Create!Forms, Distiller and Windows Issue

JDE User11

Active Member
We have just started getting Create!Forms installed.

Here is the setup:

I have a mapped drive on my PC to the Create!Forms server folder for the form projects. When I open up designer and I open up a form in Designer I get this error in a pop up box:

%%[ Error: undefined; OffendingCommand: $CLSmain_dict_1.0 ]%% %%[ Flushing: rest of job (to end-of-file) will be ignored ]%% %%[ Warning: PostScript error. No PDF file produced. ] %%

The form still comes up.

I get the same error if I save the form or if I print the form via the print button in Designer. If I work on my local drive, I do not get the error.

If I open the Distiller application the same error appears there. I checked with BottomLine support and they said it was an issue with Distiller so they do not support it. They thought it would be a permissions issue with Distiller and the mapped drive. My user ID has permissions to write to that location. I tried messing around with the Distiller options, but nothing yet has helped.

We are using Designer 3.2 and Adobe Acrobat and Distiller 7.0.

Does anyone have an idea what needs to be changed to clean up the error.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

Steven
 
Here's my thoughts...

[*]When you say “If I work on my local drive, I do not get the error.” do you mean that your form project folder is using a folder on your local drive instead of the mapped drive on the CformServer?

[*]Where are the CformDesigner and Adobe Acrobat apps installed (locally on your workstation or on the CformServer)?

[*]Maybe it's the "mapped drive" that's causing the problem. If you change it to \\servername\cformshare does it work any differently?

[*]When you set your permissions on the mapped drive did you enable the object type “Computers”?


Karen.
 
I have the EXACT same problem and it even occurred while the consultant was on site with my company. He took it back with him and got the same response from their support group. We tried various versions of Distiller, even reinstalled different versions of Adobe, etc. NO LUCK. This went on for weeks and I had to give up.

The other odd thing is that it actually appeared to create a problem with the actual forms I was working on. In other words, if I saved the form on the "network drive", it did not print correctly than if I took the exact same form, put on my local drive, saved it and did the same thing. The form worked fine as long as it comes from the local drive.

In my case, it is a mapped drive and I have all permissions needed. In fact, I am running both 2.7 and 3.2 (and even old 5.5 form stuff) and I have ALWAYS had my forms stored out on this very same network drive. I have literally been using it for about 12 years and still do for my 2.7 forms from there just fine and have changed Adobe versions at least 3 times.

As for the 3.2 stuff. Any time I have to work on or develop things, I just haul the entire "company form folder" to my local drive, work on what I need, then replace it back on the network when I'm done. Stupid, but works for me for now. I don't have time to play with uninstall/reinstall/reuninstall anymore just to try things out. And by the way, this didn't only happen on MY PC. It happened on ALL of the PC's that we use for form development.

Bottomline let me down on this one as well. The consultant worked his tail off to get it some attention but could only take it so far. So if they say that they don't have any other clients having this issue, THEY DO and they know it.
 
I tried to replicate the problem with the configuration I'm working on but I can't get it to fail. I'm working remotely via Citrix session, running CformDesigner v3.2.21.7301 with AcroDistiller v8.1.0. I tried mapped drive to my local machine, mapped drive to a different server on the network as well as using \\servername\sharename. All work for me.

When you open, save or preview/print a form project with CformDesigner the first thing it tries to do is process the form with AcroDistiller. I think "CLSmain_dict_1.0" is a temporary file that gets written (where I don't know, memory maybe?). If that file fails to get written successfully then when it is used to merge things aren't going to be right.

Try separating the problem with CformDesigner and AcroDistiller by doing this;
- put the attached PS file on the mapped drive where your form projects reside.
- from your local workstation, use Windows Explorer to go to your mapped drive and double click on the PS file.

Does it compile to PDF correctly? If yes you know that the problem is not with AcroDistiller to a mapped drive. Whatever CformDesigner is trying to do with it's temporary work file CLSmain_dict_1.0 is the problem. I'm inclined to think it has something to do with permissions somewhere. Maybe it's the "mapped drive" that's causing the problem. If you change it to \\servername\cformshare does it work any differently? Does the permissions on the mapped drive have the object type “Computers” enabled?


Karen.
 
[ QUOTE ]
Here's my thoughts...

