How to Fix PostScript Error StRetrieve P200720 When Distilling PDFs
Question details
The user needs to resolve the PostScript error "undefined; OffendingCommand: pdfmark" and "StRetrieve P200720" that occurs when distilling a large PostScript file.
- Product
- PDF Converter / Distiller
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Distilling or converting a large PostScript (.ps) file into a PDF document.
- Observed behavior
- The conversion process halts unexpectedly and returns an error message indicating an invalid or unsupported pdfmark command.
Check the conversion log in your PDF Distiller to pinpoint the exact page number where the processing stopped, as this usually highlights where the malformed content is located.
Identify and Isolate the Problematic Page
Locate the exact page or object causing the distiller to crash so you can remove or fix the offending content.
The 'OffendingCommand: pdfmark' error typically points to a specific element—such as a broken link, complex graphic, or corrupted bookmark—that the distiller cannot process. Finding the exact page is the fastest way to resolve the issue.
Open the conversion log or the Distiller interface to see which page was currently being processed when the StRetrieve P200720 error occurred.
Go back to your original source application (e.g., Word or InDesign) and navigate to the identified failing page.
Print or export just that specific page to a new PostScript file and distill it to confirm if it triggers the same error.
Correct Malformed Links and Bookmarks
Remove or fix unsupported metadata commands generated by the source application that cause the pdfmark error.
Update PostScript Print Settings
Change the PostScript driver or PDF conversion settings to ensure maximum compatibility during distillation.
Export Documents to PDF Directly with WPS Office
Instead of dealing with complex PostScript (.ps) files and unpredictable distiller errors, you can directly convert your original documents to high-quality PDFs using WPS Office. This built-in feature bypasses pdfmark errors entirely.
- 1. Open Your Document: Launch WPS Office and open your original Word, Excel, or Presentation document.
- 2. Select Export to PDF: Navigate to the 'Tools' tab on the top ribbon and click on the 'Export to PDF' button.
- 3. Configure Export Settings: Adjust the export settings, such as the specific page range and your preferred save destination.
- 4. Generate the PDF: Click the 'Export' button to instantly generate an error-free, highly compatible PDF file.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the 'OffendingCommand: pdfmark' error mean?
This error means the PDF conversion engine encountered an invalid, unsupported, or corrupted instruction related to bookmarks, links, or metadata inside the PostScript file.
How can I find out which page is causing the Distiller error?
You can monitor the distiller's processing log. The error typically occurs near or exactly on the page where the processing abruptly stops.
Can document metadata cause PostScript distillation errors?
Yes. Malformed document properties, corrupt hyperlinks, or improperly formatted bookmarks generated by the source application can output corrupted pdfmark commands, which trigger the StRetrieve P200720 error.
