How to combine multiple PDFs with form data WITHOUT flattening pdfs OR changing form names?

[JaceInman]

We have thousands of forms that need combined into a single PDF. We simply do not have the time to rename all of the forms in each document, or flatten every PDF. Is there a fix for this? All of the information in our forms end up being blank after combining them.

It is extremely odd because my boss was saying this was not an issue before, but it is now.

It never came up with this dialogue box saying the following until today:
"Any form fields that have the same name in the merged documents are now merged into one field. If you want the values in these fields to be unique, then you need to create a PDF portfolio instead of merging the files. To create a PDF Portfolio, choose File > Create PDF Portfolio."

As far as we know, Acrobat didn't update. We really need a fix for this. I was thinking maybe creating a custom action to flatten would help make this process go faster? Or I was reading that there maybe a javascript fix for this to batch flatten them all at the same time?

[Test Screen Name]

The message may be new but it's true. Firms have always worked in this way. Refer back to an old combined form file to see what was done.

[JaceInman]

My boss is saying that this has never been a problem, and that the dialogue never appeared before, until now. I am pretty sure that this is with the identical PDFs she has combined in the past as well.

[Bernd Alheit]

You will get this message also when you combine only one form that has form fields with the same name.

[JR Boulay]

The answer is in the question: Choose File > Create PDF Portfolio.

Otherwise, JavaScript can flatten PDFs at the speed of light.

[JaceInman]

I saw a javascript fix here: Combine PDF Forms w/o merging fields?

but I am not sure how to utiize javascript to batch adjust the documents. Is there a good tutorial out there (preferably video) on how I can use that script? I am totally lost.

Should I just make a flatten action?

[Test Screen Name]

1. I'm saying Acrobat has always combined files this way but the message MIGHT be new.

2. What is the version of Acrobat you are running?

[JR Boulay]

1. I'm saying Acrobat has always combined files this way but the message MIGHT be new.

No, this message is not new. It's here since Acrobat 6 or 7.

The boss obviously mess something, I guess she use to merge forms with a virtual printer…

[Test Screen Name]

What is the version of Acrobat you are using? If you don't know how to find out, please let us know.

[Test Screen Name]

That is, an exact version like 10.3.24 or 2017.343.34343.

[JaceInman]

Will let you know as soon as I can!

[JaceInman · Accepted solution]

Looks like our IT person found a fix, although I am not sure 100% what it is.

I created a custom action to flatten the PDFs quickly as well, which would have worked fine.