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juliae84157296
Participant
April 15, 2015
Answered

Deleting previously placed text in Fill and Sign

  • April 15, 2015
  • 5 replies
  • 141299 views

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.

Correct answer Josh_Corey

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

5 replies

G
Grumbleslops
Participant
April 29, 2019

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.

    AkanchhaS8194121
    AkanchhaS8194121
    Legend
    May 3, 2019

    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

      A
      AndyQ
      Known Participant
      May 3, 2019

      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)

        iceph03nix
        iceph03nix
        Participant
        March 5, 2019

        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.

          ryanl59896268
          ryanl59896268
          Participant
          July 31, 2017

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

            A
            AndyQ
            Known Participant
            November 16, 2018

            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?

              E
              eddieo35372991
              Participant
              January 25, 2019

              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.

                carolm31076458
                carolm31076458
                Participating Frequently
                April 16, 2015

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

                Carol

                  J
                  Community Manager
                  Josh_CoreyCommunity ManagerCorrect answer
                  Community Manager
                  April 15, 2015

                  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

                  J
                  juliae84157296Author
                  Participant
                  April 28, 2015

                  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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