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Adobe form keeps changing fields to read-only

Community Beginner ,
Mar 05, 2020 Mar 05, 2020

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Hi all,

I have an adobe form with dozens of fillable form fields. The fields somehow keep getting set to read-only so no on can enter data. I change them all back to be editable, save the document and at some point they're getting set back to read-only. What am I doing wrong? 

 

If I do a test, I will remove read-only from one field, save the document, close it, open it back up and it's still editable. However, something is happening at some point to change ALL the fields back to read-only. I have custom scripts in the document, but none that I know of that tell it to change fields to read-only upon an action. 

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LEGEND ,
Mar 05, 2020 Mar 05, 2020

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First thing - is anyone else taking the file away and filling it before you get it back?

Second thing - how do you fill the form - what app and version?

Third thing - is there any signing of the form?

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Community Beginner ,
Mar 06, 2020 Mar 06, 2020

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Hi, thanks for your reply. First, the file is stored on a shared network drive. People do open the form and use it, then save a copy. The master file is not saved (only by me). Second, the form is in Adobe Acrobat Pro DC version 2020.006.20034. Third, there is no signing of the form. However, we do have electronic signatures on the form, but they're permanent. 

 

So it appears every time I make a change to the document and save it, all the fields go back to read-only.

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New Here ,
Sep 02, 2020 Sep 02, 2020

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I have the same problem! Also here looking for help

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New Here ,
Feb 04, 2021 Feb 04, 2021

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I'm experiencing the same issue. Everytime I save the form, all fields become read-only. I have to uncheck the read-only box in the properties of each fields.

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Community Expert ,
Feb 04, 2021 Feb 04, 2021

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Share the form.

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New Here ,
Jun 09, 2021 Jun 09, 2021

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Did anyone figure this out. I have 18 pages of form fields and I select them, set them to read only or not as appropriate. When I save the form and open it again, everything is changed.

 

Ren

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New Here ,
May 04, 2022 May 04, 2022

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No Answer to this?  It makes no sense...I am doing this for older clients who are not that tech saavy...sending them a form they can enter data in defeats the entire purpose

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LEGEND ,
May 04, 2022 May 04, 2022

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Tony, are your users signing the form? This does lock everything by design.

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New Here ,
Aug 14, 2023 Aug 14, 2023

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Same problem. When I save a form after editing it for the first time, it switches all the fields to Read Only. I can go into each field properties through the "prepare form" tool and switch them back one at a time, but I want to be able to prevent this from happening in the first place. No one else is accessing the documents. It is happening upon save. And it only happens intermittently. I cannot isolate the conditions that create this problem.

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New Here ,
Aug 25, 2023 Aug 25, 2023

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Yes I have the same thing.  Also there are no signatures on the form, it's just a blank form that switches to read only for all the fields.

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Community Expert ,
Aug 25, 2023 Aug 25, 2023

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Can you share the form?

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New Here ,
Nov 08, 2024 Nov 08, 2024

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I need a fix to this please, it's really irritating that for some reason when saving the file, even AFTER manually setting everything off Read Only that it sets them back to Read Only. Attached below is my PDF which has the form fields in when entering the "Prepare a form" function.

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Community Expert ,
Nov 08, 2024 Nov 08, 2024

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Click on Tools - Prepare Form and then click on "More" at the right side of the window and then on "Revert to Acrobat Form". Then unlock the fields and untick the Read Only check-box and it should work fine.

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New Here ,
Nov 08, 2024 Nov 08, 2024

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The fix I quickly found was to unlock the form fields, turn off read only,
then lock them again and when saving, it seems to keep the applied
settings, but if the fields are unlocked, it will force them read only
again once you save and reload.

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Community Expert ,
Nov 08, 2024 Nov 08, 2024

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That should not be the case (and indeed it was not when I tested it). Locking the fields just prevents you from editing them by accident. It's not related to this issue.

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