PDF won't display

pbacot · 13 Nov 2014, 23:22

I inserted a pdf border and updated it. It turned into a gray rectangle with a red x in it. The pdf file is fine. I can insert it into other LayOut files. I can't update it or insert again so it shows in this file. Attached is a picture of the gray background image with a "x" any ideas what is causing this to happen? Everything was fine until this last minute glitch shows up, of course right at deadline.

It won't insert again, update, relink or anything--such that it shows correctly.

pbacot · 14 Nov 2014, 00:29

I had to create a new document that seems to be working fine with the same elements. But I wonder what that red "X" rectangle means.

Richard · 25 Nov 2014, 21:54

Mate it would normally mean the link file isn't found. Have you tried to embed it?

pbacot · 25 Nov 2014, 23:30

No I tried to relink it. It's there. I think the LO file went bad. What's embed?

Dave R · 26 Nov 2014, 01:44

In Document SetUp>References, you can select a reference file and choose Unlink which will cause LO to only look at the embedded version of the file.

pbacot · 26 Nov 2014, 03:08

Oh. I see. I thought I had already tried the "unlink". This time I went to the file and chose unlink. It didn't change anything and I could not remove the link by purging. HOWEVER when I then chose relink, I was able to navigate to the file and have it display correctly.

When I chose relink the open dialog was at a directory called "ref" with various image files and modified names (numbers added). linking the highlighted choice there did not remove the gray rectangle. I needed to go to the original file (which I had tried to no effect before).

Thanks.

Dave R · 26 Nov 2014, 10:17

I'm glad you got it sorted out.

The "ref" directory is actually part of the LO file. When you unlinked the image from the original source, LO could only look at the ref directory in the .layout file for the image file. Basically LO uses that reference file in the project but when you open it again or choose Update Reference, it goes out to look at the original file to see if there's a new version. Then it would overwrite the old reference. By unlinking and relinking you're forcing a "do over". It sounds to me as if something got corrupted with the image from the PDF.

It's worth noting that there's a copy of the SKP file(s) in the .layout file. If you have some reason to work on the project somewhere else or share the LO file, you've got the SKP file without needing to send it, too.

There's a number of cool things this allows for with templates and such but you may want to be careful about sharing the LO file. It might be like handing someone you entire wallet instead of the five dollar bill you meant to give.

pbacot · 26 Nov 2014, 15:48

Yes I guess all the references are in the LO file, accessed by using ".zip"?

It reminds me of one other issue regarding inserted graphics. The LO produces oversized (MB's) pdf files that can be a hassle to send people. I've found that Preview on the Mac can reduce the pdf file size and the LO file looks the same in most cases. However it drastically reduces the resolution of inserted graphics--files that were small in the first place--such that the resulting pdf is useless. I'd like to get through this problem (oversize pdfs)

Richard · 26 Nov 2014, 22:21

@pbacot said:

Yes I guess all the references are in the LO file, accessed by using ".zip"?

It reminds me of one other issue regarding inserted graphics. The LO produces oversized (MB's) pdf files that can be a hassle to send people. I've found that Preview on the Mac can reduce the pdf file size and the LO file looks the same in most cases. However it drastically reduces the resolution of inserted graphics--files that were small in the first place--such that the resulting pdf is useless. I'd like to get through this problem (oversize pdfs)

Depends what you are using to clean up the PDF's, Acrobat gives you the option to select downscaling of images. Sometimes reprinting the PDF to PDF can do this resampling fairly well!

pbacot · 26 Nov 2014, 22:43

So I need to try Acrobat I guess (Pro?). I have really avoided using Acrobat. Never liked the program, but if it gets the job done, could be worth it. Preview only works in some cases.

driven · 27 Nov 2014, 00:05

@pbacot said:

Yes I guess all the references are in the LO file, accessed by using ".zip"?

in code it's actually the novelty named 'unzip' so you can open the image file to edit it from 'Ruby Console' but from finder you can right click >> open with >> Unachiver.app, then find the image and resize/edit etc...
when finished, use right click>> compress to make a new achieve, rename original and name the new with originals name...
easy, maybe not.

from a SU plugin you could open it, optimise, resize, re-zip all in one go if always wanting the same changes...

an alternative is edit the PDF with PDFPen.app
john

pbacot · 27 Nov 2014, 00:57

You're saying I could do this with the pdf itself? I tried adding ".zip" but Unzipping (double-click) just produced another file, not a folder.

driven · 27 Nov 2014, 02:37

@pbacot,
it may be the reference image in your layout file [which is a zip folder]
to check it use Finder and make a copy [i.e. Duplicate]
with you copy right click the copy so you can change the extension from .layout to .zip.
then double click that and it will un-zip the folder and you can check if everything is what you expect, or edit items on there own...
as I don't have your file or know the specific issue I can't check it, but this way, you can...

hope that helps
john

pbacot · 27 Nov 2014, 03:33

Thanks. I think I am confusing two different issues on this thread. I'll look into it and probably post another thread. My goal now is smaller pdf output from LO.