Author Topic: PDF export issue, why?  (Read 443 times)

July 04, 2019, 11:41:29 AM
Read 443 times

brokenspork

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When I try to export/save as the attached file as a pdf it generates a blank white image. If I try the elements as individual files, I get missing objects. I'm not using any masks, no gradients (though it does include swatches) and the file was created entirely within inkscape.

Not sure where the error lies, but it is something id appreciate the help identifying what is causing the error as I do have to send these to the printshop sooner than later.
  • 0.91
  • Windows 10

July 04, 2019, 08:16:21 PM
Reply #1

brynn

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Welcome to the forum!

This might or might not have something to do with the problem.  There's nothing inside the page border.  The easiest way to fix it, is Ctrl a (select all), then File menu > Document Properties > Page tab > Resize page to contents.  That will put the page border around everything in the file.

This could be what's causing your problem, or at least part of it, although I'm not sure.  There is some Flowed Text in the file.  Most of the text is converted paths already, but there is some flowed text.  Flowed text is only recognized in Inkscape.  No other programs can use it (or even "see" it).

To find all the flowed text, open Object menu > Objects (it will take several seconds to open, because the file is fairly large).  Then scroll down through and find all the items that say "flowRoot....".  If you click on them in the dialog, it selects that item on the canvas.  Then you can do Text menu > Convert to Text.  Watch the text as you do that, because sometimes the text might move.  But you can just grab it and move it back, if necessary.

I notice that you're using version 0.91.  If I'm not mistaken (and I could be) there was a problem with transparency causing trouble in PDF exports in that version.  I see some of your swatches have some transparency.  So you could try either making those not partially transparent, or upgrading to 0.92.4 (where I think it's been fixed).

To be honest, I don't know if using the Swatches, itself could be causing a problem.....  Are you required to use them for this project?

I guess you could make all the other changes, and try the export again.  If you correct the text, page border and transparency, and you still have trouble, that would probably point to the swatches.

If you end up upgrading to 0.92.4, and you still have the problem, we'll investigate whether there's a bug with swatches.  I'll search the bug tracker after I post this, but I don't have time to test it at the moment.  But let us know if you have problems after all the other things are fixed, and we can test as well.
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July 05, 2019, 04:58:12 AM
Reply #2

Moini

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Flowed text should export just fine to pdf. Yes, if you're not using 0.92.4, uninstall Inkscape, remove all related files from your disk (uninstall is incomplete in that version and will cause issues later on), and install the latest version.

July 05, 2019, 01:15:33 PM
Reply #3

brokenspork

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Did the suggestions, but the problem didn't resolve until I removed the swatches entirely. Once that was done it did create the pdf file correctly.
  • 0.91
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July 05, 2019, 01:29:09 PM
Reply #4

brynn

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Even with version 0.92.4?
  • Inkscape version 0.92.3
  • Windows 7 Pro, 64-bit
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July 05, 2019, 02:37:27 PM
Reply #5

brokenspork

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Even with version 0.92.4?

haven't installed 0.92.4 yet.
  • 0.91
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July 06, 2019, 07:59:51 PM
Reply #6

brynn

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Thanks.  Just wanted to know whether I should make a bug report.
  • Inkscape version 0.92.3
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"Be ashamed to die until you have won some victory for humanity" - Horace Mann