How to Fix Distiller Typecheck and PostScript Errors When Printing to PDF
Question details
Users encounter a Distiller typecheck or syntaxerror followed by a message that the print job was flushed when attempting to print documents to PDF, resulting in no PDF file being created.
- Product
- Adobe PDF Printer
- Device & OS
- Windows
- Scenario
- Converting a document (such as Word to PDF) or resizing an existing PDF (like A3 to A2) using the Print to PDF function.
- Observed behavior
- The printing process fails to generate a PDF file and instead produces a PostScript error text log displaying syntax errors or offending commands like --nostringval--.
Ensure that your Windows operating system has installed all the latest stable updates, and save a backup copy of your original document to prevent data loss during the troubleshooting process.
Update Your PDF Software and Printer Drivers
Software developers frequently release patches to fix known compatibility issues and Distiller errors caused by recent system updates.
Many PostScript and Distiller errors are known bugs that arise after unexpected Windows updates. Keeping your PDF application and virtual printer drivers up to date is the most effective way to restore normal functionality.
Open your Adobe Acrobat application, navigate to the 'Help' menu at the top, and select 'Check for Updates'. Follow the on-screen prompts to install any available patches.
Press the Windows key, type 'Device Manager', and open it. Expand the 'Printers' or 'Print queues' section, right-click on the 'Adobe PDF' printer, and select 'Update driver'.
Once the updates are fully installed, restart your computer. Open your document and attempt to print to PDF again to see if the error is resolved.
Isolate the Document and Print Settings
Sometimes specific fonts, custom page sizes, or application settings can trigger complex PostScript errors during the conversion process.
Bypass Distiller Errors with WPS Office
Skip the frustrating PostScript errors entirely. WPS Office features a robust, built-in PDF engine that lets you seamlessly convert, edit, and print documents without relying on external virtual printers.
- 1. Download and Install: Download WPS Office from the official website and install it on your computer.
- 2. Open Your Document: Launch WPS Office and open the Word, Excel, or PowerPoint document you want to convert to PDF.
- 3. Export Directly to PDF: Click the 'Menu' button in the top left corner, select 'Export to PDF', and choose your preferred save location. This bypasses the virtual print queue entirely.
- 4. Print Existing PDFs: If you need to resize a PDF (e.g., A3 to A2), open the file in WPS PDF, click 'Print', adjust your sizing settings, and print flawlessly.
Frequently Asked Questions
What causes a Distiller typecheck or syntaxerror?
These errors generally occur when the PostScript virtual printer encounters unrecognizable commands, unsupported fonts, or incompatible print scaling settings. They are often triggered by conflicts following a recent Windows OS or application update.
Why does my print job say 'flushed' and produce no PDF?
When the PDF Distiller engine encounters a critical syntax error it cannot resolve, it abandons the entire conversion process—referred to as flushing the remaining job—and generates an error text log instead of outputting a corrupted PDF file.
Can I bypass the Adobe PDF printer to create a PDF?
Yes. Instead of using the 'Print' menu and selecting a PDF virtual printer, you can use the built-in 'Save As' or 'Export to PDF' features available in modern productivity suites like WPS Office or Microsoft Word. This method uses direct conversion and avoids PostScript errors.
How do I fix the 'OffendingCommand: --nostringval--' error?
This specific PostScript error indicates a failure in parsing document data, frequently related to unsupported custom page size scaling. To fix it, ensure your software is updated, test printing at the document's original default size, or recreate the PDF using a direct export function.
