Can client make a form read only? Or can I remove the blue highlights from a form field universally?

[katielady1]

Hi there, 

I made a document for a client with one text field that is editable. 
I would like for them to be able to 

• Send it out without that form field showing up with blue highlights.
• Or save it as read-only, so that it won't show up with the blue highlight on that field.

I have read about folks turning off the individual preference for blue highlights, but that only works on the current user's acrobat, not universally. And then I read about a script that would make it work, but potentially only on acrobat pro versions? Will it not work with reader or if people are using another view, like in a browser?

I have read about folks using the fill and sign to make the form read-only, but I tried it on reader and it wanted me to sign in to make an adobe account. I was hoping there was a painless way for my client to make the form read-only?

Thanks in advance!

[try67]

Set the field as read-only. In Prepare Form mode right-click the field, select Properties and tick the Read Only check-box under the General tab.

[katielady1]

Hi try67, Thank you for this, but I should have specified that the client only has Acrobat Reader, not Acrobat Pro. 

[try67]

Do you want the client themselves to make the field read-only?

If so, you can add a button to your file that will do that when clicked (using a simple script).

It will work on both Acrobat and Reader, but there's no guarantee it will work in any other PDF viewer.

[katielady1]

Thanks again for replying. I'd be interested if it didn't involve a button. Basically this document is a cover page and the field is just one line where the client can add their employee name. Then they will use it in proposals. I don't want it to look like a form at all. The form was just to allow them one editable text field in the document. 

[try67]

So what should be the trigger for it?

[katielady1]

Each employee will fill in their name in the field, and then they need to be able to make a read-only copy. I was hoping there would be a save-as read-only function in Acrobat Reader they could use for this. 

[try67]

There isn't. They can achieve it by digitally signing the file, or it can be done by a script, but something must trigger it.

You can add a script to the document's Will Save event, for example, that will either make the field read-only automatically, or ask them if they want to do it first, and then do it.

[katielady1]

Sure. I'll add the script. Do you mind pointing me to where I could find the script to the will save event?

[try67 · Accepted solution]

You can use this code (I assumed the field is named "Name"), under Tools - JavaScript - Set Document Actions - Document Will Save:

if (this.getField("Name").readonly==false && app.alert("Do you wish to make the Name field read-only?",2,2)==4) this.getField("Name").readonly = true;

[katielady1]

Thank you, I have never used a script before but I will try it and report back. 

[katielady1]

Thank you so much try67. Worked perfectly! I really appreciate your help with this. 

[katielady1]

Hi @try67 I'm using this script again, but I have two fields this time. Is it still possible to add the script? I would be fine if both fields became read-only. There will never be an instance where just one will need to be read-only. Thanks in advance. 

[try67]

Sure, you can apply it to as many fields as you want, like this:

if (this.getField("Name").readonly==false && app.alert("Do you wish to make the Name field read-only?",2,2)==4) {
	this.getField("Name").readonly = true;
	this.getField("Name2").readonly = true;
	this.getField("Name3").readonly = true;
	this.getField("Name4").readonly = true;
}

[katielady1]

Awesome. Thank you so much!