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How to Fix Distorted Arabic Fonts in PDF Reports
Question details
Arabic text appears distorted, disconnected, or reversed when generating PDF reports from REF files.
- Product
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Generating PDF reports containing Arabic text from REF files.
- Observed behavior
- The Arabic fonts fail to render correctly in the exported PDF, resulting in disconnected letters or incorrect Right-to-Left (RTL) reading order.
Ensure you have the original Arabic TrueType fonts installed on the system generating the report, and verify that your PDF viewer fully supports Right-to-Left (RTL) complex scripts.
Embed Arabic Fonts in the Report Generation Settings
Ensuring the correct TrueType fonts are embedded prevents the PDF viewer from substituting fonts that lack proper Arabic script support.
When exporting a report to PDF, the software must embed the specific font to preserve complex script shaping. If fonts are not embedded, standard viewers may replace them with default fonts that disconnect Arabic letters.
Open your report generation software or configuration script (e.g., Oracle Reports).
Find the font mapping or embedding settings files, such as 'uifont.ali' or equivalent font configuration menus.
Ensure the Arabic font used in the report (like Arial or Simplified Arabic) is mapped to a TrueType font (.ttf) and set to be embedded in the PDF output.
Export the REF file to PDF again and open it in a compatible viewer to verify the text formatting.
Enable Right-to-Left (RTL) Text Rendering
Configuring the report builder to recognize the text as an RTL language ensures characters are joined and ordered correctly.
View and Edit Arabic PDF Reports with WPS Office
WPS Office provides robust support for viewing, creating, and editing PDF files, ensuring excellent compatibility with RTL languages and complex font layouts.
- 1. Download and Install: Download WPS Office from the official website and install it on your device.
- 2. Open the PDF Report: Launch WPS PDF and open your generated PDF report to check the Arabic text rendering.
- 3. Edit Fonts if Necessary: Click on the 'Edit PDF' tab to select text boxes and adjust the font type if minor corrections are needed.
- 4. Save as Standard PDF: Save the document securely to ensure the correct fonts are preserved for anyone viewing the file.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do Arabic letters appear disconnected in my PDF report?
This happens when the PDF generator or viewer does not support complex script shaping or Right-to-Left (RTL) text rendering. As a result, it treats Arabic letters as standard standalone characters rather than joining them cursively.
Can I fix the distorted Arabic fonts directly in the generated PDF?
If the text was flattened or encoded incorrectly during the report generation process, you cannot fix it directly in the PDF. You must correct the font mapping or RTL settings in the source application and regenerate the file. However, if the fonts are just missing, opening the file in a capable PDF editor like WPS Office and re-assigning the font may help.
What fonts are best for generating Arabic PDF reports?
Standard TrueType fonts (TTF) such as Arial, Times New Roman, Simplified Arabic, and Traditional Arabic are highly recommended. These fonts have robust RTL and complex shaping support, making them less prone to distortion when embedded in PDFs.
Why does the Arabic text look fine in the report builder but distorted in the PDF?
Your report builder uses your operating system's local fonts and rendering engine to display text on screen. The PDF, however, relies entirely on the fonts embedded within the file during export. If the specific Arabic font is not embedded, the PDF viewer substitutes it with a default font, causing formatting loss.
