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Topic: Re: Manualy Editing PDF Files with a Text Editor (Via Email)
Conf: (P-PDF) General, Msg: 25885
From: prodok
Date: 8/17/2001 06:51 AM

You must know what you are doing when you directly edit a PDF in a
text editor, and it is STRONGLY recommended to always work on a copy
of the file.

The error message is usually uncritical, if the document can be
repaired. What happens is that when you edit the file, the XRef table
gets messed up, and Acrobat (Reader) is trying to fix it.

That said, have Acrobat fix the table and resave the document,
preferrably with Save as..., and then everything is OK, and the error
will no longer appear.

Hope, this can help.


Max Wyss
PRODOK Engineering
Low Paper workflows, Smart documents, PDF forms
CH-8906 Bonstetten, Switzerland

Fax: +41 1 700 20 37
e-mail: mailto:max@prodok.com
http://www.prodok.com



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>Manualy Editing PDF Files with a Text Editor
>
>On certain occasions, it may be necessary, and very effective, to
>manually edit sections of a PDF file using a text editor (able to
>save without formatting the PDF file).
>
>I have used this technique to correct bookmark references in the
>outline tree that weren't functioning correctly.
>


>This method of 'tweaking' the file can be very effective, but
>unfortunately, any alteration to the length of the PDF file triggers
>Acrobat Reader into reporting an error: 'Rebuild - the PDF file is
>damaged and is being repaired'. If the new text / code added to the
>file is correct, the file still works successfully.
>
>Please can forum users recomend how triggering the error message can
>be prevented. Using the example, should some object parameter be
>altered to compensate for the additional text added to the file, so
>that the error message won't occur. I've looked for a numerical
>value for the length of the object (which could be 'tweaked' to
>reflect the additional characters added) but I can't find it.