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Deleting previously placed text in Fill and Sign

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How do I go back and delete something I typed into a text box previously in Fill and Sign? When I place the cursor over the text, it just creates a new text box.

Fill & Sign

J

Josh_CoreyCorrect answer

Inspiring

Hi;

If you are in https://cloud.acrobat.com/fillsign and have opened the filename.form file as opposed to a filename_filled.pdf file then the text fields previously added should be editable.

If however you are in https://cloud.acrobat.com/fillsign and have opened the filename_filled.pdf file as opposed to the filename.form file then that would be expected, once the form is saved as a PDF the fields are "flattened" and no longer editable.

This FAQ on "What is a .form file" may be helpful: What is a ".form" file?

Another option is that you are using Acrobat DC or Acrobat Reader DC and you have Signed the form and Saved changes. When working in Acrobat/Reader if you add a signature or initials to a form and then save the changes, the fields are flattened and no longer editable.

I hope this is helpful information, let me know if you have more questions.

Thanks,

Josh

G

Grumbleslops

Participant

Yep, same here. I had a 39-page form. Took a day to fill out. I then "signed" it, and went back to make some changes to some fields a few days later. Wouldn't let me.

I am absolutely ******* beyond furious right now. You wouldn't believe how ******* angry I am right now. Adobe - you lot have cost me a lot of time and money.

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AkanchhaS8194121

Legend

Hi Grumbleslops

Signing is a final process, when you sign your document it gets locked. Signing makes document secure, once done then document becomes uneditable.

Its a document's designed behavior, not the application. Your document has certain security and its designed in a way that once its filled and signed it can not be edited.

Thanks,

Akanchha

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A

AndyQ

Known Participant

That may be the way it's designed, but It's a ridiculous design decision that can only cause frustration. In the real world, I've never met a paper form that can't be edited/corrected, so why have a PDF form "locked" once you add a signature? Having to re-fill hundreds of fields again to correct a date, number or tiny details just because it was signed is a sure-fire way to upset PDF users. It's not like it helps security in most situations - the document can still be edited manually as graphic objects, it can be deleted and filled again; most PDF security is pretty easily cracked etc. It just makes life frustrating for ordinary users. I would challenge anyone to fill out a complex form without making at least one tiny mistake, whether that be the data itself or the language (grammar, spelling, punctuation)

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iceph03nix

Participant

Well this sucks. Just spent a while creating a form, had it saved, and went to test it to see how the fill and sign worked out. Now I have to redo the whole damn project because when I did the sign it saved over the orignal. What shitty programmer thought that was a good idea. I get protecting the form, but it should try to save as a different file name or something instead of defaulting to overwrite the orginal.

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ryanl59896268

Participant

Flattening the fields is so stupid, terrible parasitic feature. I need to edit what I just filled in. WTF

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A

AndyQ

Known Participant

Exactly. I mean, WTF? You fill in a form and sign it. Oh dear! Made a mistake, I'll just change that telephone number.....nope. Can't even select it as a graphic, object, bitmap whatever and delete it. Why? WTF are were they thinking? How is this any better than pen and paper?

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eddieo35372991

Participant

Totally agree, this is the stupidest feature I've ever heard of. I now have to go back and re-fill in an 18 page form, instead of simply changing 3 numbers. What a waste of time and energy. I may as well have printed it off, filled it by hand and posted it.

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carolm31076458

Participating Frequently

You are talking to the wrong person--I haven't a clue what you're talking about. Sorry and good luck.

Carol

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J

Josh_CoreyCorrect answer

Inspiring

Hi;

If you are in https://cloud.acrobat.com/fillsign and have opened the filename.form file as opposed to a filename_filled.pdf file then the text fields previously added should be editable.

If however you are in https://cloud.acrobat.com/fillsign and have opened the filename_filled.pdf file as opposed to the filename.form file then that would be expected, once the form is saved as a PDF the fields are "flattened" and no longer editable.

This FAQ on "What is a .form file" may be helpful: What is a ".form" file?

Another option is that you are using Acrobat DC or Acrobat Reader DC and you have Signed the form and Saved changes. When working in Acrobat/Reader if you add a signature or initials to a form and then save the changes, the fields are flattened and no longer editable.

I hope this is helpful information, let me know if you have more questions.

Thanks,

Josh

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J

juliae84157296Author

Participant

Thank you Josh! Yeah, I had done something stupid...downloaded page 1 with my filled in information, added a sheet, then hoped to edit what I'd typed on pg 1. Doesn't make sense. Thanks for your help with figuring this out!

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