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Participant
December 4, 2017
Answered

PDF form won’t save content

  • December 4, 2017
  • 4 replies
  • 33186 views

Hi all. I hope you can help me with this one.

I've created a simple PDF-form with some text fields to be filled out. The problem is that the ones I sent it to say that they can't save it with the content they fill in and they can't even print it. Any ideas to what I'm doing wrong? They are opening it in Adobe Reader.

I teTed the pdf in the exact version they’re using and it works fine on my Mac.

    Correct answer steve_k._7203

    Looks like they patched the "solution" highlighted for the thread.

    I've found two other solutions. For the first one, using Chrome, navigate to url chrome://flags and enable PDF XFA support. Then open the PDF via the Chrome browser.

    If the solution above doesn't work for you, the second solution it is an convoluted one that took me hours to figure out. I will tell you what worked for me on Mac.

    If you don't have a printer connected to your computer, add a fake printer (aka one with dummy values like an IP address of 0.0.0.0). Not sure how to do on Windows, but for Mac, you go to Settings > Printers & Scanners > Add Printer, Scanner, or Fax... I'm sure there are tutorials on YouTube for both if needed.

    Then on Adobe Acrobat, print the document to that printer. Open Terminal (Mac) or Command Prompt (Windows). Now this part if where it gets a little complicated. Enter the following command to see what print jobs have been issued:

    sudo ls -lh /var/spool/cups/

    You will likely be prompted for you password. After you type your password and press enter, you will see something like :

    user@KW2CRGQYPL ~ % sudo ls -lh /var/spool/cups/

    Password:
    total 21904
    -rw------- 1 root _lp 2.1K Oct 20 21:57 c00001
    -rw------- 1 root _lp 2.4K Oct 20 22:58 c00002
    drwxrwx--- 9 root _lp 288B Oct 20 23:15 cache
    -rw-r----- 1 root _lp 2.1M Oct 20 21:54 d00001-001
    -rw-r----- 1 root _lp 2.1M Oct 20 22:58 d00002-001

    What you want to look for is the file that corresponds with the time that you pressed print that begins with the letter 'd.' To copy that file as a normal pdf to your desktop, enter the command:

    sudo cp /var/spool/cups/d00001-001 ~/Desktop/file.pdf

    Keep in mind to change the "d00001-001" value in the command above to the one that you actually want.

    file.pdf should be in your Desktop folder!

    4 replies

    steve_k._7203Correct answer
    Participant
    October 21, 2025

    Looks like they patched the "solution" highlighted for the thread.

    I've found two other solutions. For the first one, using Chrome, navigate to url chrome://flags and enable PDF XFA support. Then open the PDF via the Chrome browser.

    If the solution above doesn't work for you, the second solution it is an convoluted one that took me hours to figure out. I will tell you what worked for me on Mac.

    If you don't have a printer connected to your computer, add a fake printer (aka one with dummy values like an IP address of 0.0.0.0). Not sure how to do on Windows, but for Mac, you go to Settings > Printers & Scanners > Add Printer, Scanner, or Fax... I'm sure there are tutorials on YouTube for both if needed.

    Then on Adobe Acrobat, print the document to that printer. Open Terminal (Mac) or Command Prompt (Windows). Now this part if where it gets a little complicated. Enter the following command to see what print jobs have been issued:

    sudo ls -lh /var/spool/cups/

    You will likely be prompted for you password. After you type your password and press enter, you will see something like :

    user@KW2CRGQYPL ~ % sudo ls -lh /var/spool/cups/

    Password:
    total 21904
    -rw------- 1 root _lp 2.1K Oct 20 21:57 c00001
    -rw------- 1 root _lp 2.4K Oct 20 22:58 c00002
    drwxrwx--- 9 root _lp 288B Oct 20 23:15 cache
    -rw-r----- 1 root _lp 2.1M Oct 20 21:54 d00001-001
    -rw-r----- 1 root _lp 2.1M Oct 20 22:58 d00002-001

    What you want to look for is the file that corresponds with the time that you pressed print that begins with the letter 'd.' To copy that file as a normal pdf to your desktop, enter the command:

    sudo cp /var/spool/cups/d00001-001 ~/Desktop/file.pdf

    Keep in mind to change the "d00001-001" value in the command above to the one that you actually want.

    file.pdf should be in your Desktop folder!

    AnandSri
    Community Manager
    Community Manager
    November 12, 2025

    Hello @steve_k._7203

     

    I hope you are doing well, and thank you for sharing the steps that worked for you. This will help other community users facing a similar issue.

    Please feel free to reach out if you need any assistance.

     

    Regards,

    Anand Sri | Acrobat Community Team

    Barb Binder
    Community Expert
    Community Expert
    December 5, 2017

    I'll move this to the Adobe Reader forum for you.

    ~Barb

    ~Barb at Rocky Mountain Training
    Participant
    December 5, 2017

    Thanks

    Participant
    July 24, 2020

    I have the same problem with people using the form I created.  My version of Acrobat DC doesn't have "save as other" choices.  It only lists pdf as an available save.  Is there another solution?

     

    marliton
    Community Expert
    Community Expert
    December 5, 2017

    Hi. Try this with your form using Acrobat: File > Save As Other > Reader Extended PDF > Enable More Tools (Includes Form Fill-in & Save).

    Marlon Ceballos
    Participant
    December 5, 2017

    This worked beautifully. Thank you!

    BobLevine
    Community Expert
    Community Expert
    December 4, 2017

    You’ll get a lot more help in the Acrobat forum.

    Participant
    January 28, 2025

    Really?  The discussion tree above you directs us to the "Acrobat Reader Discussion."  Can't get more precise than that.  And if this isn't the forum, pray tell, what use is this thread?