* text disappears when saving custom report as a pdf

[Gbmacbreed]

Hello, sorry if this has already been covered in the forums, but I haven't been able to find it.

I'm trying to print or save a custom report so I can give it to my siblings. It seems like the best way to do it would be to save it as a PDF, but when I tried that by using the "save report as" button when I had the custom report open, all the text was missing--only the diagram lines are there. It's an Ancestor Outline report. I've also tried saving it as an HTML and a RTF document. When I do that, I get the text, but not the diagram lines.

Any suggestions on how I can print or save the text and the diagram lines?

Thanks,
Brenda Breed
using Family Historian 6.2 on a Windows 10 PC

[tatewise]

Hi Brenda,

It is normal for the lines to be excluded from HTML and RTF exported reports.

However, you are correct that PDF should be the best medium for text and lines and pictures.

What PDF viewer program are you using?

Is it Adobe Acrobat Reader DC? If so, what Release & Version is shown by Help > About Adobe Acrobat Reader DC?
Try Help > Check for Updates to get the latest version installed.

You say it is a custom report, so I presume you have customised it in some way from the standard report.
If you have not already done so then use Save Report As > Custom Report Type and give it a Custom Report Name.
Thereafter, you can use Publish > Custom Reports and choose that name.

Now restore the standard Ancestor Outline report to Installation Settings.
Does the saved PDF now include both text and lines?
If so, then you must investigate which customisation is upsetting the PDF file.

If all the above fail to achieve success, then we could try reinstalling FH V6 or its PDF Printer utility, but that can wait.

[Gbmacbreed]

Hi Mike,

Thanks for responding so quickly. I have now installed the latest version of Adobe Acrobat reader DC. I have already saved the report as a Custom Report (Brenda's Ancestors list). I'm not sure if I know how to restore the standard Ancestor Outline report to Installation Settings. Should I do that from my saved Custom report? I published a new Ancestor Outline using me as the Selected Individual. Then when I had that report open, I clicked on the Options button and then clicked on Installations Settings. Then I saved that as a pdf and got the same result.

Brenda

[tatewise]

To reset standard Installation Settings do not use your custom report.
Instead use Publish > Outline Reports > Ancestor Outline.
Then in Options use the Installation Settings button on EVERY tab: Main, Pictures, Sources, etc...

[Gbmacbreed]

Hi Mike,

I changed all those Installation settings. Now I'm getting an error message about saving as a PDF, but I'll have to figure it out another time because now I need to leave for the airport for my family reunion! Thank you so much for your efforts. I'll get back to solving this later.

Brenda

[Gbmacbreed]

Hi Mike,

I'm back from my trip and ready to tackle the PDF problem. I have reset the standard Installation settings for every tab of the Ancestor Outline. I was able to save it as a PDF, but the text still isn't showing up, just the lines and the photos. Should I try reinstalling FH V6 or its PDF Printer utility? Can you tell me where the instructions are for doing that? It must be in the Knowledge Base somewhere, but I haven't been able to find it.

Thanks again,
Brenda

[PeterR]

how_to:family_historian_installation_details|> Family Historian Installation Details

Reinstall PDF Printer: how_to:family_historian_installation_problems#option_1|> Option 1

I easily found both of the above links by searching the home|> Knowledge Base Home for "Reinstall". However, I'm sorry but I have no idea whether either will help with your problem.

[tatewise]

Peter has identified the PDF Printer re-installation advice, or you could simply re-install the latest free download of FH V6.

It is odd that previously when you reset the Installation Settings you got "an error message about saving as a PDF" but now you don't.

If nothing solves the problem you may have to report it to Calico Pie as advised in how_to:about#problem_reporting|> Problem Reporting.

[Gbmacbreed]

Thank you Peter for pointing out those links for me. I think I may be "Search" impaired ; ) Now I just need some free time to do the reinstall and see if it helps.

Brenda

[tatewise]

Brenda, the trick with searching is to think like a computer and use the terms FH uses.
In the FH Print dialogues, and elsewhere, the pseudo-printer is always called Family Historian PDF.
So search for that enclosed in quotes (so the whole name is treated as one) i.e. "Family Historian PDF".
Then in the [kb]|[/kb] Search and in FH Search Help you will find what you need.

If reinstalling the Nova printer package does not fix the problem, try re-installing the FH V6.2.5 latest free download.

[Gbmacbreed]

Thanks again to Peter and Mike. I reinstalled the Nova Printer package and was able to save an Ancestor Outline with Installation Settings as a PDF. It has the diagram lines and the text! Now I just need to figure out which of my custom settings was causing the problem.

[Gbmacbreed]

And my custom report is also saving properly as a PDF! Thanks, guys!