can see on my desktop that first there is a postscript file and then it changes to a pdf.
I'm really lost here. I can follow the laid out steps to create a pdf but if it doesn't work then I don't know where to go.
I just created a pdf out of one of my quark files and the pdf looked fine when I opened it but I got a sign that said something to the effect that there was trouble viewing this file. Error -12.
This is awful long but I have another question. I had Create Adobe PDF that I downloaded and it was working fine except that I couldn't figure out how to customize the pdf document size. I would select the proper size page for my quart page based on the size of the ad, but after dropping it in Create Adobe PDF it would always come out the full page size instead of being customized to the same size as the ad.
I'll wait to hear ...
Thanks for being willing to help
Nikilet
Natobasso - Jun 28, 2006 - 7:16 pm
Nikilet--you're blinding me with science, ie too much information and too many questions all at once. Let's handle this one thing at a time. So, ... (my comments in --[ ]--)
I went to Chooser, selected Acrobat PDFWriter. Then, when I took a Quark file and selected "Export to PDF" I got a message that I have to have a Laserwriter printer to do this.
--[Don't change your chooser, just what quark exports to. Keep your chooser set to whatever printer you're connected to. They are two different processes, printing a pdf and printing a page through your Laser Writer.]--
The place I was talking about selecting the printer is when you have Quark open, go to Edit-Preferences-PDF. On that last tab I make sure it says Grayscale and then I select Laserwriter 2100 series because that's what my printer is. Maybe the problem is in setting up the printer to use for AdobePS under the chooser. Perhaps I did something wrong there.
--[You should be able to output the pdf as you described; quark "prints" a postscript file and then rips that ps file through Distiller.]--
I know none of the images are jpgs, however, I don't know about the RGB deal. How do I check for that?
--[Get info on all placed images.]--
When I select to Export to PDF and it activates the Distiller 4.0, I can see on my desktop that first there is a postscript file and then it changes to a pdf.
I'm really lost here. I can follow the laid out steps to create a pdf but if it doesn't work then I don't know where to go.
--[Have you tried Save As Eps and ripping that file to distiller yourself? Might be a better workaround than trying to figure out which printer to use with Chooser or Quark preferences.]--
I just created a pdf out of one of my quark files and the pdf looked fine when I opened it but I got a sign that said something to the effect that there was trouble viewing this file. Error -12.
This is awful long but I have another question. I had Create Adobe PDF that I downloaded and it was working fine except that I couldn't figure out how to customize the pdf document size. I would select the proper size page for my quart page based on the size of the ad, but after dropping it in Create Adobe PDF it would always come out the full page size instead of being customized to the same size as the ad.
--[You can only customize the document size in quark. Acrobat only lets you crop, not determine page size, per se. Make sure your trim is set correctly in quark and export your doc with crop marks and bleed if necessary. In short, do all your sizing in Quark, not Acrobat; you should be fine.]--
I'll wait to hear ...
Thanks for being willing to help
Nikilet
So, ... (my comments in --[ ]--)I went to Chooser, selected Acrobat PDFWriter. Then, when I took a Quark file and selected "Export to PDF" I got a message that I have to have a Laserwriter printer to do this.
--[Don't change your chooser, just what quark exports to. Keep your chooser set to whatever printer you're connected to. They are two different processes, printing a pdf and printing a page through your Laser Writer.]--
The place I was talking about selecting the printer is when you have Quark open, go to Edit-Preferences-PDF. On that last tab I make sure it says Grayscale and then I select Laserwriter 2100 series because that's what my printer is. Maybe the problem is in setting up the printer to use for AdobePS under the chooser. Perhaps I did something wrong there.
--[You should be able to output the pdf as you described; quark "prints" a postscript file and then rips that ps file through Distiller.]--
I know none of the images are jpgs, however, I don't know about the RGB deal. How do I check for that?
--[Get info on all placed images.]--
When I select to Export to PDF and it activates the Distiller 4.0, I can see on my desktop that first there is a postscript file and then it changes to a pdf.
