Greek Transliteration Problem

[Daven]

I have an English .PDF document which, when viewed with Adobe Reader
7, has many of the pages transliterated into the Greek alphabet. This
does not happen to other people who view the same document using Adobe
Reader. I tried uninstalling Adobe Reader and downloading/installing
it again with the same results. When I use a different PDF reader
instead of Adobe Reader, it is OK.

Using XP SP2 Home

Any ideas ? I seem to be the only one having this odd problem and it
only happens (so far) with this one document.

Daven

 

[Sharon F]

I have an English .PDF document which, when viewed with Adobe Reader
7, has many of the pages transliterated into the Greek alphabet. This
does not happen to other people who view the same document using Adobe
Reader. I tried uninstalling Adobe Reader and downloading/installing
it again with the same results. When I use a different PDF reader
instead of Adobe Reader, it is OK.

Using XP SP2 Home

Any ideas ? I seem to be the only one having this odd problem and it
only happens (so far) with this one document.

Adobe documents can contain a LOT of font and language information. It
sounds like the results you're seeing may be due to a setting (view or
preference?) in the Adobe program. Especially since other readers that may
not be as sensitive to the extra Adobe font/language info are displaying
the file correctly.

 

[Daven]

Adobe documents can contain a LOT of font and language information. It
sounds like the results you're seeing may be due to a setting (view or
preference?) in the Adobe program. Especially since other readers that may
not be as sensitive to the extra Adobe font/language info are displaying
the file correctly.

Thanks Sharon,
I had pretty much come to the same conclusion except that others that
who read the document using Adobe Reader 7 have not had the problem.
To be precise, others who were sent the same document from the same
source had no problem. I sent my document back to the author and when
she looks at it using the full Adobe Acrobat Pgm, or with Reader 7, it
comes out all in English instead of half in Greek as I see it.
Daven

 

[Sharon F]

Thanks Sharon,
I had pretty much come to the same conclusion except that others that
who read the document using Adobe Reader 7 have not had the problem.
To be precise, others who were sent the same document from the same
source had no problem. I sent my document back to the author and when
she looks at it using the full Adobe Acrobat Pgm, or with Reader 7, it
comes out all in English instead of half in Greek as I see it.

They may not see it because they may not have the same setting enabled that
you do. Next step for resolving the issue would be asking Adobe tech
support, asking in their user forums or researching the problem in their
online help documentation.

One suggestion relating to Windows: Locate the file mfc42loc.dll and, if
found, rename to mfc42loc.dll. Restart. This is a supplemental "location"
file that is related to what language will be used in menus and dialog
screens. It's possible to end up with a mismatch to your preferred
language. Having this file shouldn't have consequences in regards to the
PDF text but since you have had no other luck in resolving this problem,
might as well give it a try and renaming the file won't hurt anything. (If
you do have a program in a different language installed, copy the file to
that program's directory before renaming it).

NOTE: My XP installation is over 3 years old and I do not have any copies
of the mfc42loc.dll file. Do NOT rename or move the mfc42.dll file. That is
a normal file and should be left alone.

 

[Daven]

They may not see it because they may not have the same setting enabled that
you do. Next step for resolving the issue would be asking Adobe tech
support, asking in their user forums or researching the problem in their
online help documentation.

One suggestion relating to Windows: Locate the file mfc42loc.dll and, if
found, rename to mfc42loc.dll. Restart. This is a supplemental "location"
file that is related to what language will be used in menus and dialog
screens. It's possible to end up with a mismatch to your preferred
language. Having this file shouldn't have consequences in regards to the
PDF text but since you have had no other luck in resolving this problem,
might as well give it a try and renaming the file won't hurt anything. (If
you do have a program in a different language installed, copy the file to
that program's directory before renaming it).

NOTE: My XP installation is over 3 years old and I do not have any copies
of the mfc42loc.dll file. Do NOT rename or move the mfc42.dll file. That is
a normal file and should be left alone.

