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defaultityv2w9yg1wu
Participant
July 31, 2023
Question

Indesign PDF interactive Windows/Mac

  • July 31, 2023
  • 3 replies
  • 320 views

Hi,

 

I have built a form in indesign. I built this on a MAC.
This is sent to all our customers.

 

Now a customer has completed this form on a mac, and my colleague opens it on a windows. On her Windows computer, the fields contain completely different answers. This is because the customer has filled it in on a mac.

How can I solve the fact that the same answers are visible on a mac and windows.
It's a mystery to me...

    This topic has been closed for replies.

    3 replies

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    defaultityv2w9yg1wuAuthor
    Participant
    September 11, 2023

    Hi to you all.

     

    I think I've got the solution for the problem. It appears that, with our forms, some third party readers have problems with mandatory fileds.

     

    I've removed the mandatory settings on some fields in our form, and now the problem does not occur anymore, as far as I can see.

     

    Thanks for thinking with us, and hopefully, if any of you come across the same challenge, this will help

     

    Gr,

     

    Erik

    BobLevine
    Community Expert
    BobLevineCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    September 11, 2023

    All you've done is fix one potential problem. My original advice stands.

    If you can't control the reader application, stop using PDF forms. They are not reliable unless Acrobat or Reader on desktop computers is used.

    D
    defaultityv2w9yg1wuAuthor
    Participant
    September 11, 2023

    Yes, you're right about that one. Soon, we don't need the forms anymore, so than the biggest problem is solved. My advice to everybody here is, to fill them out in Adobe, and use no other PDF editor. 

     

    Thanks for your reply.

    BobLevine
    Community Expert
    BobLevineCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    July 31, 2023

    If you need forms filled out and returned why not just use a Google form or a proper HTML form on your website? There are way too many PDF readers incapable of working with interactive PDF properly and it has nothing to do with Mac vs Windows machines.

     

    It's about browsers, third party readers and mobile devices.

    Derek Cross
    Community Expert
    Derek CrossCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    July 31, 2023

    It should work on both a Mac and Windows – Presumably, you exported the document from InDesign as an interactive PDF and fine-tuned it in AcrobatPro and used system fonts.

    Check that all users are using Acrobat Reader to complete the form.

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