printing DWG to PDF "cannot find or create the font"

[Oakhillarchitects]

I've encountered a hiccup with Autocad 2019's DWG to PDF pc3 files output when there is a symbol in some text, dimension, or similar. Specifically, when I try to use the ± symbol (either by using the ribbon's pull down option or typing %%P). In the exact same file in AutocadLT 2013 (no changes at all), using the default DWG to PDF pc3, there were no issues, but using Autocad 2019's version (clean install) I get a message in Adobe Acrobat "Cannot find or create the font..." and instead of the proper symbol all I get are dots. 

I've looked through the forums here and on Adobe's website and found lots of information that has helped me narrow down the issue. Here's a list of things I've tried so far that have not worked:

• In the DWG to PDF - PDF Options I've tried capturing fonts used in the drawing (both checked and unchecked).
• Reinstalling the true type font itself.
• Plotting to all of the default Autocad PDF pc3 versions.
• Copying the symbol directly in from Window's Character Map.

I then tried copying the string of text directly into MS Word and then converting that to PDF, and there were no issues. I also created a new Adobe pc3 plotter from scratch and had no issues. So I know it's not an issue with the font and Adobe Acrobat (especially because we never used to have this issue).

The problem is really, we have a ton of current renovation projects where we need plus/minus symbols in dimension strings and the drawings are already set up for the DWG to PDF pc3 printer. Going through them all and finding all of the ± symbols to convert them to +/- is no small job (even with the find command), nor is changing the plotter in all the drawings. 

One last point, converting the text to geometry does display the symbol correctly, but the message "Cannot find or create the font..." still comes up when opening the file (which is not acceptable to send to a client). Also, changing the font to Times New Roman (and capturing the font) had no issues, but again changing fonts in so many drawings is unrealistic.

So, to me the issue is clearly somewhere in the font and Autocad's DWG to PDF conversion, but where? Anyone have any brilliant ideas?

[Anonymous]

Hello,
We had a similar issues ("+/-" and other special symbols causing havoc with fonts, and warnings that several fonts will not work) the past few weeks with a few machines that have gone up to version 2019 (I am still on 2017 because of some of my older files). Our access was blocked as far as fonts go (resident tech fellow out of the office) and we just could not seem to get anywhere going that route.

One option was to just print straight to Adobe PDF, which worked, but the resultant file was six times normal size.

Another option was trying to adjust the "capture" fonts settings, which apparently has changed since earlier versions (I never could find where to select or deselect fonts -- it was either capture all or not at all.) This led me to uncheck "capture all" and instead select "convert all text to geometry" (you MUST deselect "capture all" first). This worked, but as before the file size was huge. Additionally, text that was referenced in from our surveyors was partially comprised of .shx fonts, which was NOT converted to geometry. This was evidenced by moving the arrow/hand around the pdf file once it was printed.

So I talked with our support fellow and he suggested making sure we had the latest DWG to PDF driver. **Keep in mind that when you install a new version of AutoCAD/Civil 3D, it asks you if you want to migrate settings -- to me this was a dream come true, but the caution is you need to be sure something like an older pc3 file will still work for a newer platform.** Nonetheless, we replaced the network DWG to PDF.pc3 with a version we received from our support guy (albeit it was the same version), and now it appears that everything works fine for both 2019 and 2017 (older platform). So that shows that file migration was probably not the issue -- perhaps our pc3 file was corrupted somehow? Whatever the case, we are now up and running (until something changes (-:  ).

Thanks to everyone on here for posting info and trying to help those in need.

Cheers

HP Z420

Civ3D 2017

[Anonymous]

DWG to PDF.pc3 printer does not work when your sentence (Text) has a symbol and open in Adobe Reader XI or DC.

use other software like turbopdf or gaaiho when printing to pdf. or just export the layout sheet using EPDF command

[Anonymous]

So far we have it working; that's not to say it will not go bad. That said, thanks so much for your help and response - I will definitely keep in mind the EPDF command (that's a new one to me).
Thank you!
CRF

[nicNEHLP]

Hello,

Can you guide me on how to check to see if a font has restricted access? I am wanting to check the font ArialMT. 

Our company just recently upgraded to Windows 10 from Windows 7 and this became an issue. While upgrading computers, i also went from 2016 Autocad to 2019. My adobe acrobat & bluebeam stayed the same. 

I have checked to make sure that all of the same fonts are installed on my old machine as well as my new one. So there are no differing fonts. 

I tried printing directly from the Adobe PDF driver (as mentioned earlier) and it worked with no problems. After that, i tried printing DWG to pdf again and it would not pull up the font in Adobe. Then i opened the PDF in Bluebeam and it worked with no problem. 

This leads me to believe that it is the issue that you have mentioned or an issue with my pc3 file.

Thanks,

Nic