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PDF FAQ
Here are some common questions that we have been getting regarding
difficulties with pdf conversion. Send us your questions (and answers)
so that your colleagues can generate their pdf less painfully!!
1. I used the templates provided by the conference and I generated my
pdf file using Acrobat 7.0, shouldn't it be acceptable for IEEE?
2. I used IEEE's PDF eXpress tool, but your conference rejected my
paper. Why?
3. I used your templates, why is my paper on A4 instead of letter paper?
4. Why is my paper coming out on A4 paper using pdflatex?
5. I used your templates, but when I make my pdf file, there are still
fonts that are not embedded. Why is this?
6. There is an odd font in my word document that is causing my pdf
conversion to fail, but I can't find it.
7. I am following all of the instructions, but still my
fonts are not embedded when I print to Acrobat distiller.
8. The PDF that is generated by IEEE PDF eXpress or my own conversion
utility looks terrible when I display it on the screen (see example below). Why is this?
1. I used the templates provided by the conference and I generated my
pdf file using Acrobat 7.0, shouldn't it be acceptable for IEEE?
Not necessarily. Just because you use our templates, it is still
possible for the paper size to be wrong (A4 instead of letter) or the
margins to be wrong (figures that are too large). Also, it is
imperative that you use the IEEE Acrobat Job Options settings
appropriate to your version of Acrobat Distiller so that all fonts are
embedded and subsetted. Links to those files are provided here.
2. I used IEEE's PDF eXpress tool, but your conference rejected my
paper. Why?
Well, it's hard for us to answer this question unless you provide
specific information to us. However, our pdf filter always gives
detailed reasons to the author as to why your paper is not passing the
format check. The most common reason that papers are not being accepted
is because the authors created them on A4 paper, and our conference
proceedings must be on US letter paper (8.5" x 11"). See more on A4
-vs- Letter below.
3. I used your templates, why is my paper on A4 instead of letter paper?
Our templates were created on computers in the US, and almost all
computers in the US default to US letter paper. Computers in other
parts of the world may override our template and put the paper on A4
paper. Here is how to fix the problem:
- Microsoft Word: Go into the <File-Page Settings> menu. Click on the
<Paper> tab. Select "Letter" in the "Paper Size" dropdown box.
- Latex: This is a little more difficult and depends on your
distribution. However, the following solution often works for us:
Use the command
> dvips -Ppdf -t letter -G0 <filename.dvi>
Then convert your file to pdf using Adobe Acrobat and the appropriate
job options file provided here.
4. Why is my paper coming out on A4 paper using pdflatex?
As mentioned above, this is difficult. However, the following has
worked for some people (courtesy of
http://physics.wm.edu/~norman/latexhints/pdf_papersize.html)
When compiling a document using pdflatex (under the default installation
of teTeX) the papersize (page size) may be set incorrectly if calls to
the Vmargin or Vpage packages are used.
The resulting page size will normally be set to an A4 default (210x297mm
or roughly 8.24x11.71in) with appropriate margins. This behavior is
caused by page defaults both in the pdftex configuration file and in the
Vmargin style file. To correct this you should perform the following
modification:
In pdftex.cfg ($TEXBASE/texmf/pdftex/config/pdftex.cfg) remove or modify
the lines:
| page_width 210truemm
page_height 297truemm
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So that they correspond to your desired default pagesize. An example
entry for letter sized paper would read: | page_width 8.5truein
page_height 11.0truein
5. I used your templates, but when I make my pdf file, there are still
fonts that are not embedded. Why is this?
There are many reasons why this may be true. But, the most common one
that we see is fonts in your included .eps files for figures.
Specifically, the default font in Matlab figures is Helvetica.
Helvetica is one of the base 14 fonts that sometimes (but not always)
defeats the IEEE Job Options settings under acrobat.
Here is how to fix it:
- generate postscript using the command dvips -Ppdf -t letter -G0
<filename.dvi> for latex, or using a postscript printer driver for
Word. Search in the postscript file for "Helvetica" (or Times, or
Arial, whatever font is giving you the error). Replace that font with
an embeddable font (I usually use "Tahoma"). Distill your PDF and check
to make sure that the file looks OK.
- Regenerate your figures in Matlab using a font other than Helvetica
(or Times or Arial). I find that Tahoma looks good and works well.
Regenerate your pdf.
6. There is an odd font in my word document that is causing my pdf
conversion to fail, but I can't find it.
Well, I have seen this one and I can't explain it. I fix it by using:
<Edit-Select All> then choosing the font that I am using for my paper.
Now try to make your pdf again.
7. I am following all of the instructions, but still my
fonts are not embedded when I print to Acrobat distiller.
When you print to Acrobat Distiller, click on "Properties" then on
"Adobe PDF Settings." Make sure the box "Do Not Send Fonts to
Distiller" is UNCHECKED.
8. The PDF that is generated by IEEE PDF eXpress or my own conversion
utility looks terrible when I display it on the screen (see example).
Why is this?
Older distributions of LaTeX and other programs use fonts that do
not appear well ON SCREEN when interpreted by Adobe Acrobat. This is a
longstanding issue with LaTeX that has been mostly remedied in newer
releases. However, there is no need to worry, as these files print out
just fine (go ahead, try it). However, if you would like to fix it, try
one of the following:
- include the style file pslatex.sty in your .tex file. This will
force the use of PDF compatible fonts.
- create postscript using the command <dvips -Ppdf>. This also forces
the substitution of fonts that are compatible with pdf.
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