WordStar for Windows

wswin.dll Causes A Windows GPF when Printing to Acrobat Distiller 4

Introduction

After installing Adobe Acrobat 4, printing a WordStar for Windows document to the Acrobat Distiller causes a Windows general protection Fault (GPF).

This is caused because the default installation directory for Adobe Acrobat 4 uses Windows 9x long file names. WordStar for Windows doesn't understand these and crashes.

By default the output file goes to:

C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 4.0\PDFOutput\*.PDF

The Acrobat 4 Distiller printer driver print output files path is a long file name, which WordStar for Windows can't interpret because the filename is broken with spaces and a dot.

Solution:

There are two solutions detailed below:

•   Solution 1 - Reinstall Acrobat using DOS friendly paths...
•   Solution 2 - Create a new DOS friendly output port...

  Solution 1 - Reinstall Acrobat using DOS friendly paths...

  1. Uninstall Acrobat 4
  2. Reinstall Acrobat 4, but select Custom Install and choose a DOS friendly path for the program.
     
     For example, choose: C:\Acrobat4 instead of the default:
     C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 4.0.
     
     Also ensure that the PDF Output folder only consists of eight characters and no spaces or punctuation.

   

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Solution 2 - Create new DOS friendly output port...

1. Select Start > Settings > Printers
2. In the Printers folder, select the Acrobat Distiller printer icon
3. Right Click and select Properties
4. In the Acrobat Distiller Properties form select the Details tab. The current output path is shown in the 'Print to the following port' drop down list
5. Select Add Port...
6. In the Add Port form, select Other, and then PDF Port, then OK
7. Navigate to an alternative folder (DOS compatible file name only!).
   
   For example, use: C:\Temp or: C:\Acrobat4\PDFOut, then Click OK
   
   
8. Click Apply, then OK.
   
   You'll get a warning about needing to download your Acrobat fonts to this new folder. The new port will be the default.
   
   The long file name port is now redundant and can be deleted - all programs will be happy with the shorter version.
   
   
9. WordStar for Windows and all other non-long filename aware programs will now work correctly.

   To remove the now redundant long filename port:

10. Go back into the Distiller printer properties as detailed above and select Delete port...
11. A new dialog will appear in which you can select the old folder name.
12. Once selected, Click OK to delete it.
    
    NOTE: that you can't delete a port that's showing in the 'Print to the following port' list box, so make sure it's not visible first.
    
    
13. Close all dialogs.

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Copyright © 1999-2004 Michael Petrie, United Kingdom.

FAQ: Q1002