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Layers inaccessible - all grayed out in Reader and Acrobat on Mac

Forum|Forum|5 years ago
September 28, 2020
3 replies
15194 views

Hi everyone,

I've got a layered file which I simply cannot access properly. It's a sewing pattern and you should be able to switch the right size layer on or off to allow you to print it off as you wish. However, in both Reader and Acrobat the layers properties etc are all greyed out so I cannot access any of it. I've attached a screenshot to show what I mean so I hope someone might have a solution! (and yes, I have been into preferences>document> allowed layer state to be set by user information)

Thanks, Ian

Apple 2017 Imac running OS 10.13.6 High Sierra

Correct answer Kate363109033wl7

Hi, I know this is late but I was having the same problem on my Mac and the fixes above didn't work. I was originally using Chrome. So, I put the URL into Safari, downloaded the pattern directly to my computer, then right clicked on it to "open with adobe acrobat" and it worked.

Thanks for the tip! I was having the same problem, but this worked - can finally access the layers on my PDF 🙂

L

Linda29790360ecy1

New Participant

I have the exact same problem w my Patterns- I have a Mac os monterey and none of the patterns I bought will let me access layers- they are grayed out! One of the first patterns I bought will and it seems to be the only one- HELP PLEASE

I

Ian297971241hfz

New Participant

I've not tried this on OS Monteray so can't be sure if it will work. But this is what I did on High Sierra to fix the issue;

1 - Make sure that Preview is not your default PDF viewer

2 - Change Safari preferences so that it doesn't automatically open PDF's after your download them

3 - Only open the pattern PDF in Adobe Reader or Acrobat and it should work correctly.

If you open the file in Preview it will corrupt it/flatten it and when you then try and open it in Reader or Acrobat it won't work.

C

Cheryl300487897oez

New Participant

I am having the exact same problem. Where do I go to change the pdf reader? Which menu? I'm not finding it and it is soooooo frustrating!

JR Boulay

Adobe Expert

These articles are still relevant:

http://duff-johnson.com/2014/04/07/apples-preview-still-not-safe-for-work/

http://khkonsulting.com/2013/06/preview-app-killer-of-pdf-files/

Acrobate du PDF, InDesigner et Photoshopographe

Luke Jennings3

Adobe Expert

What program are you using to create your layered PDF? I don't see any layers in your screen shot. If you are using InDesign, turn on the Create Acrobat Layers check box when exporting your PDF, select one of the layers or sub-layers from the Acrobat layers view and right click to access the layer properties.

StudioSevensAuthor

New Participant

Hi Luke, This is a downloaded PDF which someone else has created and has been tested and used by others without any issue! This is why I'm so confused by it, I can only imagine it relates to the settings within my own copy of Reader or Acrobat...

try67

Adobe Expert

Thanks for looking at the file; all the sewing pattern files which I have are downloaded from the creator's website in the same way by many different people. From contacting other sewing people about this they have found no problem with switching the layers on and off to show the particular size they require which is why I'm so confused by why it won't work for me! As a Mac user my default PDF viewer is Preview, but at no point has the file been knowingly flattened, even opening a freshly downloaded document in Reader or Acrobat yields zero access to layers!

I'm at a bit of a loss for what's going on really...

If you even open the file in Preview it can get corrupted. That's how bad that application is.

Is the file you shared the one you downloaded, as is, or did you open it in Preview first, and then upload it?

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