[*]When you say “If I work on my local drive, I do not get the error.” do you mean that your form project folder is using a folder on your local drive instead of the mapped drive on the CformServer?

[*]Where are the CformDesigner and Adobe Acrobat apps installed (locally on your workstation or on the CformServer)?

[*]Maybe it's the "mapped drive" that's causing the problem. If you change it to \\servername\cformshare does it work any differently?

[*]When you set your permissions on the mapped drive did you enable the object type “Computers”?


Karen.

[/ QUOTE ]

Karen,

Thanks for the response. Here are the answers to the questions you posted:

1. That is correct I am working off of the drive of my local PC. The exact location is C:\Program Files\Create!form\WorkDir\R045151_2UP_2008. When I work from the mapped drive the network location is \\jdeforms\workdirdev\Forms\1099. And when I use the mapped drive the location looks like X:\Forms\1099.

2. Both CformDesigner and Acrobat Distiller are on installed on the local PC.

3. I tried going to the network path instead of using the mapped drive like you suggested and I got the same result.

4. I went to the folder then to security. I clicked on object type and selected computers. I then gave the workstation I'm working on full control of the folder. Is this what you mean by enable object type computers?
I am still getting the same error.

When I open up Distiller I see this message when I get the error:
Acrobat Distiller 7.0
Started: Monday, December 29, 2008 at 11:06:49

Adobe PostScript software version: 3016.102
CID support library initialization completed.

Start Time: Monday, December 29, 2008 at 11:07:40
Source: R045151_2UP_2008.ps
Destination: X:\FORMS\1099\R045151_2UP_2008.frmpdf
Adobe PDF Settings: C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Documents\Adobe PDF\Settings\Create!FormOW.joboptions
%%[ Error: undefined; OffendingCommand: $CLSmain_dict_1.0 ]%%
%%[ Flushing: rest of job (to end-of-file) will be ignored ]%%
%%[ Warning: PostScript error. No PDF file produced. ] %%
Distill Time: 0 seconds (00:00:00)
**** End of Job ****

Karen, on your test are set up as an administrator for the createform server? If not do you have permissions for other folders on the server besides the folder that contains your project?

Thanks for your help!

Steven
 
[ QUOTE ]


Try separating the problem with CformDesigner and AcroDistiller by doing this;
- put the attached PS file on the mapped drive where your form projects reside.
- from your local workstation, use Windows Explorer to go to your mapped drive and double click on the PS file.

Does it compile to PDF correctly? If yes you know that the problem is not with AcroDistiller to a mapped drive.

Karen.

[/ QUOTE ]

I test this and it worked correctly. I am thinking that it is a permissions issue as well. Have you ever tried from a limited user account?

The permissions I have are:
-Administrator on the workstation I am using
-Full control permissions to the folder that contains the cform project.
-I also had them give me read/write to \\jdeforms\Create!form\temp folder incase it was trying to write to that folder. (same result)

Steven
 
What is your full CformDesigner version (from Help>About)? Maybe there is an update that fixes the problem you're having.

I'm working remotely connecting via Citrix to servers that are remotely hosted. The amount of testing I can do is limited, I don't have access to a limited user account. I think the user I sign on has Administrator permissions (on both the CformDesigner server and the CformServer server).

Another test you can try is to see if it's something in your Cform project itself;
Change your working directory to the network location, start a new form project (use any JDE PDF), and something simple to it like a box, circle or text. Save and preview the form project - do you get the same error or does it work?

I disagree that it's just with Distiller since you can browse to the network folder, double-click a PS file and Distiller does not fail. When you work locally and save/preview you should have a PS file in the Create!form\Temp folder. Copy that to your network location then browse to it and double-click to Distill. Does it create a PDF or fail with the "OffendingCommand: $CLSmain_dict_1.0" error?

If BT Support thought it would be a permissions issue with Distiller and the mapped drive they should be able to help resolve it.

Questions/Comments for you;
"I also had them give me read/write to \\jdeforms\Create!form\temp folder in case it was trying to write to that folder. (same result)" Why would you have a "temp" folder in the network location of your form projects? Are you keeping the source of your Cform projects on the CformServer? If yes, in CformSever where is it getting form project files to perform the merge?

"4. I went to the folder then to security. I clicked on object type and selected computers. I then gave the workstation I'm working on full control of the folder. Is this what you mean by enable object type computers? I am still getting the same error." Yes, this is what I meant.


