Acrobat Pro 2017: When I combine a fillable form with another PDF, fields disappear after saving the combined PDF. I don't want to create a PDF Portfolio, because I don't think anyone can digitally sign. There was no problem with the earlier version.
So how are the fields auto-filled? Do they have the same name, or are you using a script?
Are you using the Combine Files feature in Acrobat? If so, then try a different method for combining the files to see if it makes a difference. Do this:
1. Open the first file in Acrobat
2. Open the "Pages Panel" on the far right side of the Acrobat Window.
3. Drag and drop the second file into the "Pages Panel" of the first file.
Thom Parker - Software Developer at PDFScripting Use the Acrobat JavaScript Reference early and often
This may be a bug in 2017. However, are there fields with the same names on both forms? And are these the problem fields? Do the problem fields share any characteristic? Do the field really disappear, or do the values disappear?
Thom Parker - Software Developer at PDFScripting Use the Acrobat JavaScript Reference early and often
I didn't create the fillable form (downloaded from national website), but yes there are fields with the same names. Most of the fields that have disappeared are those that automatically fill in other places in the document, but I see at least one that hasn't disappeared. I don't think it matters whether I combine another fillable form or with a regular pdf. The fields only disappear on the fillable form. If I try to combine two fillable forms, fields seem to disappear on both fillable forms.
The fields are removed from the PDF. I realized that when I used an earlier version of Acrobat, that those forms didn't automatically fill the same fields later in the form. It definitely has to do with the auto fill and combining PDFs.
On the first page I fill in the institution name, investigator name, etc., and it automatically fills in fields on other pages, so I don't have to type the same information more than once.
- Fields with the same name (and the same type) in a single document will always have the same value. So if you merge two documents that each have a text field called "Name" the value of the field in the second file will be overwritten by the value of the field from the first file.
- Fields with the same name but different type can not exist in the same document. So if you merge two documents and one has a text field called "Name" and the other a drop-down called "Name" it will either report an error, or will remove the latter.
The first PDF is a fillable form, the second PDF is just a PDF file.
The fields that are disappearing are disappearing on all the pages that have the same value. None of the fields that have disappeared have a drop down box else where in the fillable form. The second PDF file that is combined is unaffected at all.
So how are the fields auto-filled? Do they have the same name, or are you using a script?
Are you using the Combine Files feature in Acrobat? If so, then try a different method for combining the files to see if it makes a difference. Do this:
1. Open the first file in Acrobat
2. Open the "Pages Panel" on the far right side of the Acrobat Window.
3. Drag and drop the second file into the "Pages Panel" of the first file.
Thom Parker - Software Developer at PDFScripting Use the Acrobat JavaScript Reference early and often
I learned that I cannot use the "Combine File" in Tools. It makes the fillable forms PDF fields that fill automatically (so you only have to type a common field once) disappear.
These fields do not disappear on the fillable form if I use the Thumbnail page on the sign pane to add another PDF.
Is it possible to merge documents that have the same text fields WITHOUT the value of the field in the second (third, fourth, fifth, etc.) file being overwritten by the value of the field from the first line?
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