Re: Problem printing Lout-generated PDF

[Valeriy E. Ushakov]

On Tue, Jul 06, 1999 at 06:02:28PM +0400, Vince Levey wrote:

> When I generate PDF output, I can view it with Adobe Acrobat Reader but
> I cannot print it.  If I use the acroread "-toPostScript" option to
> convert the file to PostScript, showps/xpsview gives me the following
> when I attempt to display the resultant PostScript file:
> 
>       The current file contains a PostScript error:
> 
>       File: test.ps
>       Error: nocurrentpoint
>       Operator: currentpoint

This error comes from PS implementation of Tf (i.e., setfont) in the
produced PostScript.

PDF spec v1.2 says that text state operators are allowed at the page
decsription level, see figure 8.1 on p.210.  Further note in section
8.7.1 "Text State parameters and operators", p.228, states that:

    Note: These operators can appear outside of text objects, and the
          values they set are retained across text objects on a single
          page.

However recently released PDF spec v1.3 is controvercial.  The same
figure 8.1 on p.320 in the new spec no longer lists text state
operators at allowed at the page description level.  However the
section 8.7.1 have the same note (verbatim) that states that text
state operators "can appear outside of text objects".

It seems that acrobat correctly understand text state operators
outside text objects, but it exports PostScript in such a way, that
text operators assume they are inside a text object and so have the
current point set.  The implementation of Tf, in particular ends with
the following code:

    currentpoint iTm moveto
    exch scalefont setfont

where iTm do text space matrix magic.  And BT is defined to perform

    0 0 moveto

after it sets up text matrix and other text state parameters.

SY, Uwe
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