Hi Sharon,
I looked for mfc42loc.dll. I don't have it.
I will take your advise and see what the Adobe recourses might have.
The reason that I thought that my OS might have something to do with
it is that nobody but me seems to be having the problem with this
file. In fact, when I complained that the document was turning into
Greek, they all decided that I was nuts :/
Thank you for helping. When I find the solution, I will post it.
Daven

 

[Sharon F]

Hi Sharon,
I looked for mfc42loc.dll. I don't have it.
I will take your advise and see what the Adobe recourses might have.
The reason that I thought that my OS might have something to do with
it is that nobody but me seems to be having the problem with this
file. In fact, when I complained that the document was turning into
Greek, they all decided that I was nuts :/
Thank you for helping. When I find the solution, I will post it.

Will look forward to reading what you find out. Good luck with this.

 

[Daven]

Will look forward to reading what you find out. Good luck with this.

Hi Sharon,
The Adobe site was not any help. I just discovered something
interesting tho. I was going to be "smart" and reply by posting a
paragraph of transliterated text as a reply. However, when I just did
that, it comes out in English as you see below.

"The annotations included on this version of the test plan are
intended to give the reader . . ."

The above quoted text is in the Greek alphabet when the PDF document
is viewed with Abobe reader 7. If I take that same sample and paste
it in a WORD page, it stays in Greek. If pasted in Notepad, it is in
English.

Daven

 

[Sharon F]

The above quoted text is in the Greek alphabet when the PDF document
is viewed with Abobe reader 7. If I take that same sample and paste
it in a WORD page, it stays in Greek. If pasted in Notepad, it is in
English.

Still sounds like settings. There is Greek language embedded in that PDF
file. Your settings are picking up on that. Word is supporting its presence
as well.

I notice that the quote you pasted mentions annotation - did the author add
all annotation herself or were there other people involved?

Perhaps try turning off advanced text services: Regional/Language Options>
Languages> Text Services and input languages> Details> Advanced>
Compatibility Configuration: Remove check from "extend support of advanced
text services to all programs." and right below is System Configuration:
Check box next to "Turn off advanced text services." OK your way out of
these screens. Try the PDF file again.

(NOTE: You can easily reverse these options at any time by replacing or
removing the checks to their original state.)

The only language setting I can find within Adobe 7 is under Edit>
Preferences> International: Choose English here if not selected already.

 

[Daven]

Still sounds like settings. There is Greek language embedded in that PDF
file. Your settings are picking up on that. Word is supporting its presence
as well.

I notice that the quote you pasted mentions annotation - did the author add
all annotation herself or were there other people involved?

Perhaps try turning off advanced text services: Regional/Language Options>
Languages> Text Services and input languages> Details> Advanced>
Compatibility Configuration: Remove check from "extend support of advanced
text services to all programs." and right below is System Configuration:
Check box next to "Turn off advanced text services." OK your way out of
these screens. Try the PDF file again.

(NOTE: You can easily reverse these options at any time by replacing or
removing the checks to their original state.)

The only language setting I can find within Adobe 7 is under Edit>
Preferences> International: Choose English here if not selected already.

Hi Sharon,

Tried your idea but no joy. Still looks like Greek when pasted in a
WORD page. Yes, English is selected.

The author sees English on her PDF file when viewed using either the
complete Adobe Pgm or Adobe Reader. Same for everyone else (so far)
who has looked at the PDF file using Adobe Reader 7. "Annotated" just
means that some explanatory text was added to the first version of the
text by the author. Other, apparently random, parts of the document
were transliterated as well. About 3/4 of the document is not affected
and remains English .

I am waiting on the answer to a question that I asked the person who
made the PDF document. I asked if she had, in "Settings" selected
"Embed all Fonts". I was thinking that, if not, my machine was
responding to Adobe Reader by providing an inappropriate font. This
computer is a HP (never again !) and it does have an extensive windows
font folder that includes some that are not standard on "regular" XP.
BTW, do you have this font * SuperScript VN12 * ?

