Sometime between 12/9 and 12/13/21, I lost some of my tools (both down the side and above) and the PDFs are generating with about a 1/4 to 1/2" of additional border beyond the prescribed boundaries of the documents. I tried resetting my toolbox to default, but I don't see any difference, and I have no idea what to do about the PDFs. Incidentally, the PDF files have been huge ever since I upgraded to CorelDraw 2019. Whenever I'm doing a 12-page color newsletter, I have to have the guy that posts it dumb it down in the extreme! Before that, I could keep an online document under 20 MB at 150 dpi, but now it's over 50 MB. If I generate one at 96 dpi or below, it comes out fuzzy.
I have read that Microsoft 10 updates have been messing with a variety of programs and I have the dates (above) when it could've happened, but I don't know how to track down which update(s) might be the culprit(s). Years ago, I had an MS update screw up my PageMaker, but I knew the exact date when it happened and there were forum postings on it, so I was able to fix the problem. Thus far, I haven't found any for my issues.
It also occasionally does a bizarre thing on a 12-page newsletter, where it starts flashing little object handles all over the place and eventually, facing pages swap places (I shot a video, but it's too big to post). Every once in a while, it does more than just swap facing pages and I end up with misplaced pages all over the place. I had the same problem with the previous version and the tech had no idea what do about it, and naturally suggested the upgrade. But guess what? It's still doing it! Just not as often...so far.
Yes, Windows updates can cause the most peculiar things to happen.In this case though, It sounds more like Draw has been corrupted somehow.I suggest you try the Repair option from the suite's install routine.Regarding the PDF's getting bigger than normal, I'm pretty sure it is just an export setting.There's a number of things that can make the files grow, like for example bitmap compression.Also remember that some Draw specific effects may be rendered as bitmaps depending on your export settings.
I tried the Repair and no cigar. Reinstall from the disk?FYI, I went ahead and allowed access on the Windows Security box and checked my X8 version and the tools are all there. At least now I can see what all is missing. I tried looking under the 2019 Tools menu/Options/Tools, but the missing tools are not listed. I'm actually missing the whole Objects menu in 2019.
harpluster said:How do I remove user files?
During uninstallation, simply choose to Remove User Files.You can check after uninstall that the "C:\Users\ <your username> \AppData\Roaming\Corel\CorelDRAW Graphics Suite 2019" folder is empty or maybe even missing.Remember that the PDF settings, and other settings, are in there so they will be gone too.
harpluster said:There was a way to save something or other having to do with PDFs, but it wasn't my individual custom settings.
The "corelpdf.ini" contains all PDF settings, for default presets as well as for your saved presets.
harpluster said:So the objects will still be viewable when I either uncheck "Keep Desktop Object on Layer" or I move them manually? Why would doing it manually be preferred? I have a LOT of extraneous objects!
Up to and including version 2018, all objects outside the drawing area stayed on their original layers, but not if you1. worked in a multipage document and2. switched to another page or3. saved the document.Then they were suddenly automatically moved to the non-printable Desktop layer.There was no way around it and it was a pretty unpredictable behavior if you ask me.From version 2019 this was changed.The default mode kept all objects on their layers, even after switching page or saving.It could be changed back to 2018 mode with the "Keep Desktop Objects on Layer" option.
harpluster said:Why would doing it manually be preferred?
Simply because I don't like when objects move without me doing anything. I often work in multipage documents where pages may be of very different size.Let's say I move an object outside the frame of a small page and then switch to a much larger page.With the old behavior, this object will then be moved to a different layer and it will also get a new position to make sure it is outside also this larger page.If I then switch back to the first page, the object may be far away from where it used to be, and maybe even out of visible area.This may be dangerous because there can be objects that I don't see that will affect the document.Moving them manually instead, when needed, is a pretty easy task.
Thank you, Ronny! I was planning on working on all this today. In the meantime, I heard back from Corel Support and their only suggestion was that I create a new user profile named as Test, to check if I'm experiencing the same issue on a new profile. This is also so they can isolate if the issue is with my current user profile, if it's corrupted or not. If it works on the new user account, it could mean that there's something in my original user account that conflicts with the program. It could be a conflict with another program, anti-virus, leftover files, registry entries, or other components and files on the original user account. He gave me the link to view how to do that. The only thing he didn't tell me was what I should do if the Test user profile works.Trying to decide whether to do this first or just go ahead and do the reinstall.
harpluster said:Trying to decide whether to do this first or just go ahead and do the reinstall.
For me, I would try uninstalling/reinstalling CorelDRAW first, to see if that fixed the problem.
Creating a new user profile in Windows would be a "much bigger deal" for me, and thus something I would really hope to avoid.
Eskimo said:
I would try uninstalling/reinstalling CorelDRAW first, to see if that fixed the problem.
