I’m not sure whether this problem is related to Illustrator itself, but I would greatly appreciate the help of anyone more enlightened than me in digital graphics.
Summary:
Problem while generating .PDF from Microsoft Word file containing vector graphics. Word file contains embedded .EMF files, which are totally wasted during the conversion.
Long version:
Step 1:
I have a Microsoft Word 2007 file (.DOCX), where I need to insert a few UML diagrams from IBM Rational Software Architect. Of course IBM in no way supports any direct export of vector graphics. I figured out that the only way to turn diagrams scalable is to print them to PDF file.
Link to original PDF file printed from RSA: http://kozel.piasta.pl/print.pdf
Rasterised version for viewer’s convenience:
Step 2:
There is no way to insert PDF file directly into DOCX and have good quality. Therefore, I decided to make conversion to EMF which so far was working perfectly (other EMF diagrams are present in DOCX, source is Microsoft Visio). I used Adobe Illustrator CS4 - first I opened a PDF file from Step 1, then I used File -> Export and chose EMF format. I ended up with almost properly looking EMF file, which looks alright in image viewers:
Link to original EMF generated from Adobe Illustrator: http://kozel.piasta.pl/print.emf
Rasterised version for viewer’s convenience:
(yes, the horizontal line is missing)
Step 3:
I inserted EMF file from Step 2 to DOCX. It looked marvelous, so I moved on to generate PDF file. I am using Adobe Acrobat 9 Pro Extended. To generate PDF File I select “Acrobat” ribbon in Word 2007 and then click “Create PDF” – this way my final PDF contain hyperlinked bookmarks, table of contents, table of figures etc (there features are mandatory and required).
Step 4 and final definition of an issue:
Final PDF file generated from DOCX looks like utter shit.
Link to final PDF file: http://kozel.piasta.pl/print_final.pdf
Rasterised version for viewer’s convenience:
Since I don’t know much about computer graphics at all, I am pretty much stuck. Something tells me that PDF file generated is Step 1 from RSA is somewhat fucked up, as other applications do not exhibit the same issue.
If anyone has any idea what might be the solution or can recommend a specific place to post this issue, I would be very grateful.
The following was tried without success:
- PDF printer other that Adobe PDF - I have used PDFCreator (GPL license) to print .DOCX. This WORKS and the result is what I expected in the first place. However my headings, bookmarks, references are not hyperlinks in generated PDF file, so I cannot use this method;
- Conversion from Word 2007 .docx to .doc format (Word 2003);
- Playing 6h straight with preferences in “Acrobat” ribbon in Word (this however does not mean it is done, there is simply too many combinations in there);
- Export PDF from Step 1 to .WMF in Illustrator - total failure, the text in diagrams becomes rasterised
- Inkscape as a alternative software solution to Adobe Illustrator – exported EMF file a failure, it’s black and white (pretty much the same as in final PDF file) and terribly crooked;
- Virtual printed that prints directly to EMF – “EMF Virtual Printer” – direct print from IBM Software Architect contains only raster graphical parts of UML diagrams and no text at all;