Document Classes ⇒ Creating Handouts with Beamer

[ptoche]

Until today I would create handouts with the following commands:
\documentclass[13pt,dvipsnames,table,handout,t]{beamer}
\usepackage{pgfpages}
\pgfpagesuselayout{2 on 1}[a4paper,border shrink=5mm]

This no longer works. Standard beamer works. I recently updated MikTeX. I did refresh the FNDB. I'm using Windows Vista. TexNicCenter+MikTeX.

Here is the output of the minimal example detailed below -- only one slide appears off-centered instead of the two slides properly aligned.

22288287-Minimal.pdf

(5.45 KiB) Downloaded 1080 times

Is this a known problem? Any workarounds? Suggestions?

Many thanks,

Patrick.

Minimal example below:

Code: Select all

Code, edit and compile here:

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%----------------Set Beamer Mode-----------------
%\documentclass{beamer}
%-------------------------------------------------------
%----------------Set Handout Mode-----------------
\documentclass[handout]{beamer}
\usepackage{pgfpages}
\pgfpagesuselayout{2 on 1}[a4paper]
%-------------------------------------------------------
\begin{document}
%----------------Frame Here-----------------------------
\begin{frame}
\frametitle{First Slide}
\begin{itemize}
\item blablabla
\item blablabla
\item blablabla
\item blablabla
\item blablabla
\end{itemize}
\end{frame}
%----------------Frame Here-----------------------------
%----------------Frame Here-----------------------------
\begin{frame}
\frametitle{Second Slide}
\begin{itemize}
\item blablabla
\item blablabla
\item blablabla
\item blablabla
\item blablabla
\end{itemize}
\end{frame}
%----------------Frame Here-----------------------------
 
 
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Run LaTeX here

[localghost]

Check the log file for any inconsistencies.


Best regards
Thorsten¹

[ptoche]

Thanks a lot Thornsten, I did look at the log but I have no idea how to read it. I bet there are inconsistencies, but I don't know which should be addressed nor how! Perhaps you might shed some light on this for me? I'll paste the log file below, for my minimal example. As I said, thanks for your suggestion.

Code: Select all

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This is pdfTeX, Version 3.1415926-1.40.9 (MiKTeX 2.7) (preloaded format=latex 2009.11.9)  9 NOV 2009 03:51
entering extended mode
**minimal.tex
(minimal.tex
LaTeX2e <2009/09/24>
Babel <v3.8l> and hyphenation patterns for english, dumylang, nohyphenation, lo
aded.
("C:\Program Files\MiKTeX 2.7\tex\latex\beamer\base\beamer.cls"
("C:\Program Files\MiKTeX 2.7\tex\latex\beamer\base\beamerbasercs.sty"
Package: beamerbasercs 2007/01/28 (rcs-revision 1.4)
)
Document Class: beamer 2007/03/11 cvs version 3.07 A class for typesetting pres
entations (rcs-revision 1.70)
("C:\Program Files\MiKTeX 2.7\tex\latex\beamer\base\beamerbasemodes.sty"
Package: beamerbasemodes 2007/01/28 (rcs-revision 1.22)
\beamer@tempbox=\box26
\beamer@tempcount=\count79
\c@beamerpauses=\count80
("C:\Program Files\MiKTeX 2.7\tex\latex\beamer\base\beamerbasedecode.sty"
Package: beamerbasedecode 2007/01/28 (rcs-revision 1.20)
\beamer@slideinframe=\count81
\beamer@minimum=\count82
)
\beamer@commentbox=\box27
\beamer@modecount=\count83
)
\headheight=\dimen102
\headdp=\dimen103
\footheight=\dimen104
\sidebarheight=\dimen105
\beamer@tempdim=\dimen106
\beamer@finalheight=\dimen107
\beamer@animht=\dimen108
\beamer@animdp=\dimen109
\beamer@animwd=\dimen110
\beamer@leftmargin=\dimen111
\beamer@rightmargin=\dimen112
\beamer@leftsidebar=\dimen113
\beamer@rightsidebar=\dimen114
\beamer@boxsize=\dimen115
 
 
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[localghost]

Thanks a lot Thornsten […]

Who is that?

