Converting from PDF to PDF/A ( Error 26999)

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( Error mensage roughly translates to: "An Error as occurred: Error processing the document. (26999)

Hi, when trying to convert my PDF files to PDF/A I keep getting this error message in the end of the convertion process and no mather how much research I do I can't find anything about this error and how to solve it. Could anyone help me?

PDF creator version: 3.1.2

PS: if anyone could tell me, in a few words, the difference between PDF/A-1b and PDF/A-2b i would also be thankful

Hi,

do you only get the error when converting to PDF/A, or do you also get it if you try to convert the exact same file to a “regular” PDF? If the original PDF has any security restrictions, Ghostscript won’t allow redistilling it to PDF.
In general, any PDF/A-1 document is also a valid PDF/A-2 document (PDF/A-2 is built on PDF/A-1 but allows some additional features): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PDF/A

Best regards

Robin

thank you for the reply Robin

Yes i can convert my PDF file to a “regular” PDF, it doens’t give my any error message.

Are you using PDFCreator freeware or one of the paid editions?
While they mostly have the same functionality, the PDF to PDF/A conversion is handled by different components in the free and paid editions of PDFCreator, so it might be wortch checking if only one of them has this issue.

We also have this same issue. I earlier identified it wrongly as only affecting when printing a subset of pages, but that was because we mostly use PDFCreator (free) to split PDF:s into smaller bits, and almost never to just print the whole PDF document (except when printing from another program, for example Word; printing from Word to PDF/A still works fine)… I just checked it again after installing version 3.1.2 (as the problem started happening on 3.1.1), and noticed it always happens when printing PDF/A:s.

As this behavior started after 3.0.2 (where it worked flawlessly), it should not have anything to do with the security restrictions, unless Ghostscript changed in that regard since 3.0.2.

1 Like

I'm using the free version.
The way i've been trying to convert my PDF files to PDF/A is oppening a PDF file, going to the print part and sellecting pdf creator as the printer, the program then proceeds to open and do the conversion (and then it gives the error that of this topic). However i've recently found out that I can convert my PDF files without the error by oppening the PDF creator app and then dragging the file to the app and it converts with no problem.

Hi,

thank you very much for this additional information, it narrows down the potential issue quite a bit.
If you print the PDF to the PDFCreator printer, it will first get converted to Postscript, which Ghostscript will then convert to the target out put format, in this case PDF/A. If you drag and drop the file onto the PDFCreator GUI, it will directly convert it from PDF to the target output format. It might take a while to figure out how to fix this, since Ghostscript is more or less a black box .

Best regards

Robin

Hi,
I’m also facing this problem.
By looking at trace files I noticed that the error is during the final stage of the conversion.

Log from working machine:

