Can't print with the brand new Broderbund Print Shop for macOS

Question

Can't print with the brand new Broderbund Print Shop for macOS

I'm asking here on behalf of a relative because Broderbund tech support has been unhelpful. Like many, she has been waiting for The Print Shop to be upgraded to a 64-bit app and has had to keep her computer on 10.14.x. Broderbund has finally upgraded The Print Shop, replacing the MacKiev version with one comparable to Windows. Broderbund's website (https://www.broderbund.com/the-print-shop-for-macintosh) states that it works with 10.13 and above.

When attempting to print, my relative is getting an error: "DisplayPDF cannot be opened because of a problem. Check with the developer to make sure DisplayPDF works with this version of macOS." Further down it states that this is "X86-64 Native" which I assume means it's 64 bit. Of course that won't work on 10.14.x.

Looking at the DisplayPDF app in the Finder it has the circle/slash icon indicating it's not properly installed. Get Info states it is version 1.0 and is from IMSI. There is very little information about this helper app online but MacUpdater (https://macupdater.net/app_updates/appinfo/com.DisplayPDF.app/index.html) states that 1.0 requires 10.15 which makes sense if it's 64 bit.

In my opinion, Broderbund goofed when they said this is compatible with 10.13. Has anybody else tried the new Print Shop yet and do you agree that there's no way this is going to work until my relative upgrades her computer to 10.15 or 11.x? She is loathe to upgrade the OS given how dependent she is on Print Shop for her workflow but I see no way around it.

Posted on Mar 5, 2021 9:58 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

Michael Loader Author

Level 1

109 points

Mar 9, 2021 5:50 AM in response to Michael Loader

Broderbund/Encore support has now confirmed that the DisplayPDF helper application will not work on 10.13 or 10.14 as they advertised on their website for The Print Shop, so 10.15 is effectively the minimum system requirements now. I’ve asked them to update their website.

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Answer 2

a brody

Level 10

84,011 points

Mar 5, 2021 10:35 AM in response to Michael Loader

Do you meet all the requirements?

Runs on Catalina and Big Sur

• OS X 10.13 to 11.1 (onwards)

• Intel® Core™ 2 Duo 2 GHz or better (2.4 GHz recommended) processor

• 2 GB RAM (4 GB or more recommended)

• 64 MB Video RAM (256 MB video RAM recommended)

• DVD-ROM drive

• Available Hard Disk Space: Install requires about 1 GB. Downloadable clip art and templates can require up to 36 GB of hard drive space.

• Broadband Internet connection required

• Keyboard and mouse

Additional Information:

• Administrator privileges are required to properly install the program on Mac® OS X.

• The user is responsible for all Internet access fees and phone charges.

System Settings:

• Monitor Resolution: 1152 x 864 or higher

Recommended Additional Equipment:

• Printer

• Digital Camera

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Answer 3

Mar 5, 2021 10:45 AM in response to a brody

Yes, her system meets all the requirements. No, I'm not going to remotely install a separate partition on a very non-technical person's computer, but nor should it be necessary. The program is advertised to work on 10.13+ but it requires DisplayPDF which works only on 10.15+.

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Answer 4

a brody

Level 10

84,011 points

Mar 5, 2021 1:32 PM in response to Michael Loader

Given that information, you need to contact Broderbund support to let them know something is not being employed right in their program.

What may be of interest, and may be helpful is the fact that Apple's development software has a current minimum of 10.14.4.

Thus that could be the minimum system they are able to test their software on.

See if upgrading just to that version makes a difference. You won't lose 32 bit application capability using it.

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Answer 5

Mar 6, 2021 7:09 AM in response to a brody

Oh yes, we've been in contact with Broderbund/Encore. Not particularly helpful.

I think I'll test it by installing it on my own computer which has the latest OS. If it works with that I'll advise my relative that it will work if she upgrades. But I'll keep after Broderbund in case it really is an issue with a new app that has the wrong system requirements listed.

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Answer 6

Mar 13, 2021 7:01 AM in response to a brody

Broderbund won't/can't include the older version of The Print Shop on their website - there was some sort of dispute between them and MacKiev which created the previous Mac versions. I believe MacKiev may still be selling the older version.

Bad news for anybody hoping that Broderbund has finally given them what they wanted. The new Print Shop for macOS won't open the files created by the old MacKiev version. The new one opens .psmp and hte old one saves .psf. The applications share just the name. Also, this is the most un-Mac-like application I've ever seen. It would be difficult to deviate more from Apple's standards.

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Answer 7

a brody

Level 10

84,011 points

Mar 5, 2021 10:36 AM in response to a brody

You can if you have space create partition just to run Catalina or Big Sur without losing data. But backup your data regardless.

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Answer 8

dialabrain

Level 10

124,907 points

Mar 5, 2021 10:37 AM in response to Michael Loader

FWIW, there seems to be some confusion. macOS Mojave 10.14.x supports both 32&64 bit apps. It's the last version that does. Catalina 10.15 and later are 64bit only.

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Answer 9

Mar 5, 2021 12:55 PM in response to Michael Loader

Apple continues to employ Display Postscript (also known as Display PDF) since the very first release of OS X in March 2001. It is not restricted solely to macOS Catalina.

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Answer 10

a brody

Level 10

84,011 points

Mar 9, 2021 6:03 AM in response to Michael Loader

I would also recommend they include the older version of the software on their website for those who are stuck with 32 bit applications.

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Can't print with the brand new Broderbund Print Shop for macOS

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