[…] I did look at the log but I have no idea how to read it. I bet there are inconsistencies, but I don't know which should be addressed nor how! […]

Apart from some warnings I couldn't see any unusual things. Make sure that you have the most recent version of every used package. Add the \listfiles command as very first line to your sample code and check the file list in the log file. Mine looks like shown below.

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 *File List*
  beamer.cls    2007/03/11 cvs version 3.07 A class for typesetting presentations (rcs-revision 1.70)
beamerbasercs.sty    2007/01/28 (rcs-revision 1.4)
beamerbasemodes.sty    2007/01/28 (rcs-revision 1.22)
beamerbasedecode.sty    2007/01/28 (rcs-revision 1.20)
beamerbaseoptions.sty    2007/01/28 (rcs-revision 1.8)
  keyval.sty    1999/03/16 v1.13 key=value parser (DPC)
 pgfcore.sty    2008/01/15 v2.00 (rcs-revision 1.6)
graphicx.sty    1999/02/16 v1.0f Enhanced LaTeX Graphics (DPC,SPQR)
graphics.sty    2009/02/05 v1.0o Standard LaTeX Graphics (DPC,SPQR)
    trig.sty    1999/03/16 v1.09 sin cos tan (DPC)
graphics.cfg    2007/01/18 v1.5 graphics configuration of teTeX/TeXLive
  pdftex.def    2009/08/25 v0.04m Graphics/color for pdfTeX
  pgfsys.sty    2008/02/07 v2.00 (rcs-revision 1.31)
  pgfrcs.sty    2008/02/20 v2.00 (rcs-revision 1.21)
  pgfrcs.code.tex
  pgfsys.code.tex
pgfsyssoftpath.code.tex    2008/01/23  (rcs-revision 1.6)
pgfsysprotocol.code.tex    2006/10/16  (rcs-revision 1.4)
  xcolor.sty    2007/01/21 v2.11 LaTeX color extensions (UK)
   color.cfg    2007/01/18 v1.5 color configuration of teTeX/TeXLive
 pgfcore.code.tex
pgfbaseimage.sty    
 xxcolor.sty    2003/10/24 ver 0.1
 amssymb.sty    2009/06/22 v3.00
amsfonts.sty    2009/06/22 v3.00 Basic AMSFonts support
geometry.sty    2008/12/21 v4.2 Page Geometry
   ifpdf.sty    2009/04/10 v2.0 Provides the ifpdf switch (HO)
  ifvtex.sty    2008/11/04 v1.4 Switches for detecting VTeX and its modes (HO)
geometry.cfg
hyperref.sty    2009/10/31 v6.79d Hypertext links for LaTeX
 ifxetex.sty    2009/01/23 v0.5 Provides ifxetex conditional
 hycolor.sty    2009/10/02 v1.5 Code for color options of hyperref/bookmark (HO)
xcolor-patch.sty    2009/10/02 xcolor patch
  pd1enc.def    2009/10/31 v6.79d Hyperref: PDFDocEncoding definition (HO)
etexcmds.sty    2007/12/12 v1.2 Prefix for e-TeX command names (HO)
infwarerr.sty    2007/09/09 v1.2 Providing info/warning/message (HO)
hyperref.cfg    2002/06/06 v1.2 hyperref configuration of TeXLive
kvoptions.sty    2009/08/13 v3.4 Keyval support for LaTeX options (HO)
kvsetkeys.sty    2009/07/30 v1.5 Key value parser with default handler support (HO)
     url.sty    2006/04/12  ver 3.3  Verb mode for urls, etc.
 
 
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The resulting output is shown in the attachment. Compiled with pdflatex on my Windows system.

[ptoche]

Thanks a lot Thorsten, I will follow your recommendation. According to the MikTeX updater everything is up to date. The problem came AFTER I updated the packages. I will probably uninstall and reinstall...