2018-02-22 16:50:28.6732 [Trace] 10528-15 () pdfforge.PDFCreator.Conversion.Ghostscript.Conversion.GhostscriptConverter.DoConversion: Finished Ghostscript execution
2018-02-22 16:50:28.6812 [Trace] 10528-15 () pdfforge.PDFCreator.Conversion.Ghostscript.Conversion.GhostscriptConverter.DoConversion: Ghostscript Job was successful
2018-02-22 16:50:28.6912 [Debug] 10528-15 () pdfforge.PDFCreator.Conversion.Processing.PdfProcessingInterface.PdfProcessorBase.ProcessPdf: Start processing of C:\Users\andrea.gaviraghi\AppData\Local\Temp\PDFCreator\Temp\Job_fz40jpf3\tempoutput\output.pdf
2018-02-22 16:50:28.7252 [Debug] 10528-15 () pdfforge.PDFCreator.Conversion.Processing.ITextProcessing.StamperCreator.DoCreateStamperAccordingToEncryptionAndSignature: Started creating PdfStamper according to Encryption.
2018-02-22 16:50:28.9981 [Debug] 10528-15 () pdfforge.PDFCreator.Conversion.Processing.ITextProcessing.XmpMetadataUpdater.DoUpdateXmpMetadata: Start updateing XMP Metadata for PDF/A
2018-02-22 16:50:29.2250 [Trace] 10528-15 () pdfforge.PDFCreator.Core.Workflow.Output.OutputFileMoverBase.MoveOutputFiles: Moving output files to final location
2018-02-22 16:50:29.2465 [Debug] 10528-15 () pdfforge.PDFCreator.Core.Workflow.Output.OutputFileMoverBase.CopyFile: Copied output file “C:\Users\andrea.gaviraghi\AppData\Local\Temp\PDFCreator\Temp\Job_fz40jpf3\tempoutput\output._processed.pdf”
to “C:\Users\andrea.gaviraghi\Desktop\Einspruch_PROT.pdf”
2018-02-22 16:50:29.2570 [Trace] 10528-15 () pdfforge.PDFCreator.Core.Workflow.JobRunner.LogOutputFiles: Created 1 output files.
2018-02-22 16:50:29.2570 [Trace] 10528-15 () pdfforge.PDFCreator.Core.Workflow.JobRunner.LogOutputFiles: 1. Output file: C:\Users\andrea.gaviraghi\Desktop\Einspruch_PROT.pdf
2018-02-22 16:50:29.2783 [Trace] 10528-15 () pdfforge.PDFCreator.Core.Workflow.JobRunner.CallActions: Starting Actions
2018-02-22 16:50:29.3021 [Debug] 10528-15 () pdfforge.PDFCreator.Conversion.Actions.Actions.DefaultViewerAction.ProcessJob: Launched Viewer-Action
2018-02-22 16:50:29.3021 [Trace] 10528-15 () pdfforge.PDFCreator.Conversion.Actions.Actions.DefaultViewerAction.OpenOutputFile: Open file(s) with default programm
2018-02-22 16:50:29.3833 [Trace] 10528-15 () pdfforge.PDFCreator.Conversion.Actions.Actions.DefaultViewerAction.OpenOutputFile: Openend (only first) file: C:\Users\andrea.gaviraghi\Desktop\Einspruch_PROT.pdf
2018-02-22 16:50:29.3833 [Trace] 10528-15 () pdfforge.PDFCreator.Core.Workflow.JobRunner.CallActions: Action DefaultViewerAction completed
2018-02-22 16:50:29.3990 [Debug] 10528-15 () pdfforge.PDFCreator.Core.Workflow.JobRunner.CleanUp: Cleaning up after the job
2018-02-22 16:50:29.4180 [Trace] 10528-15 () pdfforge.PDFCreator.Core.Workflow.JobRunner.RunJob: Job finished successfully
2018-02-22 16:50:29.4249 [Trace] 10528-15 () pdfforge.PDFCreator.Core.Workflow.JobRunner.RunJob: Calling job completed event
2018-02-22 16:52:59.3605 [Debug] 10528-14 (ProcessingThread) pdfforge.PDFCreator.UI.ViewModels.SettingsLoader.SaveSettingsInRegistry: Saving settings
2018-02-22 16:52:59.4645 [Trace] 10528-14 (ProcessingThread) pdfforge.PDFCreator.UI.ViewModels.SettingsLoader.LogProfiles: Profiles:
2018-02-22 16:52:59.4725 [Trace] 10528-14 (ProcessingThread) pdfforge.PDFCreator.UI.ViewModels.SettingsLoader.LogProfiles:
2018-02-22 16:52:59.4725 [Trace] 10528-14 (ProcessingThread) pdfforge.PDFCreator.UI.ViewModels.SettingsLoader.LogProfiles: High Compression (small file)
2018-02-22 16:52:59.4854 [Trace] 10528-14 (ProcessingThread) pdfforge.PDFCreator.UI.ViewModels.SettingsLoader.LogProfiles: High Quality (large file)
2018-02-22 16:52:59.4854 [Trace] 10528-14 (ProcessingThread) pdfforge.PDFCreator.UI.ViewModels.SettingsLoader.LogProfiles: JPEG (graphic file)
2018-02-22 16:52:59.4854 [Trace] 10528-14 (ProcessingThread) pdfforge.PDFCreator.UI.ViewModels.SettingsLoader.LogProfiles: PDF/A (long term preservation)
2018-02-22 16:52:59.5044 [Trace] 10528-14 (ProcessingThread) pdfforge.PDFCreator.UI.ViewModels.SettingsLoader.LogProfiles: PNG (graphic file)
2018-02-22 16:52:59.5044 [Trace] 10528-14 (ProcessingThread) pdfforge.PDFCreator.UI.ViewModels.SettingsLoader.LogProfiles: Print after saving
2018-02-22 16:52:59.5225 [Trace] 10528-14 (ProcessingThread) pdfforge.PDFCreator.UI.ViewModels.SettingsLoader.LogProfiles: TIFF (multipage graphic file)
2018-02-22 16:52:59.5485 [Trace] 10528-14 (ProcessingThread) pdfforge.PDFCreator.Core.Workflow.JobInfoQueueManager.ProcessJobs: Removing job from Queue

Log from not working machine:

