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iseontario
Participant
April 28, 2017
Question

PDF fillable forms compatibility issues for MAC users?

  • April 28, 2017
  • 2 replies
  • 12192 views

Hi there,

I'm hoping someone can provide insight or a solution to an ongoing problem we are having in our office.

We work in student exchanges and we have our participants fill out an in-depth multi page fillable form that includes check boxes, text fields and buttons with Java scripts to insert photos. The form seems to work fine for most PC users (with the exception of those who have zero computer aptitude). But for MAC users there are almost always issues!!

We know a form is being submitted by a MAC user right away as the fonts change, the photo fields are suddenly voided out (JavaScript settings are gone), check boxes are unmarked and the list goes on! We end up spending a ton of time fixing these forms for our participants- time that could be better spent doing other work!

It is is very frustrating for all involved! This software is supposed to be compatible for both MAC and PC users but we just haven't found that to be the case.

Does anyone know of any possible solution to this?

This topic has been closed for replies.

2 replies

JR Boulay
Community Expert
Community Expert
June 19, 2024

The easiest way is to place your form in a PDF Portfolio.

Otherwise you can use these great tips (copy-paste the URLs in Google Translate if you can't read French):

https://www.abracadabrapdf.net/ressources-et-tutos/js-et-formulaires-ressources/forcer-utilisation-pdf-avec-un-vrai-pdf-reader

https://www.abracadabrapdf.net/ressources-et-tutos/js-et-formulaires-ressources/forcer-utilisation-pdf-avec-acrobat

Acrobate du PDF, InDesigner et Photoshopographe
Legend
April 28, 2017

The problem is likely to be this. Macs come with apps ("Preview" and the web browser "Safari") which can view PDF files and seem to fill forms. BUT THEY DO IT WRONG. The forms are bad as you've seen. Your Mac users need to open the files in Acrobat Reader DC - just installing it isn't enough, they have to make sure it is used.

Known Participant
January 2, 2019

Hi all

So if I understand this correctly, only with a paid version of Acrobat will the forms work on Mac or is there a free downloadable version for it ?

Thank you

try67
Community Expert
Community Expert
January 2, 2019

You can use the free Adobe (Acrobat) Reader.