PDF document generated using itext# opens in Foxit but not Acrobat

Question

My application is generating PDF documents using itext#. The files open fine and display correctly in Foxit Reader but in Adobe Acrobat it errors with:

There was an error processing page. There was a problem reading this document (109).

Why will the file open in one but not the other?

Answer 1

This was my code:

        var document = new Document(_pageSize, PageMargin, PageMargin, PageMargin, PageMargin);
        var writer = PdfWriter.GetInstance(document, output);
        writer.CloseStream = false;
        writer.PageEvent = new Footer(HeaderFont, _defaultFont.BaseFont, report.Name);
        document.Open();

        if (report.Results.Any())
            document.Add(CreateTable(report.Results, report.Types, report.RootType));
        else
            document.Add(new Paragraph("No results", _defaultFont));

        writer.Close();

After adding the line document.Close(); before the writer.Close(); line, it now shows in both Foxit and Acrobat.

I guess a key thing with itext# is to be very careful that objects are closed properly. This probably reflects it is a ported library and not a library built for .NET from the ground up.

Answer 2

Some pdf readers are more tolerant in various areas than others. Foxit probably ignores bits in a pdf that it doesn't support. Different versions of acrobat choke on different things, just to muddy the waters. Without seeing the PDF in question, all we've got is guesswork.