# PDF exportation fails to print depending on method: possible bug in v9?

Admittedly inelegant code (that wasn't intended for public consumption):

tks = Table[k Pi/4, {k, -8, 8}];
p1 = Plot[3 Sin[x - Pi/4], {x, -Pi, 2 Pi},
PlotStyle -> {Thick, Black}, PlotLabel -> "(B)",
Ticks -> {tks, {-3, -2, -1, 0, 1, 2, 3}}];
p2 = Plot[2 Sin[x - Pi/4], {x, -Pi, 2 Pi},
PlotStyle -> {Thick, Black}, PlotLabel -> "(C)",
Ticks -> {tks, {-3, -2, -1, 0, 1, 2, 3}}];
p3 = Plot[3 Sin[x - Pi/2], {x, -Pi, 2 Pi},
PlotStyle -> {Thick, Black}, PlotLabel -> "(D)",
Ticks -> {tks, {-3, -2, -1, 0, 1, 2, 3}}];
p4 = Plot[2 Sin[x + Pi/4], {x, -Pi, 2 Pi},
PlotStyle -> {Thick, Black}, PlotLabel -> "(A)",
Ticks -> {tks, {-3, -2, -1, 0, 1, 2, 3}}];

graphs = GraphicsGrid[{{p4, p1}, {p2, p3}}, ImageSize -> 500]


If I right-click on the cell bracket containing the output graphic, then "Save selection as..."

choose "PDF", then open the resulting PDF in Acrobat, it will not print for me in v9.0.0.0. I get error messages about unable to print and that a drawing error occurred.

However, if I obtain the PDF via

Export["trig_array.pdf", graphs]


it does print.

I am running Windows 7 and Adobe Acrobat X Pro. All are up-to-date. Tried restarting everything multiple times and printing in two different buildings on separate networks/printers.

Both methods print fine with v8.0.4.0.

Can anyone confirm/deny?

-
V9 works for me on Mac OSX 10.7.5. –  JxB Dec 17 '12 at 20:21
No, works fine here on Windows 7/Adobe Reader. –  Matariki Dec 17 '12 at 20:26
Do you only get the message when you try to print it out (unfortunately I can't try that as I can't print on a real printer now)? Also, what exactly do you select before right clicking? The whole cell? Or just the graphics? –  Szabolcs Dec 17 '12 at 20:41
I'm asking because what exactly you select (graphics, part of graphics, cell), and where you right click (graphics, cell bracket, etc.) can actually make difference. I can only get the Save Selection As item in the context menu if I right click the cell bracket, but it's still available from the file menu in other cases. –  Szabolcs Dec 17 '12 at 20:45
@Szabolcs: Good question, sorry I meant to make that clear in the OP. I right-click on the cell bracket on the right side that surrounds the output graphic (not the input + output). That has been my standard way of exporting PDF versions of graphics in Mathematica for 20 yrs. Also, I only get the error when printing the PDF, or like earlier, when I inserted the PDF into a LaTeX file, PDF-LaTeXed, and tried to print that. –  JohnD Dec 17 '12 at 21:05