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Tricky10
Participant
July 9, 2020
Question

HELP: Form field text disappears when users save/reopen fillable PDF

  • July 9, 2020
  • 2 replies
  • 1872 views

I build a ton of forms using InDesign and then Acrobat Pro DC to refine the fillable fields, but this is the only one that has random fields just "empty" when the user saves and re-opens. It happens when users complete the form, save and then send the PDF in a (secure) email between different providers who are all working on the document. 

 

Other than a clear form button at the top, I can't find any associated script that would cause fields to be cleared. Any ideas why this might happen and what I can do as the form builder to avoid it?

(I've attached the INDD file and both a clean version of the form and the extended version. I also linked below to a blank version of the form below. Unfortunately, examples I have that are filled out have  private/protected data, so I can't share them.)

Form that doesn't erases field content when people save/reopen 

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2 replies

Joel Geraci
Community Expert
Joel GeraciCommunity Expert
Community Expert
July 9, 2020

Are the participants using Preview on macOS or iOS to fill the form? If so, that's a known issue with those PDF tools. The fields are not blank, they just appear to be. You can confirm this by clicking into the field if you see value when the field has focus but it goes blank when you click out, you know that's the issue.

Amal.
Amal.
Legend
July 9, 2020

Hi there

 

We are sorry for the trouble. As described the form field text disappears when the user saves the PDF form and send it to a different user over the email.

 

As mentioned, the PDF form has a clear form button at the top. It might be a possibility that when the form us sent via secured email to a different user the button is resetting the form. Please try to remove this button and check.

 

For more information you may also take a look at a similar discussion from an old thread https://community.adobe.com/t5/acrobat-reader/form-filled-text-disappears-when-opening-pdf-document/td-p/8716350?page=1 and see if that helps.

 

Let us know how it goes

 

Regards

Amal

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