Karen.
 
Karen,

I really appreciate the time you've taken in helping with my problem.

Here's some more information:
-We found that it works correctly from one of the other developer's machines. And it worked with my sign on ID, so that rules out a security issue.
-When I looked at distiller it had a list of fonts that it ran down rather than the error. Here is an excerpt:

Acrobat Distiller 7.0
Started: Tuesday, December 30, 2008 at 17:01:00

Adobe PostScript software version: 3016.102

/AgencyFB-Bold
/AgencyFB-Reg
/BookAntiqua-Bold
...
/Courier-Bold
/Courier
/Courier-Oblique

Start Time: Tuesday, December 30, 2008 at 17:01:55
Source: R07885_2008.ps
Destination: \\jdeforms\workdirdev\forms\r07885 w-2\R07885_2008.frmpdf
Adobe PDF Settings: C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Documents\Adobe PDF\Settings\Create!FormOW.joboptions
Distill Time: 0 seconds (00:00:00)
**** End of Job ****

So maybe I need some sort of postscript software installed on my machine as well, or maybe I need to set a font location?

Any thoughts?
 
OK now that you've found another workstation that works correctly you just need to compare and see if you can determine what's different.

Are they both running the same versions of CformDesigner and Acrobat? Look at the full version under Help>About.

In regards to the fonts, on the workstation that works:
- Open AcroDistiller and check what is listed under the menu Settings>Font Locations. Make sure you have the same settings.

- Use Windows Explorer to verify what is in C:\Program Files\Create!form\Win32Bin\GS. Does your workstation have the same folders & files?

It seems like there is something quirky going on with your workstation. The fact that you can save & preview form projects when your projects are on your local C:\ drive indicates that both CformDesigner and AcroDistiller are functional so I don't think you need to install fonts. Maybe there is something weird in your Registery causing CformDesigner to get "lost" when you're working from a network folder.

One more word of caution for you... the folder C:\Program Files\Create!form\CommonFormProject can only reside on the workstation where CformDesigner is installed. If you have forms, subforms, etc. in that folder it's a good idea to put a copy of it on the network so you have a backup copy of it (you know... JIC, CYA, blah, blah, blah). If you do use this folder and you have more than one developer working on form projects it gets a little more tricky.


Karen.
 
Update:

I received these instructions from Bottomline 2nd Tier support for uninstalling Adobe products and reinstalling. I will follow these instructions and post the results.


Please print and follow precisely the below Adobe cleanup procedure, and report back to me if this clears your errors (along with your correct telephone number so I may update our records)

Go to Add/Remove Programs Control Panel
Uninstall ALL Adobe Products
REBOOT <- Important
Delete your Program Files\Adobe folder from Windows Explorer <- Important
Delete the HKLM->Software->Adobe, and HCKU->Software->Adobe Keys in the Registry <- Important
Re-install a commercial install of Acrobat, 5, 6, 7 – If running 3.2 You can also use Acrobat 8 (see additional steps) You must have just ONE Commercial version installed, and no copies of the shareware Acrobat Reader. WE DO NOT CURRENTLY SUPPORT ACROBAT/DISTILLER 9

If Using Acrobat 8, after following the above clean-up instructions:

1. Check the registry under HKLM(or HKCU)àSoftwareàAdobeàDistillerà8.0 You should see a key indicating the path of the job option folder.. browse to this folder..you will need to tweak the permissions to give yourself write access to it (by default the folder is read-only and owner/admin does not have write perms)

2. Browse to \Program Files\Create!form\Win32User and copy the file CreateformOW.Joboptions to the above mentioned folder.

After completing this procedure you should be able to see your Input Window in Designer (Going to ViewàInput Window should produce a window with your RAW PDF) You should not get any errors when saving, previewing, or opening a form; and the FRMPDF file should be generated in the project directory when the form Is saved.

Steven
 
Just FYI (see my original post above), I think I went down this path as well (uninstalling Adobe) and had no luck so don't get your hopes up but I'll be watching for a post on this.

Read my post again and you will see that I'm also running their 2.7 product and using the same drive (network or mapped, doesn't matter) and 2.7 had NO problem working this way.

I would also love to resolve this issue since i hate hauling the forms to a local drive to work on them every time, then put them back on the network so nothing is lost, I just don't have lots of time to un/reinstall everything all over again.

