How can I stop fields from duplicating in multiple pages?

[stephanie5C5C]

Okay, so I needed to insert a page into a PDF that duplicates a page that is already in the original PDF. There is a long list of people that need to be added and one page is not enough, so I need multiple pages. I am using Adobe Acrobat XI Pro to do this -- this is what my job has. My problem is that I am trying to fill in different information on both pages but whatever I do to one page, it happens on the other. I do not want it to do that. How can I fix this so that I am able to add duplicate pages but not have the text I fill into one page copy over to the other pages? Right now I am saving the additional pages separately and then scanning them in as a single PDF, but then I am not able to edit anymore, I would have to start all over. 

[Bernd Alheit]

Use template pages and spawn the pages.

[gary_sc · Accepted solution]

It sounds like you are copy the various fields and not giving each one a unique name. So if you have a field called "name" and copy that, you need to call the next one (say) "name-2." That makes each of the two fields unique. Otherwise when you fill data into one, it will fill into all of the fields with the same name the same data.

Does that make sense?

[Fiona21833477ut1w]

I just started working with adobe for a new job and came across your query as I have the same problem with a document my boss created that's a journal - 2 pages repeated 30 times. What I've discovered is that in the field name, every the pages were duplicated the fields were renamed Field 1 #1, Field 1 #2 etc. It's the # in the field name that creates the link. Remove the # from the link name and you have unique field names that are no longer linked to each other.

[DelShaun36773953uzby]

This is by far the best explanation that I could find on this topic. Some say make a portfolio, some say make the form fields separate for each file (something that's really inefficient when you have to duplicate 200 sheets of the same form, and then re-combine them into one pdf. Which was my issue.  Some say "Flatten' the file, some say “Optimize” which make sense, but in my version for some reason the option to "optimize" was greyed out and not an option for me. Adobe recently moved everything around in the new version - which sent me a for a tailspin and then, made me look bad in front of my boss and one of our key clients - as I'm the Adobe aficionado of the company yet looked like a total rookie, not even being able to find the buttons that I'm used to using (i.e. adding shapes to a pdf.) The Grande Finale: within one hour of an online submittal, as I'm finalizing the proposal, as I'm finalizing 90 days of coordination with 15 different offices, one form, ONE! Gives me this warning message "forms with the same name...making a pdf portfolio appears to be the easiest option, however, I had to explain to our client that this was the only way we could submit our proposal based on a “technical” issue with our Adobe software.

What is the best possible solution to tackle this scenario:

20 of your subconsultant firms need to fill out a specific form. I created the file utilizing Form fields. Do I really have to go and save 20 iterations of the same form with different form fields? It appears that Adobe would have not overlooked this important function (duplications of the form fields) can this option be adjusted so that it doesn’t automatically duplicate? Seems like an option you should be able to switch on or off. Is there code that doesn’t merge all form fields or automatically renumerates duplicate forms.

This issue almost made me a late responder and uncompliant to submit. This was a new client form and my first foray into business development and almost did me in.

[bigsurlove]

so what is the answer to this issue. Did anyone respond to you? 

[gary_sc]

Duplication in Acrobat is not like duplication in the Finder or Explorer. In the latter two cases, both OSs wish to make sure that the new copy/duplicate will not override the previous option/file. A field is neither an option nor a file.

Having no idea what the subject of your PDF file will be used for, let me make something up using "first name." If the internal structure of the form is all "First name" and that is copied. Then, your first name would be placed as your mother's first name, your father's first name, your sibling's first name, etc, because it will make a copy of that name field. It's just going to take that content, and any time there is a first name field, it will show what's been placed there in any place in the form. This is good because it eliminates having to reenter the same data over and over.

If, when you create the form, you provide content in the new fields, you can do a whole lot more. So, if you have a field for your mother and a field for your father, etc., in the end, you can have a list of all of the family's names simply by listing the fields. Nothing else has to be done. 

And, if it makes you feel any better, I was banging my head against the table trying to get past this when creating my first form until I realized what was happening and why.

So, to answer the question and save time, you have to take a bit of time—just enough to make each distinct field unique. And one extra tip. "First name 1," "First name 2 " is NOT as good as "Member's first name," "Mother's first name," Father's first name," etc.

I hope that helps.