PDF Invoices Emailed From QuickBooks Pro are Blank or Contain Strange Characters

Hey there, @IH8QckBks.

I appreciate the details that you've provided. I can share some troubleshooting steps to get this emailing invoices in PDF issue sorted out. 

We haven't received any similar cases reported to us. To better isolate this issue we can try reinstalling the Microsoft XPS Document Writer to fix this issue. This is pre-installed on Windows 10, 8/8.1 and 7 machines which plays an important role with emailing transactions in QuickBooks.

There are two ways of reinstalling it. First is to reinstall Microsoft Document Writer using an existing port. 

Here's how:

1. Open the printer's window by clicking the Windows Start icon. 
2. Type Printer. For Windows 7: Enter Control Printers in the search field and press Enter.

Once done, reinstall the Microsoft Document Writer by following these steps:

1. From the Devices and Printers window, click Add Printer.
2. Choose Add a Local Printer then select Use an Existing Port.
3. Select XPS Port then Next.
4. In the manufacturer list, choose Microsoft.
5. On the right side, choose the latest version of the XPS document writer and click Next.
6. Choose the driver currently installed then click Next and Finish.

If the XPS Port is not available, let's perform the second option to reinstall Microsoft Document Writer using a new port.

To do that:

1. Click on Add a Printer.
2. Choose Add a Local Printer then select Create a New Port.
3. Select Local Port and Next.
4. Type in XPS Port then click OK.
5. Choose Microsoft.
6. Select the latest version of the XPS Document Writer then click Next.
7. Select Use the Driver that is Currently Installed and Next.
8. Printer name should be Microsoft XPS Document Writer. Click Next.
9. Select the option Do Not Share Printer then Next.
10. Uncheck the box for Set As Default Printer. Click Finish.

For more details about these steps, please refer to these articles: 

• Troubleshoot PDF and Print problems with QuickBooks Desktop.
• Reinstall Microsoft XPS Document Writer in Windows.

However, if the issue persists after trying these process, I'd suggest reaching out to our Customer Care Team. They have the proper tools like screen-sharing that will check on set up and verify what's causing the issue. To reach them, please follow the contact details found in this link: Contact the QuickBooks Desktop Customer Support Team.

These resources should help you fix your PDF issues.

Please let me know how it goes. I'm always here to provide assistance with any QuickBooks concern. Have a great weekend!

See updated response.

I can report that I too have had the exact same issue (was using Adobe MyriadPro) and had to change the font to something different. In doing so numerous fonts that I regularly use would not work and gave the same "blank" invoice when emailing (printing, or preview, or print to file all worked fine = it is just when emailing the invoice would the attached PDF be blank).  One font that worked was Corbel.

It would be great if someone at Intuit would test this and let us know if this is an isolated issue or widespread.

Thanks for the font substitution solution...!!  I really hate having to call in and waste a bunch of time... but hey.... at least the font substitution helped with hair loss!

I have this same issue, however, I do not have the luxury of simply changing to a different font.

I use a Open Type font for our company name and on all forms we use. I have been able to determine that the problem with PDF docs from Quickbooks are only affected when using Open Type fonts...True Type fonts work fine. It looks as though Quickbooks uses the Amyuni PDF creater when you select print then save as pdf or even select email then purchase order for example. If I change my printer using the printer setup and select the adobe pdf printer then goto print then purchase order, It works and displays as it should with the Open Type font. Please help me solve this!

I have already been on the phone with 1st and 2nd level support and they haven't been able to give me a solution.

Let me help you sort this out, @waynewnp.

A misaligned manual typewriter may cause a garbled text or a corrupt appearance on emailed customize invoices.

To resolve this, let’s change the font of text in the invoice:

1. Go to the Basic Customization.
2. Choose the Layout Designer button.
3. Right-click a field that has the corrupted text, then select Properties.
4. Click Font then change the font.
5. Adjust the font size and style.
6. Repeat this process for all applicable fields where the text had a strange appearance in the PDF.
7. Select Ok.
8. Save an invoice as a PDF or email it.