I am running Adobe 8 if curious but had the same problem when we tried to go back to 7 to see if the problem would go away.
 
I did see your earlier post, so I was skeptical about the reinstall solution. We followed the procedure uninstalling and reinstalling adobe and still had the error. I spoke with the gentleman at their 2nd tier support and he was sure it was a permissions issue after I explained that it worked locally. So we are still poking around in that area too.

He said that he thought it was cleaner to do the work locally and then use the transfer tool to move it to the server. I got a lot of "we didn't really design it to work over a network."

We are going to try some of the things he suggested with security and see if that makes any difference.

Steven
 
Have you tried deleting the Registry key "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Create!form"? That's where CformDesigner keeps all of it's settings when the application is run (object preferences, working directory, etc.). Maybe there is something in there that you can't see that's causing the problem when your working directory is a network drive.

If you delete that registry key (and everything under it) your workstation will be as if CformDesigner was just installed. The next time the app is run all those registry keys get re-written with the standard values. Keep in mind that you will have to re-do all settings to get CformDesigner back to the way you like to work with it (object defaults, preferences, etc.).

Seems like it's something with your workstation and permissions. Especially since you can login to the other workstation and everything works correctly on the network drive. Do you have any network people that could help figure out what's different with permissions on your workstation vs. the other one?


Karen.
 
Karen,

Thanks again for a suggestion to try. I deleted the registry key and I am still getting the error.

If it is a permissions issue, it is a weird one. I don't think it's user permissions because if I log onto the machine that's working I don't get the error. The admin who installed Createform on the server also gets the error on her machine. She is an admin on the server. Both the machine that works and my machine did not have computer ID permissions set on the folder. We added full control for my computer ID and that didn't help either.

The machine that works was installed a year and half ago, and no one remembers what might be different.

We also tried reinstalling both applications, Createform and Adobe professional version 7.0. The versions of both applications are identical from the machine that works and the one that doesn't.

Someone from Bottomline did agree to log into our system and take a look. So hopefully something will come of that.

Steven
 
I've lost track of all that you've tried. If your form project folder is on different shared network drive (a different server than the one you're having problems with) does it work for you (your workstation with your login)?


Karen.
 
Karen,

Here is a summary of our situation:

I am unable to save to or pull up from a mapped network drive with out the error. When working from the mapped network drive the error comes up when I save open, print or print preview. Saving to the local drive works fine. The mapped drive is on the Createform server. (I also tried a different mapped drive and had the same error.)

The admin of the Createform server also has designer installed on her local pc and she gets the same error.

We have one machine that does not get the error. If I log into that machine I can work from the network drive without the error. Unfortunately this machine was set up more than a year and a half ago so we don't why it's working that way.

The fact that the admin of the server gets the error and that I don't get the error when logging onto a different PC makes us believe it is not a user permissions issue. We checked the permissions for the machine name that does work and there is nothing different there.

The server admin was unwilling to open up permission to everything on the server to test for sure if it was a security issue as Bottomline support suggested. They never did look at our settings. We are trying to get our 1099s and W-2 process done and could never coordinate a time. Support kept telling me that it's not designed to work across a network so our set up isn't really supported. Unfortunately it looks like we may just have to work locally.

Here are the things we've tried:
-Setting the permissions for the local machine to full control on the shared folder.
-Uninstalling and cleaning the registry and reinstalling both Createform Designer and Adobe Acrobat Professional 7.0.
-I tried disabling virus protection on my pc.
-I tried allowing distiller and Createform through the windows firewall.
-I tried copying the .options file for distiller from the machine that works to my machine.
-We checked the font locations in Distiller from the PC that works and the ones that don't. They were identical.
-The versions of both Adobe and Createform on the pc that works and on my pc are identical.
-Clicking on a ps file in the network drive successfully creates a pdf through distiller.

I really appreciate all the suggestions. If anything else comes to mind I am more than willing to try it.

Steven
 
Have you checked your windows "Event Log". Check to see if there is any error/warning messages
 
[ QUOTE ]
Have you checked your windows "Event Log". Check to see if there is any error/warning messages

[/ QUOTE ]

Thanks for the idea.

I looked at the window event log for application, security and system. Nothing was recorded under any of those logs when the error occurred.

Steven
 
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