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Fillable form field properties disappear after I open the PDF outside of Acrobat

Forum|Forum|9 months ago
April 29, 2025
4 replies
1590 views

I am using Acrobat to create a fillable form, similar to an order form. There's a series of rows with a numeric quantity which needs to be totalled. I have made the quantity fields numeric with two decimal places and added the calculation for the total. It works fine in Acrobat preview. After I save the form, exit Acrobat, and open the form in my browser it does not work properly. When I open the PDF in Acrobat again, I can see that all the field properties have reverted to the default format and the calculation has been removed.

I am working on a standalone Mac with an up to date OS (Sequoia 15.4.1).

I am using Acrobat on a free trial.

I have opened the PDF using Safari and the Mac's built in preview.

I am being very careful about making sure that I am using the right file, created a folder that contains only that PDF and am consistently using only that file.

Here's what I'm seeing, using a simplified form for the example:

1. Empty Form in Acrobat Preview

2. Completed Form in Acrobat Preview - Everything working as expected, quantities display 2 decimal places and calculated total is accurate.

3. Exit Preview, Clear Form, Save Form, Open outside of Acrobat - The quantity fields do not display decimal places and the total is not calculated.

4. Open Form in Acrobat / Edit / Prepare Form - The total field, which was previously defined as a calculation, has gone back to non calculated and the quantity fields have lost their numeric format.

PDF forms

Correct answer try67

The fault is with whatever other PDF application/plugin you used. There's nothing we (or you) can do about that. Complain to the makers of that viewer and instruct your users to stick with Adobe Reader.

JR Boulay

Community Expert

You can warn browsers users by placing this JavaScript as a Document level script, but it will not run with Safari or Preview:

if(this.external)
 app.alert("If possible, open this form with Acrobat to take full advantage of all its features.");

Acrobate du PDF, InDesigner et Photoshopographe

try67

Community Expert

Because of that reason I prefer to do it the other way around, ie. create a warning in static text, place a (hidden) white-filled field over it, and then use a script to make that field visible when the file is opened, thereby hiding the underlying text. If a non-compliant viewer is used (or if JS is disabled), the script won't execute and the text will remain visible.

JR Boulay

Community Expert

Yes, I do this sometimes but the OP wrote "We have no control over the platform where it will be used. A high rate of of adoption is a critical success factor so any technical recommendations about readers or browser plug ins are likely to create a a perception that the form is hard to use and undermine that goal. "
Some of my clients also have this requirement, and if some users have to do the calculations (or anything else) themselves because it doesn't work in the software they're using, it's better than nothing, and that's just too bad for them.

Also, keep in mind that some of (old) users still prefer to print out the form and return it by snail-mail.

Acrobate du PDF, InDesigner et Photoshopographe

Dave Creamer of IDEAS

Community Expert

Try using Chrome and the Adobe Acrobat extension (NOT the built-in Chrome PDF viewer). See if that makes a difference.

David Creamer: Community Expert (ACI and ACE 1995-2023)

S

sharon_1613Author

Participant

Thanks everyone for all your help. It's starting to feel like this might not be the right technical solution for this problem space. The form will be distributed to a wide audience made up of members of the general public. We have no control over the platform where it will be used. A high rate of of adoption is a critical success factor so any technical recommendations about readers or browser plug ins are likely to create a a perception that the form is hard to use and undermine that goal.

Back to the drawing board!

Dave Creamer of IDEAS

Community Expert

You are looking for a solution that does exist (other than a website form). The best you can do, which is what 90% of sites do that offer PDF forms, is recommend the free Acrobat Reader and a download link. A quick explanation of problems with other readers is common too.

I just tested one of my forms in Preview and it was totally messed up.

David Creamer: Community Expert (ACI and ACE 1995-2023)

JR Boulay

Community Expert

Safari and Preview are the worst software to use with interactive PDFs.
Preview is also known as "the PDF killer", and it's not new: https://khkonsulting.com/2013/06/preview-app-killer-of-pdf-files/

Acrobate du PDF, InDesigner et Photoshopographe

Nesa Nurani

Community Expert

The macOS Preview app can corrupt PDFs that contain scripts, embedded fonts, or interactive elements like forms or digital signatures. Try not to save file when using 'Preview'.

S

sharon_1613Author

Participant

I created the file from scratch, never entered preview, and got the same results. The format properties and calculation were removed from the file after I opened it outside of Acrobat.

try67

Correct answer

Community Expert

The fault is with whatever other PDF application/plugin you used. There's nothing we (or you) can do about that. Complain to the makers of that viewer and instruct your users to stick with Adobe Reader.

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