Skip to main content
J
Jason1985
Known Participant
June 21, 2023
Question

PDF form field issue with Apple Preview software

  • June 21, 2023
  • 2 replies
  • 784 views

Hi,

 

I  have created a new business mileage claim form, hoowever when opening with apple preview the pdf fields namely the drop downs at the top of the form are inverted somewhat, yet they open perfectly fine on windows system.

 

Can anyone help or advise around this, I have searched google but can't seem to find any guidance on rectifying this, I have tried saving as an optimized version etc to no avail. (image attached for reference).

 

Thanks

    This topic has been closed for replies.

    2 replies

    T
    Test Screen Name
    Legend
    June 21, 2023

    I'd go further: Preview is well known for damaging forms, so even if it seems to fill the form OK what you get back could be useless. Do NOT use it. Ensure your end users are instructed not to use it. 

      Document Geek
      Community Expert
      Document GeekCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      June 21, 2023

      Preview does not handle interactive fields the same way that Acrobat does. What program are you using when viewing this on a Windows system?

       

      If you want predictable behavior with interactive PDFs, I reccomend that you open them in either Acrobat or Acrobat Reader. It's not so much anoperating system issue.

        Bevi Chagnon - PubCom.com
        Bevi Chagnon - PubCom.com
        Legend
        June 21, 2023

        Agree with what @Document Geek said.

        Apple Preview is not compliant with the PDF standards, and one area that it misses is forms. It's hit or miss whether form fields will function correctly in Preview.

         

        Open the PDF form in Adobe Reader (the free version) or a full copy of Acrobat Standard or Pro. Also there are hundreds of other vendors of PDF-processing programs, such as FoxIt and NitroPDF. But Adobe is the gold standard because 1) they invented the file format, and 2) they are a leading voice in the standards-writing committees for all kinds of PDF files.

         

        |    Bevi Chagnon   |  Designer, Trainer, & Technologist for Accessible Documents ||    PubCom |    Classes & Books for Accessible InDesign, PDFs & MS Office |
        Terms & ConditionsAccessibility statement
        Using the community Terms of use Privacy Cookie preferences Do not sell or share my personal information ad choicesAdChoices