Hello,
I have had a heck of a time with Finale and pdf going back a long time
(to the beginnings of pdf as a standard format). I am now using
FinMac 2009 on an Intel machine. I have consistently found that the
pdf files were -- and still are -- unreliable. Generally speaking,
they might or might not work on someone else's computer, often missing
clefs or maybe missing out whole fonts.
I assume this problem is with Apple, since the issue arises when using
the "save as pdf" command in the print dialog box.
I should say that except for large orchestral scores, I always print
to 9x12 size, onto 12x18 paper (double-sided) so as to make center-
staple books. I know I can do this directly from Finale, but that has
three problems:
1) the files aren't mailable (to publishers or performers) unless the
people receiving the files have Notepad or the same version of finale
that I use.
2) working from finale requires me either to keep old versions of
finale around (even old OS9 machines) or to always update all of my
files (hoping for no conversion mistakes).
3) Finale files sometimes don't stay the same between openings.
Little things (maybe less now than in the past) jump around or
disappear.
I decided long ago to make graphic files, so that things stay exactly
the way I put them, and so that I don't need old versions of finale
for printing.
Until recently, I've used PageMaker (OS 9), then InDesign as my
solution. I would export an eps file for each page, then put them
into an InDesign (or Pagemaker) file, use those programs' booklet
makers to make a booklet, and finally, export the whole book as a
pdf. When PM or ID makes a pdf, it always works, everywhere.
Now, however, I can't do this anymore. Ever since Leopard came out,
for many users, InDesign simply won't work. The latest versions of
each (10.5.4 with the latest update of InDesign has ID) crashes on
startup. A Google search shows me that this is a problem not
restricted to me, and has Adobe and Apple each claiming the fault is
with the other guy.
I think I stumbled upon a solution, a much cheaper one. I still
export eps files, but use Graphic Converter (nag-ware) to convert them
to pdf. Then I make a single numerical-order 9x12 pdf using the
freeware CombinePDFs. Then I make a 12x18 booklet using the freeware
CocoaBooklet. Once created, my pdf booklet will print to any size
paper I like (Adobe Reader has a good print dialog box). These pdfs,
at least so far, seem rock-solid stable.
I would welcome any comments about this. The process, like any, gets
faster after you get used to it. And I expect I could automate
portions of it. But it is still a bit cumbersome -- and I find myself
resenting Finale and Apple for making me do this. Is anyone else as
bothered as I am about the pdf problem? Or does anyone have a more
elegant solution?
Could Finale's "compile postscript listing" make this easier? I
haven't used it since I got my large-format printer, because of the
page-size limitation (it forced you to export at a 8.5x11 or 8.5x14 or
A4 or B5 or Tabloid). But in FinMac09, there is a place in the
"complie postscript" box where you can specify custom paper size (in
some weird measurement unit, where -6522652.44444 by 5595136 equals
8.5x11).
So comments, please.
Thank you,
David Froom
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