To learn more about using customizing sales form templates, you can refer to these articles:

• Troubleshoot common issues when using and customizing templates
• Use and customize form templates

Feel free to visit us here in the Community if you have other questions. I’m always here to help.

Thanks for all of the above information.  Once I knew the problem, I was able to find a resolution.

I fixed this problem by converting all of my OTF fonts to TTF fonts, installing the new TTF fonts , and then uninstalling the OTF fonts (this last step is critical).  Relaunching QuickBooks and sending a test email resulted in a normal looking PDF attachment.

There are numerous websites that can do this font conversion.

I haven't fully tested the impact of this on other applications that use our custom fonts, so there may be fallout.  Just be aware this could be a thing.

This is another example of QuickBooks forcing people into their world.  frustration++

I am having this same issue, however this only happens when I print checks, both payroll and checks. It happens radomly but is very frustrating and is wasting alot of checks. The odd thing is when this happens and I hit print, the check is printed with randomly weird characters and just keeps printing page after page. It starts with printing @Pjl SET JOBATTER= "OS Version = 10.0.22000 and the pages after that are printed with random characters such as smiley faces, hearts, #s, etc. 

Any help would be appreciated as the support desk has not been able to resolve. 

Let's resolve the error you're having to print your checks perfectly, @CWA7704.

There may be some minor data issues with your company file that's why you're having problems when printing your checks. Try running the Rebuild and Verify Utility tool to fix possible data damage on your company file.

Please follow the steps below:

1. Open your company file again.
2. Go to the File menu, then select Utilities and choose Rebuild Data.
3. Click OK in the QuickBooks Information window.
4. Wait until the repair is done. Then, click OK.
5. Then, go back to the File menu and select Utilities and choose Verify Data.
6. Click OK if QuickBooks doesn't find any problems. Or Rebuild Now if it finds issues with your company file.

If you still get the same issue, let's try running the QuickBooks File Doctor to fix common issues. 

1. Open your QuickBooks Tool Hub.
2. Select Company File Issues.
3. Click Quick Fix my File.
4. Choose OK when it completes and launch your QuickBooks.

I'm adding this article for more troubleshooting steps: Fix data damage on your QuickBooks Desktop company file.

If the error persists, follow the next solutions outlined in this article: Troubleshoot PDF and Print problems with QuickBooks Desktop. 

Let me know if you need further help printing your checks or anything else. I'm always here ready to assist. Have a wonderful day!

We had a similar issue with Quickbooks 2022 Enterprise that we run in an RDS environment. We changed all custom email templates fonts to Times New Roman, and that fixed characters, but the column formatting was still way off.  We tried the XPS writer fix and running the Quickbooks Tool Hub PDF fix, no difference. 

The final fix was to upgrade the RDS server from Windows Server 2016 Datacenter to Windows Server 2019 Datacenter. All pdf issues resolved after that.

I figured out that Quick books uses Microsoft XPS Document Writer. However, if you're using a font that XPS Document Writer "doesn't like" it will not print it.

Step 1:

Press the windows button and type: Printers and Scanners & click on it

Step 2:

A new window will show up.

Scroll down until you find the printer called “Windows XPS Document Writer”

Click on it and the click on “Manage”

Step 3:

On the new windows click “Printer Properties”

Step 4:

On the new window click on “Change Properties”

**(Note if you don’t have local admin privileges it will request an Admin username and password. If you don’t know what these credentials are or if it doesn’t work for you contact your system administrator

If you don’t select Change Properties and click on the Advanced tab all the option will be grayed out and you will not be able to make any changes to the XPS driver)**

Once you clicked “Change Properties” a new window that is similar will show up. Click on the “Advanced” tab. On this window we need to change the driver that XPS uses to generate files.

Step 5:

Once you click on the Driver that says Microsoft XPS Document Writer v4 a list of drivers will show up from here make sure you select Microsoft Print to PDF then click “Apply” and “OK”

Step 6:

Test and check on QuickBooks to see if your “Save as PDF” feature works. I hope this helps!