Adobe Print form error: Initialization of the font server module failed.

Hi all,
When trying to open a PDF preview the error below is displayed:
"Initialization of the font server module failed."
The problem occurs with SAP GUI 7.10 patch 15 and Adobe Reader 9
With SAP GUI 7.10 patch 12 and 13 with Adobe Reader 9 the problem do not happen.
Has anybody faced this kind of problem? Is it a SAP GUI patch release issue?
Any help is welcome.
Kind regards,
Thiago Viaro

Hi Thiago,
We had exactly the same problem, but also with sp 12 and 13 for sapgui 710.
After applying ECL 6.0 Patch 4, the problem was solved.
Please have a look at sap note 1308147 and 1356854
Cheers,
Peter Albrecht

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{0}.#1#{PROXY_ENABLED=false, CLIENT_AUTHENTICATION_KEYSTORE_VIEW=, SAP_SID=, SLD_URL=, USERNAME=ADSUSER, SLD_WS_NAME=, URL=http://<host>:50000/AdobeDocumentServices/Config?style=document, PROXY_URL=, SSL_SERVER_AUTHENTICATION=IGNORE, SLD_WS_SYSTEM_NAME=, PASSWORD=XXX, SLD_WS_PORT=, SAP_CLIENT=, DEFAULT_URL=http://localhost:50000/AdobeDocumentServices/Config?style=document, Authentication=BASIC, CLIENT_AUTHENTICATION_KEYSTORE_CERTIFICATE=, URL_CHOICE=Custom, SAP_LANGUAGE=}#
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yes
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Edited by: Pradeep Goli on Mar 19, 2009 1:49 PM
Edited by: Pradeep Goli on Mar 19, 2009 2:51 PM

Hi Pradeep Goli,
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Michal
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thx for answering.
first i tried the following code:
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Rgds
Vara

Thomas,
Here is where I am stuck.
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vara
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Hi experts,
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Regards,
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Adobe Reader 7.0, Version 7.0.9
Adobe Live Cycle Designer 7.1, Version 7.1.3284.1.338866
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Regards

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Q1. Implications of activating the Java stack only for Adobe Print Forms in the current lanscape for existing business functions.
Q2. Best option among installing ADD-IN (or) Stand Alone.
Q3. Is there any other special requirements to take into account when using this forms application?
2. Is it the best option to go for third party tool.
3.Thirdly: I assume that the graphical application (Gui add-on) is only required for
those who will be developing the forms and not for all users. Is that assumption
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a) Performance - If ADS is going to be heavily used do you have enough resources available ? Will it impact your current ERP systems ? The Java AS alone will consume a lot of resources.
b) Complexity - Do you regularly restore your systems to test environments ? ...can your backups and restores deal with the added complexity of a Java AS Add-in ?
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My question was:
Hi Experts!
Did anyone of you manage to enable frontend printing using Adobe Print Forms? In order to save administration effort we use frontend printing in our ERP system. We just changed some SMARTFORMS to the new Adobe Forms technology. Now we learned that direct frontend printing does not work with these forms.
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I think you'll be disappointed by a rather negative answer but I'll try to explain everything I know (or think I know) the best I can
The simplest solution is to do a preview, and print from Adobe Reader! (as I could see on one project, users have to display one more dialog than usually to print) It's the best workaround according to me.
How Adobe form printing works:
When you print an Adobe form from SAP, a printer language (PCL, PS, ZPL, PDF) is retrieved from TSP0B table according to the device type, ADS (Adobe Document Services, installed in the SAP java stack) is then contacted to generate the form: a file corresponding to the printer language is generated and sent back to SAP (there are also 2 other little files but it's of none interest here). SAP stores it as a file (named SPOOL...) in the global directory (DIR_GLOBAL when you use AL11 transaction).
When you ask SAP to print it, it sends the file as is to the printer.
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If you want to print a normal spool via frontend, SAP doesn't know the language of the printer you will choose. SAP sends the spool in a format named SAPWIN to a frontend program named SAPLPD, it converts the SAPWIN format into GDI, a Windows format that is understood by all printer drivers, and it is sent to the printer driver (you have selected) which converts the GDI format into the printer language.
Any workaround?
First possibility would be that ADS converts the PDF into SAPWIN format (by creating an Adobe .XDC file at the ADS side). SAP says it's not possible in Note 685571 - Printing PDF-based forms. As I understand, SAPWIN is a very simple language compared to PCL for example, so it is very difficult to convert a PDF to SAPWIN without losing much information. There's a SAP note about the SAPWIN language if you want to check.
Second possibility is to print directly the PDF through Adobe Reader: you get the PDF from ADS, download it to the frontend (easy), and execute directly Adobe Reader print function. Unfortunately, I don't know if it's possible. Moreover, we should enhance the standard SAP print dialog...
Third possibility is the one I recommended at the beginning of this post

Adobe Print form error: Initialization of the font server module failed.

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