Problems with the original supplied Sample3.fo file: 1.) A block-container must have top-level children of type %block;. #PCDATA is not allowed as top-level content. I inserted an ... around this content. Similarly, tables are not allowed as a top level element on XSL, though we allow them. 2.) font-style="bold" should be font-weight="bold" I changed the attribute to the proper name. 3.) CRLF between and the first word of text. (XSL-FO technically preserves/collapses this, though most people don't intend it.) I removed this whitespace. 4.) text-decoration=" no-line-through no-underline" There should not be a leading space. I ignore it, but it seems that the XSL-FO generator forgot overline/no-overline. Adobe does not support: 1.) background, border, padding on non-container elements. We do however support border, padding, and background on page and all region-* elements. I have promoted the border and background to the containing "container". 2.) % values or "auto" for height or width on block-container. I have converted them to numbers, approximating the desired values. 3.) absolute-position="absolute" I have converted the block-container to normal positioning.