I'm really lost here. I can follow the laid out steps to create a pdf but if it doesn't work then I don't know where to go.
--[Have you tried Save As Eps and ripping that file to distiller yourself? Might be a better workaround than trying to figure out which printer to use with Chooser or Quark preferences.]--
I just created a pdf out of one of my quark files and the pdf looked fine when I opened it but I got a sign that said something to the effect that there was trouble viewing this file. Error -12.
This is awful long but I have another question. I had Create Adobe PDF that I downloaded and it was working fine except that I couldn't figure out how to customize the pdf document size. I would select the proper size page for my quart page based on the size of the ad, but after dropping it in Create Adobe PDF it would always come out the full page size instead of being customized to the same size as the ad.
--[You can only customize the document size in quark. Acrobat only lets you crop, not determine page size, per se. Make sure your trim is set correctly in quark and export your doc with crop marks and bleed if necessary. In short, do all your sizing in Quark, not Acrobat; you should be fine.]--
I'll wait to hear ...
Thanks for being willing to help
Nikilet
Natobasso - Jun 28, 2006 - 7:19 pm
(My responses in easier to read format--sorry!)
--[Don't change your chooser, just what quark exports to. They are two different processes, printing a pdf and printing a page through your Laser Writer.]--
--[You should be able to output the pdf as you described; quark "prints" a postscript file and then rips that ps file through Distiller.]--
--[Get info on all placed images.]--
--[Have you tried Save As Eps and ripping that file to distiller yourself? Might be a better workaround than trying to figure out which printer to use with Chooser or Quark preferences.]--
--[You can only customize the document size in quark. Acrobat only lets you crop, not determine page size, per se. Make sure your trim is set correctly in quark and export your doc with crop marks and bleed if necessary. In short, do all your sizing in Quark, not Acrobat; you should be fine.]--
--[Don't change your chooser, just what quark exports to. They are two different processes, printing a pdf and printing a page through your Laser Writer.]--
--[You should be able to output the pdf as you described; quark "prints" a postscript file and then rips that ps file through Distiller.]--
--[Get info on all placed images.]--
--[Have you tried Save As Eps and ripping that file to distiller yourself? Might be a better workaround than trying to figure out which printer to use with Chooser or Quark preferences.]--
--[You can only customize the document size in quark. Acrobat only lets you crop, not determine page size, per se. Make sure your trim is set correctly in quark and export your doc with crop marks and bleed if necessary. In short, do all your sizing in Quark, not Acrobat; you should be fine.]--
Nikilet - Jun 28, 2006 - 7:30 pm
Sorry about hitting you so fast and furious with all the questions. I'm just so frustrated. I will address only one thing this time. You said:
--[Have you tried Save As Eps and ripping that file to distiller yourself? Might be a better workaround than trying to figure out which printer to use with Chooser or Quark preferences.]--
I know how to save as eps, but how do you them "rip" that file to the distiller?
Nikilet
--[Have you tried Save As Eps and ripping that file to distiller yourself? Might be a better workaround than trying to figure out which printer to use with Chooser or Quark preferences.]--
I know how to save as eps, but how do you them "rip" that file to the distiller?
Nikilet
Natobasso - Jun 28, 2006 - 7:33 pm
Ah, just drag the resulting eps file to the distiller program and it will RIP the file (Raster Image Processing) as it does normally with .ps files that quark creates (as you mentioned).
No worries about your questions, we'll handle it.
No worries about your questions, we'll handle it.
Nikilet - Jun 28, 2006 - 7:51 pm
Okay, now when I open the resulting pdf I get a sign that says "Array length is out of range."
I'm sure it won't surprise you that I haven't even a clue what that means!
I'll wait a few moments to see if by chance you answer and then I guess I'll call it quits for this day.
Thanks!
I'm sure it won't surprise you that I haven't even a clue what that means!
I'll wait a few moments to see if by chance you answer and then I guess I'll call it quits for this day.
Thanks!