2018-02-22 16:52:16.9288 [Trace] 1904-11 () pdfforge.PDFCreator.Conversion.Ghostscript.Conversion.GhostscriptConverter.DoConversion: Finished Ghostscript execution
2018-02-22 16:52:16.9288 [Trace] 1904-11 () pdfforge.PDFCreator.Conversion.Ghostscript.Conversion.GhostscriptConverter.DoConversion: Ghostscript Job was successful
2018-02-22 16:52:16.9288 [Debug] 1904-11 () pdfforge.PDFCreator.Conversion.Processing.PdfProcessingInterface.PdfProcessorBase.ProcessPdf: Start processing of C:\TEMP\PDFCreator\Temp\Job_4tm3itsz\tempoutput\output.pdf
2018-02-22 16:52:16.9288 [Debug] 1904-11 () pdfforge.PDFCreator.Conversion.Processing.ITextProcessing.StamperCreator.DoCreateStamperAccordingToEncryptionAndSignature: Started creating PdfStamper according to Encryption.
2018-02-22 16:52:17.0348 [Debug] 1904-11 () pdfforge.PDFCreator.Conversion.Processing.ITextProcessing.XmpMetadataUpdater.DoUpdateXmpMetadata: Start updateing XMP Metadata for PDF/A
2018-02-22 16:52:17.0398 [Error] 1904-11 () pdfforge.PDFCreator.Core.Workflow.JobRunner.RunJob: The job failed: System.Xml.XmlException while addding updating xmp metadata:
Elemento radice mancante. (Processing_GenericError)
2018-02-22 16:52:17.0398 [Trace] 1904-11 () pdfforge.PDFCreator.Core.Workflow.JobRunner.RunJob: Calling job completed event
2018-02-22 16:52:17.0398 [Error] 1904-13 (ProcessingThread) pdfforge.PDFCreator.Core.Workflow.ConversionWorkflow.RunWorkflow: Error Processing_GenericError: System.Xml.XmlException while addding updating xmp metadata:
Elemento radice mancante.
2018-02-22 16:52:20.4082 [Error] 1904-13 (ProcessingThread) pdfforge.PDFCreator.Core.Workflow.JobInfoQueueManager.ProcessJob: The job ‘Einspruch’ terminated at step Error and did not end successfully.
2018-02-22 16:52:20.4082 [Trace] 1904-13 (ProcessingThread) pdfforge.PDFCreator.Core.Workflow.JobInfoQueueManager.ProcessJobs: Removing job from Queue

Maybe this could help.
Regards,

Andrea

Hi,
I tried this:

replaced Ghostscript subfolders (Bin and Libs) with GS version 9.19 and I can successfully create PDF/A.

With version 9.22 (bundled within PDFCreator 3.1.2), GS 9.21 and 9.20 I get the error.

Regards,

Andrea

Hi Andrea,

thank you very much for the additional details.
Unfortunately, the previous GS versions all have some kind of issue, so we can’t move back to one of those.
At first sight, it looks like actually not Ghostscript but rather iText is failing here, which doesn’t seem to match your observations. So most likely it is a combination of Ghostscript creating a PDF file which iText can then not properly update. We will need to have a more detailed look at this. Paid PDFCreator editions now use pdftools instead of iText, so the issue probably only affects the free edition.
Do you also get the error when you drag&drop the PDF onto a PDFCreator window instead of printing it?

Best regards

Robin

Hi Robin,
I confirm you that I don’t get the error if I drag&drop the PDF.

Regards,

Andrea

Problem (PDF -> PDF/A-1b) confirmed for PDFCreator free v3.2.1 Build 13159 @ Win10 Pro x64.

Only works if I use the PDFCreator GUI.

Got the same problem whene I try to print a PDF to PDF/A-1b or PDF/A-2b (v3.2.2 build 13517).
Drag and Drop is not a solution for me because i have to convert a lot of PDF each days....

Can we have the confirmation that paid version is working ? Is PDFCreator team is working on a solution for Free version ?

Hi,

the business (not Plus) version of PDFCreator uses pdftools for ensuring the PDF/A compliance, which doesn't have any known issues.
You can potentially create a fully automated work around with the current free version by using the "run script" action and 2 PDFCreator printers + profiles. Set the first to convert to PDF, auto-save in a temporary location and run the script action pointing to the PDFCreator.exe and using the following as additional parameters: /Profile="name of your PDF/A profile" /PdfFile=
Leave the part after PdfFile blank as PDFCreator will automatically attach the path of the created document to the arguments.
The issue will eventually get addressed in PDFCreator free but it isn't a high priority issue, so it could take a few months until it gets looked at again/fixed.

Best regards

Robin

can you write all steps needed?
i dont understand how do it

thanks

I tried all morning but I can not, how do you exactly? what are the steps?

  1. Create a new profile, lets call it "autoprint"
  2. In the Autprint profile, enable the "Run Script" action
  3. use the PDFCreator.exe as "Script file"
  4. use /Profile="PdfaGuid" /PdfFile= as additional parameters
  5. in the "Save" section of the autoprint profile settings, enable automatic saving and set the path to e.g <Environment:TEMP> (this will go to the temp folder of your user account)
  6. in the "Printer" tab of the PDFCreator settings, assign the "autoprint" profile to the default PDFCreator printer
  7. Configure the PDF/A profile as you like

Many thanks Robin, but these are exactly the same steps that I did, these settings create the pdf file in the temp folder, but it seems that it does not run the script to do the pdfa. Everything stops there.

log say this
2018-06-26 18:52:21.5939 [Error] pdfforge.PDFCreator.Core.DirectConversion.DirectConversionBase.TransformToInfFile: Launched job without file.

it seems that the script does not pass the name of the file created by the printout in the /PdfFile parameter