Patrick.

P.S. sorry for the misspelling.

[ptoche]

So I have produced the list of files below, anything newsworthy there?

I uninstalled and reinstalled both beamer and pgf, but to no avail.

I have, however, narrowed down the problem a little -- I can create nice handouts resembling the ones you posted with pdflatex.exe, but can't do that anymore with latex.exe.

Unfortunately I must compile eps graphics and the only way I know is via latex followed by dvips and ps2pdf. I don't think I can include eps graphics with pdflatex, but if you know a workaround I'll take it in the meantime!

thanks Thorsten,

Patrick.

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*File List*
  beamer.cls    2007/03/11 cvs version 3.07 A class for typesetting presentatio
ns (rcs-revision 1.70)
beamerbasercs.sty    2007/01/28 (rcs-revision 1.4)
beamerbasemodes.sty    2007/01/28 (rcs-revision 1.22)
beamerbasedecode.sty    2007/01/28 (rcs-revision 1.20)
beamerbaseoptions.sty    2007/01/28 (rcs-revision 1.8)
  keyval.sty    1999/03/16 v1.13 key=value parser (DPC)
 pgfcore.sty    2008/01/15 v2.00 (rcs-revision 1.6)
graphicx.sty    1999/02/16 v1.0f Enhanced LaTeX Graphics (DPC,SPQR)
graphics.sty    2009/02/05 v1.0o Standard LaTeX Graphics (DPC,SPQR)
    trig.sty    1999/03/16 v1.09 sin cos tan (DPC)
graphics.cfg    2007/01/18 v1.5 graphics configuration of teTeX/TeXLive
   dvips.def    1999/02/16 v3.0i Driver-dependant file (DPC,SPQR)
  pgfsys.sty    2008/02/07 v2.00 (rcs-revision 1.31)
  pgfrcs.sty    2008/02/20 v2.00 (rcs-revision 1.21)
  pgfrcs.code.tex
  pgfsys.code.tex
pgfsyssoftpath.code.tex    2008/01/23  (rcs-revision 1.6)
pgfsysprotocol.code.tex    2006/10/16  (rcs-revision 1.4)
  xcolor.sty    2007/01/21 v2.11 LaTeX color extensions (UK)
   color.cfg    2007/01/18 v1.5 color configuration of teTeX/TeXLive
 pgfcore.code.tex
pgfbaseimage.sty    
 xxcolor.sty    2003/10/24 ver 0.1
 amssymb.sty    2009/06/22 v3.00
amsfonts.sty    2009/06/22 v3.00 Basic AMSFonts support
geometry.sty    2008/12/21 v4.2 Page Geometry
   ifpdf.sty    2009/04/10 v2.0 Provides the ifpdf switch (HO)
  ifvtex.sty    2008/11/04 v1.4 Switches for detecting VTeX and its modes (HO)
geometry.cfg
hyperref.sty    2009/10/31 v6.79d Hypertext links for LaTeX
 ifxetex.sty    2009/01/23 v0.5 Provides ifxetex conditional
 hycolor.sty    2009/10/02 v1.5 Code for color options of hyperref/bookmark (HO
)
xcolor-patch.sty    2009/10/02 xcolor patch
  pd1enc.def    2009/10/31 v6.79d Hyperref: PDFDocEncoding definition (HO)
etexcmds.sty    2007/12/12 v1.2 Prefix for e-TeX command names (HO)
infwarerr.sty    2007/09/09 v1.2 Providing info/warning/message (HO)
hyperref.cfg    2002/06/06 v1.2 hyperref configuration of TeXLive
kvoptions.sty    2009/08/13 v3.4 Keyval support for LaTeX options (HO)
 
 
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[localghost]

Convert your EPS files to PDF by using the command line tool epstopdf or on "on the fly" by including the epstopdf package. For the latter one you will need shell escape enabled (forum search).

