the addition of an 82KB png to my layout is increasing the output pdf file size from 750KB to over 4.5MB!!

can any body off any suggestions or solutions?

I need to make sure here that adding means insert via the menu in layout mode and not something just pasted into the layout?

Next issue is that images really is the heal of achilles for pdf.s and you perhaps need to apply an applescripted folderaction utilizing this program to slim your output:

http://www.apagoinc.com/prod_home.php?prod_id=30

--sd

Yes inserting as a picture via the menu.

Thanks for the link, cant quite justify the $35 dollars right now.

What I cant understand is that the excel sheet I'm replicating in this layout produces a pdf of only 336K.

Even if I size the original uncompressed graphic to a whole page in preview and print a pdf from there the file size is no more than 350K

It seems FMP is generating a whole load of unnecessary data somewhere

What I cant understand is that the excel sheet I'm replicating in this layout produces a pdf of only 336K.

The question is if the image can be vectorized or fails to do so. Everything native is in vectors but if you "pollute" with something rich, will attempt be made to make various fonts (yes font types) sets build the difficult image.

Now I seem to remember this was more of problem in the past when the feature was introduced with version 8 I think, later version gives a slimmer yield.

But eventhough you seems abiding to rules, would you perhaps need a reminder or two and watch this excellent movie:

However could it be you are penny wise but pound foolish here, and the real requirement is something in this direction instead:

http://www.pdfmanipulator.com/

--sd

Now that I've found some time to return to this......

Watched the video, thanks. All common sense to me.

Re ran my script and actually bothered to open the outputted pdf file.......... Turns out an error in my script was sending every record to the output file not just 1!!

Once I'd fixed that adding the image was inconsequential, as it should've been all along!!

Thanks for your help Søren!

Hope you don't feel my stupidity wasted your time.

No not at all, I actually feel a bit stupid for taking it granted you scripting was flawless, which mine hardly ever is ... and actually needs some debugging to make work - each time.

--sd