Thanks again for your interest. The reason that I am persisting in
trying to resolve this is that this particular document is supposed to
be sent to a large number of people who are attending a class that I
am teaching - and I need to be sure that none will have this problem.
I would hate to confirm any ideas that what I have been teaching is
all Greek

Daven


Daven

 

[Daven]

Hi Sharon,

Tried your idea but no joy. Still looks like Greek when pasted in a
WORD page. Yes, English is selected.

The author sees English on her PDF file when viewed using either the
complete Adobe Pgm or Adobe Reader. Same for everyone else (so far)
who has looked at the PDF file using Adobe Reader 7. "Annotated" just
means that some explanatory text was added to the first version of the
text by the author. Other, apparently random, parts of the document
were transliterated as well. About 3/4 of the document is not affected
and remains English .

I am waiting on the answer to a question that I asked the person who
made the PDF document. I asked if she had, in "Settings" selected
"Embed all Fonts". I was thinking that, if not, my machine was
responding to Adobe Reader by providing an inappropriate font. This
computer is a HP (never again !) and it does have an extensive windows
font folder that includes some that are not standard on "regular" XP.
BTW, do you have this font * SuperScript VN12 * ?

Thanks again for your interest. The reason that I am persisting in
trying to resolve this is that this particular document is supposed to
be sent to a large number of people who are attending a class that I
am teaching - and I need to be sure that none will have this problem.
I would hate to confirm any ideas that what I have been teaching is
all Greek

Daven


Daven

AHAAA !

When I pasted a section that had been transliterated to Greek into
word, the Greek font displayed was SuperScript VN12. I moved
SuperScript VN12 out of the windows font folder. Now, when I view the
PDF file using Adobe reader 7, everything comes out in English as it
should.

My present working hypothesis is:
1- The PDF document did NOT have embedded fonts so Adobe Reader is
using local fonts no matter how Adobe Reader is set.
2- My machine has a different set of fonts then others who have viewed
the document
3- The font that Adobe Reader uses is selected as the best match from
what is available in the windows font folder.
4- This works out OK most of the time but in my case, SuperScript VN12
is selected and that is a Greek font.
5- Removing "Superscript VN 12" from my windows font file forced the
use of a "second best" English font that worked the way it should with
no transliteration.

Daven

 

[Daven]

Still sounds like settings. There is Greek language embedded in that PDF
file. Your settings are picking up on that. Word is supporting its presence
as well.

I notice that the quote you pasted mentions annotation - did the author add
all annotation herself or were there other people involved?

Perhaps try turning off advanced text services: Regional/Language Options>
Languages> Text Services and input languages> Details> Advanced>
Compatibility Configuration: Remove check from "extend support of advanced
text services to all programs." and right below is System Configuration:
Check box next to "Turn off advanced text services." OK your way out of
these screens. Try the PDF file again.

(NOTE: You can easily reverse these options at any time by replacing or
removing the checks to their original state.)

The only language setting I can find within Adobe 7 is under Edit>
Preferences> International: Choose English here if not selected already.

MYSTERY SOLVED

The person who made the PDF file made the selection NOT to embed
fonts. There was no exact match between the font on the PDF document
and the fonts on my machine. The result was Greek for p/o the
document.

I don't know much about Acrobat/PDF except that one of the big
advantages is having embedded fonts so that this sort of thing doesn't
happen. I did not even realize that this was a selected feature that
could be turned off and so it didn't dawn on me for a while what was
going on.

Thanks for your help Sharon ! Everybody else thought that I was
making it up

Daven

 

[Sharon F]

I don't know much about Acrobat/PDF except that one of the big
advantages is having embedded fonts so that this sort of thing doesn't
happen. I did not even realize that this was a selected feature that
could be turned off and so it didn't dawn on me for a while what was
going on.

Thanks for your help Sharon ! Everybody else thought that I was
making it up

I'm so glad to hear that you've worked this out. I'm used to seeing things
that no one else does (that doesn't sound right, does it? ) so believed
you. I checked and don't have that font. It was probably installed by
another program that you have or possibly a font supplied along with your
printer.