In case the image files are originated in JPG or PNG, keep them in this format and include them as usual. You won't benefit from the advantages of a vector format (EPS, PDF) when converting from a pixel based format (JPG, PNG).

[ptoche]

thanks very much Thorsten, I'll look into epstopdf. At this moment I can live without the vector capabilities of eps (though it can be nice to have at times), will update this thread if I can trace the problem.

Patrick.

P.S. I have tried epstopdf, but unfortunately the conversion of the eps graphics to pdf doesn't work (the converted images are essentially blank). The search for a fix continues ...

[ptoche]

Thorsten gave me a workaround but I'm still searching for a solution with latex->dvips->ps2pdf ...

I uninstalled MiKTeX 2.7 and installed MiKTeX 2.8. Sadly, the problem persists. pdflatex works well, but latex doesn't... Am I really the only one experiencing problems with the handout option in beamer/pgfpages?

By the way, if you're going to install MiKTeX 2.8 on TexNicCenter you want to read this first: http://miktex.org/2.8/issues

Below is the log obtained from a call to the TeXNicCenter latex->dvi build:

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This is pdfTeX, Version 3.1415926-1.40.10 (MiKTeX 2.8) (preloaded format=latex 2009.11.12)  12 NOV 2009 03:08
entering extended mode
**minimal.tex
(C:\TeX\2009EF3440A\minimal.tex
LaTeX2e <2009/09/24>
Babel <v3.8l> and hyphenation patterns for english, dumylang, nohyphenation, ge
rman, ngerman, german-x-2009-06-19, ngerman-x-2009-06-19, french, loaded.
(C:\Users\Patrick\AppData\Roaming\MiKTeX\2.8\tex\latex\beamer\base\beamer.cls
(C:\Users\Patrick\AppData\Roaming\MiKTeX\2.8\tex\latex\beamer\base\beamerbaserc
s.sty
Package: beamerbasercs 2007/01/28 (rcs-revision 1.4)
)
Document Class: beamer 2007/03/11 cvs version 3.07 A class for typesetting pres
entations (rcs-revision 1.70)
(C:\Users\Patrick\AppData\Roaming\MiKTeX\2.8\tex\latex\beamer\base\beamerbasemo
des.sty
Package: beamerbasemodes 2007/01/28 (rcs-revision 1.22)
\beamer@tempbox=\box26
\beamer@tempcount=\count79
\c@beamerpauses=\count80
(C:\Users\Patrick\AppData\Roaming\MiKTeX\2.8\tex\latex\beamer\base\beamerbasede
code.sty
Package: beamerbasedecode 2007/01/28 (rcs-revision 1.20)
\beamer@slideinframe=\count81
\beamer@minimum=\count82
)
\beamer@commentbox=\box27
\beamer@modecount=\count83
)
\headheight=\dimen102
\headdp=\dimen103
\footheight=\dimen104
\sidebarheight=\dimen105
\beamer@tempdim=\dimen106
\beamer@finalheight=\dimen107
\beamer@animht=\dimen108
\beamer@animdp=\dimen109
\beamer@animwd=\dimen110
\beamer@leftmargin=\dimen111
 
 
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[ptoche]

The problem arises when the following

Code: Select all

Code, edit and compile here:

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\usepackage{pgfpages}
\pgfpagesuselayout{2 on 1}[a4paper]
 
 
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Run LaTeX here

is invoked by latex.

Beamer's handout option still works. A workaround therefore consists in using the pdfpages package (not pgfpages) and to create the handouts with the nup option, as shown below

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Code, edit and compile here:

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\documentclass[landscape]{article}
\usepackage{pdfpages}
\usepackage[paperheight=12in,paperwidth=9in]{geometry}
\pagestyle{empty}
\begin{document}
\includepdf[nup=1x2,pages=-,frame=false,noautoscale,scale=1.5,pagecommand={}]{minimal.pdf}
\end{document}
 
 
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Run LaTeX here

This requires an extra step compared to my old ways, so I'll search a little longer just in case I stumble upon a solution...