Ghosting when creating form fields

[tracis34064235]

When we create form fields that previously we were able to copy and paste over into another PDF form, we are getting "ghosting."  Adobe DC is duplicating the form fields when we click "paste," then the program will throw in random form fields.  We have tested this on 2 network machines using the same (up-to-date) Adobe DC.  Both systems are using a Creative Cloud account.  Has anyone else experienced this and do you have a solution?    This is creating work stoppage, and becoming a serious problem.

[AkanchhaS]

Hi Tracis, 

We have tried recreating the above scenario and this issue is not reproducible at our end. If we understand your workflow correctly, you have been copying and pasting a form field from on PDF for to another PDF form (open in same window) and fields are getting duplicated?

Please help us understating what do you mean by "Ghosting". We have followed the steps shared above and tested the same. This issue isn't reproducible at our end.

If possible, then you may check with a different form. As it could be pdf form specific issue.

We would be better able to check the same and get the root cause of the problem, If we work on the same form. Please share the PDFs with us.

"You can share the file with us via email. And you can send it to the email that is shared via private message. Please do mention your forum thread in the subject"

Regards,

Akanchha

[tracis34064235]

Akanchha, Thank you for your response, and I will send you example documents that are producing what we call "ghosting."   We have used this term in 2 completely different situations.  Ghost "tags" which we have successfully removed by using the tag tree, though in this situation, our process when we have complex permitting forms is to highlight a full table of form fields then copy and paste from a previous document to the updated document, so that we don't have to recreate form fields manually every single time we update a form.   We have forms we manage that are 200 pages long including 100 pages of form fields.     And because we are required by law to produce accessible forms when we have complications it becomes problematic.

In reviewing situations in this forum I saw someone suggest comparing Adobe "versions" of the document.   In our situation, the document we were copying from was created in an older Adobe Acrobat Pro version > to a Adobe DC (stand alone/non-cloud) version. 

We confirmed the standalone Adobe DC had not been updated and can not be updated due to our agency Adobe license.

Thankfully we were able to get the Creative Cloud account set up for this staff member.   So we then compared with a 100% up-to-date

apples to apples documents.   Initially the copy and pasting worked, though now the staff member reported when copy and pasting the "ghosting" is happening again.

To add to this scenario, we had one of our tech specialists comment that even though the staff member is using a newer Dell machine, it's possible they need more memory and an improved video card. However, I personally tested on a system with plenty of memory and a very adequate video card and was able to replicate the ghosting in the previous scenario where the older Adobe document was used to copy from to a current Creative Cloud based Adobe DC.

The solution to this is hopefully making a correction in our process or finding the fix in Adobe.   Our original documents are managed in current versions of MS Word then converted to Adobe PDF.   Due to budget and staffing, this process will not change.   So our direction is to find a solution.

[BhavnaNegi]

tracis34064235​

Could you please check if accidentally these form fields have been duplicated during copy-paste. You can click on Prepare Form and check the fields name in Right Hand Side pane to check the name of each field on the page in view. Try if removing either of them solves the issues for you

It is easy to accidentally duplicate when you have the Ctrl key held down, while copy-paste. That way, these fields can sit on top of the other and set up with different font settings.

It would be great if you can also share a screenshot of what you mean by "Ghosting" as well as a of how you actually expect it to be.

You can share the testfiles/screenshot by uploading them to GoogleDrive/Dropbox and share the public link here.

-Bhavna

[tracis34064235]

We have confirmed the situation is not happening due to duplication when holding down the Ctrl key.   As soon as our staff member has this happen again, I will share a screen shot along with the process that created the situation. 

Thank you for the follow up!

[tracis34064235]

I have a screenshot in .jpg format and I also have a short video clip I took with my phone to show our ghosting example.

In this scenario, our staff member is creating form fields and simply trying to "size" and adjust the form fields and when doing so Adobe will randomly create ghost fields, and when she moves her mouse it will replicate form fields from another location.   These form fields

are not connected, do not have the same name.  When she closes the document and reopens it everything is back in its place. 

I will send these items to the email I received.   I have asked the staff member for the actual document so that you can test, though it's a large document 80 pgs.  I will send that as well once I receive it.  Thanks!

[BhavnaNegi]

tracis34064235​

You can share all the files - screenshot/video of the bug and the large PDF file using Adobe Document Cloud  - https://forums.adobe.com/docs/DOC-7161.

You can paste the public link into your reply post and we will be able to access these file.

-Bhavna

[tracis34064235]

Bhavna, here is the link to the files. Shared Files - Acrobat.com

And I will preface, the .pdf document is being shared here for purposes of helping to resolve

the behavior you will see in the short video clip.

The staff member is also working in a current Adobe Creative Cloud environment.

Adobe Acrobat DC (19.010.20069)

The origin document was created in a current MS Word based in an Office 365 Cloud environment.

Thank you,

Traci

[BhavnaNegi]

@tracis34064235

Thank you for sharing the files. We shall investigate and get back to you with an update.

-Bhavna

[BhavnaNegi]

@tracis34064235​

We were able to reproduce the issue at our end especially in the case of "Copy-Paste from one PDF form to another".

We have our team informed and we shall keep you updated.

As a workaround (for now) - you will have to continue to switch between Edit > Preview mode in Prepare Form app.

We apologize for the inconvenience.

-Bhavna

[samantha_fischer]

I'm getting a very similar issue when I right click on a form field and use the "Create Multiple Copies..." option.  Each checkbox has a unique name, but for some reason I keep getting an additional form field with the name of 0.0, 0.1, etc., which appears in the forms tree and when I tab through the form.  I can delete it, but it comes back as soon as I close the forms tool.