Natobasso - Jun 28, 2006 - 8:01 pm
I think you might need to reset your Export PDF preferences in Quark to their defaults. I wonder if we've changed too much in an attempt to produce a good file?
The only other thing I can think of is that you have some images or fonts that have errors in them. I recommend setting your Distiller to produce PDF/X-1a files. This format is good because it won't let you create a pdf with errors in it.
Also, make sure you check the distiller log (Should be in Window menu, but not sure; it's been two years since I used OS 9 regularly!). Might tell you what the error is.
You know, I also recommend restarting and rebuilding your desktop hold command (key with apple and clover) and option keys till you see "Are you sure you want to rebuild your desktop".
Your issues could be fixable just by running some basic system maintenance.
Also, can you email me the eps file you created? Send it to natobasso(at symbol)hotmail(dot)com. Remove parentheses, of course.
The only other thing I can think of is that you have some images or fonts that have errors in them. I recommend setting your Distiller to produce PDF/X-1a files. This format is good because it won't let you create a pdf with errors in it.
Also, make sure you check the distiller log (Should be in Window menu, but not sure; it's been two years since I used OS 9 regularly!). Might tell you what the error is.
You know, I also recommend restarting and rebuilding your desktop hold command (key with apple and clover) and option keys till you see "Are you sure you want to rebuild your desktop".
Your issues could be fixable just by running some basic system maintenance.
Also, can you email me the eps file you created? Send it to natobasso(at symbol)hotmail(dot)com. Remove parentheses, of course.
Nikilet - Jun 28, 2006 - 8:10 pm
I will e-mail you the eps file, but in the meantime, how do you set your Distiller for PDF/X-1 as you indicated?
Natobasso - Jun 28, 2006 - 8:31 pm
Preferences, maybe? Can't remember...
Natobasso - Jun 28, 2006 - 8:32 pm
I think PDF/X-1a is a newer format...might not be in your preferences to choose.
All this is so much easier in OS X, belive me. Any chance you can upgrade?
Just send me the eps file, don't worry about making a pdf out of it. I want to check out the file myself to look for errors.
All this is so much easier in OS X, belive me.
Any chance you can upgrade?Just send me the eps file, don't worry about making a pdf out of it. I want to check out the file myself to look for errors.
Nikilet - Jun 28, 2006 - 8:44 pm
I already sent you the files and I did include pdfs thinking you might find something through them.
No chance of upgrading to OSX because this old machine of mine wouldn't handle it. The head office does have OSX.
Calling it a day. Will check tomorrow morning to see if you found anything.
Thanks!
No chance of upgrading to OSX because this old machine of mine wouldn't handle it. The head office does have OSX.
Calling it a day. Will check tomorrow morning to see if you found anything.
Thanks!
Natobasso - Jun 28, 2006 - 9:01 pm
No worries.
I checked it real quick and you probably need to check the placed photo (if it's anything but CMYK tif you're going to have an issue) and the headline has lots of weirdness going on: it has lots of unnecessary compound paths around it.
The image looks like a lo res jpg.
If you want a white border around the headline (I think you wanted a white shadow to separate it from the black border because I can see it peeking out from behind the black title) you just need a duplicate illustrator object underneath with a 3-5pt white stroke. Looks like you drew one by hand; no need. Ilustrator does this for you if you "Paste in Back", command + B. It will be a lot cleaner that way.
Let me know how this goes.
I checked it real quick and you probably need to check the placed photo (if it's anything but CMYK tif you're going to have an issue) and the headline has lots of weirdness going on: it has lots of unnecessary compound paths around it.
The image looks like a lo res jpg.
If you want a white border around the headline (I think you wanted a white shadow to separate it from the black border because I can see it peeking out from behind the black title) you just need a duplicate illustrator object underneath with a 3-5pt white stroke. Looks like you drew one by hand; no need.
Ilustrator does this for you if you "Paste in Back", command + B. It will be a lot cleaner that way.Let me know how this goes.
Natobasso - Jun 30, 2006 - 1:03 pm
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