Corrupt pdf files, any advice.

[Quentin Campbell]

Julian

It appears that the "corrupted PDF file" problem is more extensive and
serious than described below. I said in a message to the list a few days
ago that:

"We are running MS 4.22-5 with SA 2.55 and users are suffering some
serious problems sending/receiving PDF files. The problem seems to have
started with MS 4.22-5. Most (all?) incoming PDF attachments are flagged
as corrupt.

"The problem is even apparent with a local sender who is using Pine on a
Unix system. Zipping the PDF file appears to make no difference. It thus
appears that it is within MS or one of the modules that is processing
the PDF file that the problem occurs." 

I have two sample PDF files that cannot be sent from this site because
of the behaviour of MS or my configuring of it.

Quentin
---
PHONE: +44 191 222 8209    Computing Service, University of Newcastle
FAX:   +44 191 222 8765    Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom, NE1 7RU.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Any opinion expressed above is mine. The University can get its own." 

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Plant, Dean [mailto:dean.plant at ROKE.CO.UK] 
> Sent: 28 July 2003 11:24
> To: MAILSCANNER at JISCMAIL.AC.UK
> Subject: Corrupt pdf files, any advice.
> 
> 
> Julian,
> 
> I hope you had a good holiday.
> 
> I am having a problem with pdf files corrupting when the 
> disclaimer gets added to email passing through the MailScanner.
> 
> RH 8.0
> Mailscanner 4.21-9
> Spamassassin/dcc/razor2
> F-prot 4.1.1
> 
> Our setup is internal MS exchange 5.5 / outlook 2000 clients 
> with Mailscanner as a relay to the internet.
> 
> The problem only occurs when the mail is generated from MS 
> exchange which sometimes encodes pdf files as quoted 
> printable (looking on TechNet shows that MS exchange decides 
> the encoding depending on the pdf file version). If the mail 
> is generated with base64 the pdf file passes through correctly.
> 
> I have found discussions of the problem within mailing lists 
> of similar products to Mailscanner which also seem to suffer 
> from this problem, so I think it must be down to the 
> MIME::QuotedPrint perl module and the ambiguity of the QP 
> standard on different OS's.
> 
http://mailtools.anomy.net/archives/anomy-bugs/2002-06/0003.shtml

As a quick fix I have advised users to zip all pdf files to ensure
correct delivery. I have also discussed the possibility of the MS
exchange people forcing the attachment encoding to base64 but they are
cautious in case something else breaks. I think they are unwilling to
change as it all worked before I put in the Mailscanner relay.

Is there any advice you can offer on this problem. (Suggestions of
smashing up the MS exchange box can not be accepted).

Thanks in advance.

Dean Plant.

--
Registered Office: Roke Manor Research Ltd, Siemens House, Oldbury,
Bracknell, Berkshire. RG12 8FZ

The information contained in this e-mail and any attachments is
confidential to Roke Manor Research Ltd and must not be passed to any
third party without permission. This communication is for information
only and shall not create or change any contractual relationship.