Convert/Print a Dynamic XML format PDF to A Static PDF on MAC

[Steven26437847dnkn]

Dear community

I have to fill a PDF form in Dynamic XML format, which can only be opened with Adobe Acrobat. If you open it in other apps, it will show you:

After I downloaded and finished the PDF in the free Adobe Acrobat Reader DC. I have to save a static PDF to submit it. However, I tried many different methods. Nothing works. My system and software versions are:

 

I've tried File - Print - Printer and then tried to save it as a PDF or PostScript

But I will always get the following message:

Could someone please help me with this? I really have to concert the dynamic PDF to a static/flatten one on Mac. Is this doable with the free version of Adobe Acrobat Reader DC?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Bernd Alheit]

Not possible with Acrobat Reader.

[Steven26437847dnkn]

If not, may I know if there is any solution for this on MAC?

[Test Screen Name]

Or on a Mac, even with paid-for Acrobat. Such files are basically stuck in their "dynamic form" world.

You say you "have to save as a static PDF in order to submit it". Are you sure? Is this really what the form's maker says you must do?

[Steven26437847dnkn]

Thx. This is so annoying as you can only open it with Acrobat. 

[Test Screen Name]

Why can't you just return the filled in form, saved in Acrobat? That's what I'd expect for a dynamic form, if I made one, I would not want anything done to the form (in fact it might invalidate it, and for a government form, could get all sorts of trouble). Have you tried just sending the filled-in PDF? (If it's appropriate you could share the link to any instructions for the form).

[Steven26437847dnkn]

It's indeed specifically required. Otherwise, their system won't be able to process it. This is not my first time doing it, but last time I had a Windows laptop with me. The instructions we have for Mac do not work, so this is why I'm asking the community here. LOL. https://cln.sh/EkbVkO

[Test Screen Name]

Hmm. No idea how they ended up with this. But there should be 

4a. To convert the EPS to PDF use Acrobat Distiller, included with paid-for Adobe Acrobat.

5a. To combine the PDF files, use paid-for Adobe Acrobat.

[try67]

If you have Acrobat try saving the file as an image (such as PNG). This will export all the pages to separate image files. You could then combine those files to a new PDF. Of course, it will not contain any form fields, or any real text. You could run OCR (Text Recognition) on it to convert the image text to real text, though.

[JR Boulay]

"I really have to concert the dynamic PDF to a static/flatten one on Mac. Is this doable with the free version of Adobe Acrobat Reader DC?"

No.

But you can do it with Preview, just be sure to work on a copy since Preview (aka "the PDF killer") will break or remove most of the PDF features in the file without any warning.

[Steven26437847dnkn]

Thx. Could you please be more specific? What do you mean by "do it with Preview"? I have tried to print it with Preview before posting As you can see from the screenshot. The printed version will only include that "Please wait..." message.

[try67]

Can Preview even handle XML-based PDF files?

[JR Boulay]

Sorry, Preview handle "static" XFA-PDF forms only, it does not handle "dynamic" XFA-PDF forms.

In a static form the form’s appearance and layout is fixed, regardless of the field content. Any unfilled fields are present in the form. By default, static forms do not require re-rendering. XFA recognises two types of static forms: "old-style static forms" (using "full XFA") and XFAF (a subset of full XFA, defined since XFA 2.5).

Dynamic forms (defined since XFA 2.1 or 2.2) can change in appearance in several ways in response to changes in the data. Dynamic form requires rendering of its content on file opening. Dynamic forms may also be designed to change structure to accommodate changes in the structure of the data supplied to the form. For example, a page of a form may be omitted if there is no data for it. Another example is a field that may occupy a variable amount of space on the page, resizing itself to efficiently hold its content. Dynamic form cannot rely on a PDF representation of its boilerplate, because the positioning and layout of the boilerplate change as the fields grow and shrink or as subforms are omitted and included.

Wikipedia

[JR Boulay]

PS:

"Handle" being a big word because Preview opens them by removing all interactivity, formatting, scripting, etc. without warning the user.