fonts - Embedding pdf in illustrator

So, I'm using adobe illustrator for creating vectorial figures, mainly for graphs.

In illustrator, creating graphs is not so well implemented, so I'm using another tool to make them (e.g. R, xmgrace, pyx, mathematica), and them export as PDF and "place" them in the illustrator, for further modifications and adjustments easier to to in illustrator.

There are two "types" of placing: either a link to the original pdf, or embed the pdf in the illustrator, converting its data to illustrator's "notation".

When embedding, it is frequent that the illustrator does not have the fonts of the PDF (e.g. LaTeX symbols), and thus screws all the symbols/text of the original pdf during embedding.

I currently know one way of "solving" this for images, as pointed out here: by converting the pdf to a postscript without fonts, using (on Mac):

gs -sDEVICE=pswrite -dNOCACHE -sOutputFile=nofont-Myfile.ps -q -dbatch -dNOPAUSE Myfile.pdf -c quit  

For simple formulas, this seems to be equivalent to export a formula from LaTeXit as "PDF w.o.f." (without font) instead of just PDF (this utility appears during Drag of the formula)

However, for images, this requires one step on the process (the terminal command) just to create a new file, for them passing from pdf to Illustrator.

Does anyone knows a better solution than this one?

Answer

When embedding, it is frequent that the illustrator does not have the fonts of the PDF (e.g. LaTeX symbols), and thus screws all the symbols/text of the original pdf during embedding.

This seems to be your main problem, correct?

Instead of opening the PDF file in Illustrator, place the PDF file. While the PDF you placed is still selected, go to:

Object > Flatten Transparency > CLICK "Convert all text to outlines"

This will take care of any font issues you have with your pdf's and allow you to continue to edit in Illustrator.