I definitely agree.
OK! We managed to find the "corelpdf.ini" file to copy, but not without having to do a search. We couldn't find the "AppData" file anywhere (must be hidden?). And we indicated to remove the user files during the uninstall. We hadn't figured out how to find them to see if the folder was empty or missing before we reinstalled the program. However, there were 4 corelpdf.ini files previously (2 from 2019 and 2 from the X8 version) and now those are still there and there are an additional few. Some are short cuts(?). Not sure what to make of that. Anyway, my tools appear to be back, as well as the Object menu. Hooray!!! I did try unchecking the "Keep Desktop Object on Layer", but it didn't seem to make a difference. When I attempted to make a PDF, it still told me pages 1-12 "contain objects that fall outside the page." Is that something that has to be done upon creating a document? Looking in the Objects docker, it appears that everything that's on the desktop is in the desktop layer. I was hoping to avoid having to ask, but, how do you do it manually? I've never really paid much attention to what layer things were on. I just move things to front or back of page with the Order tool. I just want to get everything that appears on the desktop onto the desktop layer, so they're not ghosted (so to speak) in the PDF. If I can get this sorted out, my web guy will be thrilled...as will I!Thank you, thank you!!
harpluster said:We couldn't find the "AppData" file anywhere (must be hidden?).
A quick way to get there is to type "%appdata%" in the address bar in Windows File Explorer.
More information here: What Is the AppData Folder in Windows?
Thanks, Eskimo! I'm surprised my hubby didn't think of that one. That's a whole lot easier!
Glad you got it right without having to mess with the Registry, or create a new account. Sorry I forgot to mention that "AppData" is a hidden folder,I always have hidden folders visible by default.Yes there should be one "corelpdf.ini" for each version, and then it's possible there may beshortcuts as well, but it's the one in the "Config" folder that counts.
harpluster said:When I attempted to make a PDF, it still told me pages 1-12 "contain objects that fall outside the page."
Not sure why you get that warning, if all objects outside the pages are on non-printable layers.The Desktop is normally non-printable. *The old way where objects moved to the Desktop under certain conditions wasn't predictable or logical, as mentioned before.If you move objects outside the page you must1. work in a multipage document and2. switch to another page or3. save the document.Then, but not until then, these objects will jump to the Desktop.This means that if you export before switching page for example, the objects will still be on original layers and probably also end up in the PDF.We all have different ways of working and I personally never leave objects outside the page more than temporary.And when I do they are usually still on their original page layers and I know exactly where they are.
harpluster said:how do you do it manually?
Use the Objects docker.It is the best way to keep track of objects, layers and pages.You can see on what layer an object is, if the layer is visible (eye symbol), locked (padlock) or non-printable (printer), and you can easily drag an object from one position, layer or page to another.* Check the Objects docker and make sure the Desktop layer on the Master page is non-printable.
I am in a multipage (12-page) document, I switch back and forth between pages all the time, and I always save before I generate a PDF. Yet, it's all still getting included in the background of the PDF.I checked the Objects docker and the desktop is indicated as nonprintable. For what it's worth, all of the objects on that layer are viewable and unlocked. Everything that's on the desktop appears to be on the desktop layer, so I don't have anywhere to move it. I never did do that experiment before, where I was going to copy the file and remove all of the extraneous stuff, so I saved it as a test, removed everything and resaved. Even though they're gone (and the Objects docker indicates there's nothing there), the PDF generator is still telling me there are objects falling outside of all the pages, although the file size is about 1/4 of what it was (102 MB vs. 406 MB at 150 dpi). I also tried one at 96 dpi, but the file wasn't much smaller (97 MB) and the photos were starting to look fuzzy. Before I switched from X8 to the 2019 version, I was able to generate PDFs at 11 or 12 MB for digital posting and around 50 MB for the print version. The reason I upgraded to 2019, was because of all the weird page swapping stuff that was happening...and frequently. I still get it on occasion, but not very often, although it sometimes does a multi-page swap. I just have to remember to save frequently, so I can recover what I had, without jumping through too many hoops. If it's a simple page swap, sometimes I can just hit undo, but if I have any drop-shadows, they often get left behind and I have to eliminate the graphic and redo it. I've taken to waiting until I'm nearly done before adding those.Never a dull moment...Oh! Before I forget, the gutters around the pages are now as they should be. No more extended borders. Yay!! One more issue crossed off.Thanks some more!!
Sorry to hear you can't get it right.I'm not using 2019 myself, and hasn't except for a short period.Maybe there is a bug in 2019 but it is not something I've heard of.Would it be possible to upload the document somewhere (a stripped copy to keep the size down and sensitive material out of public)?Maybe it will give me/us a clue what's wrong.