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Can't save data placed in form fields

New Here ,
Feb 01, 2016 Feb 01, 2016

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Hi Folks,

I am trying to filling a government form from the US and it is a PDF. I am using the latest Adobe Acrobat Reader DC on my iMac. I fill in the fields and click save or save as but nothing sticks. When I reopen the file the data is gone. I tried getting an Adobe ID but that didn't change anything. HELP!  Thanks, Rick

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correct answers 1 Correct answer

Feb 03, 2016 Feb 03, 2016

Hi rickh17115353,

You can not Reader Extend the PDF forms using Acrobat Reader DC.

However you can fill the PDF form using Acrobat Reader DC. The only thing is that you won't be able to save the filled form on your computer. If the form has a Submit or Send button you can directly send it after filling the PDF form by click on that button.

Try the 30 days trial of Acrobat Pro DC application to Reader Extend the PDF forms Download Adobe Acrobat free trial | Acrobat Pro DC

Regards,
Aadesh

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Feb 01, 2016 Feb 01, 2016

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Hi rickh17115353,

PDF form is not set to Save the form data/print.

It needs to be Reader Extended your acrobat application so that these permissions are allowed.

If you have Acrobat application you can do it, pen PDF in Acrobat -> File menu -> Save As other -> Reader Extended PDF -> Enable more tools.

Save the PDF & now try to fill & save the data in the PDF form using Reader application.

Regards,
Aadesh

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New Here ,
Feb 01, 2016 Feb 01, 2016

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Thanks very much,Aadesh2789. The Reader Extended PDF option does not show on my free version of Adobe Acrobat DC. It looks like I can no longer fill in forms with out paying money to Adobe. Cheers, Rick

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Feb 03, 2016 Feb 03, 2016

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Hi rickh17115353,

You can not Reader Extend the PDF forms using Acrobat Reader DC.

However you can fill the PDF form using Acrobat Reader DC. The only thing is that you won't be able to save the filled form on your computer. If the form has a Submit or Send button you can directly send it after filling the PDF form by click on that button.

Try the 30 days trial of Acrobat Pro DC application to Reader Extend the PDF forms Download Adobe Acrobat free trial | Acrobat Pro DC

Regards,
Aadesh

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New Here ,
Feb 03, 2016 Feb 03, 2016

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Thanks for your help on this. It was, as I expected but thanks for the confirmation. I have a decision to make. Cheers, Rick.

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Explorer ,
May 28, 2016 May 28, 2016

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I have this exact same problem, except I am using Adobe Acrobat DC Pro. I have saved my file as Reader Extended (Enable More Tools) as you suggested above. I closed the file and re-opened it. Then, I fill out the form, but when I save the form, all of the data is deleted and I'm staring at a blank form.

I realized after submitting this question that the Reader Extended save is for allowing Acrobat Reader users the ability to fill out and save forms. But how do I save the form data using Acrobat Pro? This has never been a problem in the past, but I just installed DC, and now it won't save form data.

So, even the Reader Extended version of the PDF file using Acrobat Pro won't let me save the data. This is highly frustrating! What am I missing?

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New Here ,
Sep 08, 2017 Sep 08, 2017

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FWIW, my wife just tasked me today with tackling this problem. She had a form she wanted to half-fill out, then save and send to a second person to fill out the rest. But the data wouldn't save.

After trying everything else in these forums, including using Reader Extend, and getting nowhere, I tried exporting the form to Word then reconverting it back into a pdf. Voila! Now anyone with a recent version of Adobe Acrobat Reader can open the form, click on the "Fill & Sign" tool, enter data, and save the form with the data on the form saved as well.

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Community Beginner ,
Feb 07, 2019 Feb 07, 2019

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I am also having this problem (several years after the forum has been "answered.")  I am using Acrobat Pro DC, and the form I am filling is a government form.  It has security settings that allow it to be filled in the pre-defined fields and signed with a digital signature identity. When I fill out any fields then save, the fields are not preserved when I re-open the document.  Specifically, when I fill out a field involving a money value (it is formatted as such; it is blank initially then when you type in a number it automatically formats it as $###,###.## and replicates it in another field) then save the document, when I re-open it displays $0.00.  This happens regardless of whether I digitally sign the document before saving, or saving-as. 

If I try testing save-as-other --> Reader extended PDF, I get the message that "the form is interactive and has special features" or that "this document already has enabled usage rights"

Any suggestions? Please?

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Explorer ,
Apr 17, 2019 Apr 17, 2019

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I'm sorry I didn't see this question before now. Unfortunately, I no longer recall how I resolved this issue. I hope you were able to figure it out!

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New Here ,
May 01, 2019 May 01, 2019

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I know this is a late reply...See if you have the option to print to "Cute PDF Writer". If so, select it as your printer, and it should sae the document as a pdf document...and for me, it also saved all the form data I had input.

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New Here ,
Feb 24, 2020 Feb 24, 2020

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Thank you for the info about sending the PDF's to Cute PDF writer.  It did work for me and I can view the fields that were filled in on the application.  (The same fields / drop down's that I can not see in My Adobe Acrobat Pro DC or Adobe Acrobat Reader DC).  I have also had luck by attaching them to an email in outlook and then hitting the "preview".  But all of these extra steps are time consuming.  Is there a way to have Adobe Acrobate Pro DC or Adobe Acrobate Reader DC, just show the test that is filled in?  

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New Here ,
Nov 29, 2019 Nov 29, 2019

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I have Adobe Acrobat Pro DC. I have followed instructions to allow users to fill in our PDF form and save the data (and made it Reader Extended).

However, whilst this works for some users, it doesn't work for all users. We still get some people who cannot save their data in the form - for what reason I do not know.

  • I have asked users to update their adobe software,
  • Try a different browser,
  • Download the form first on their PC

- but even after all of the above, some users still have issues and the forms are still blank (no data saved in the boxes)!

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Community Expert ,
Nov 29, 2019 Nov 29, 2019

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You need to get the exact details of what application(s) they're using. There's a big difference between opening the file in a browser and opening it in Adobe Reader. If they do the latter it should work. If they do the former all bets are off, basically.

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New Here ,
Mar 09, 2020 Mar 09, 2020

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Solved? I didn't see my solution...I was filling out a 7 page job app.  I saved to desktop.  Opened saved doc, my input wasn't there.

Solution for me: 

used Chrome-Saved doc to Google Drive. 

Opened Google Drive

Opened saved doc (info was there still)

Downloaded to desktop

opened doc from desktop

All my input is intact! Yay!

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New Here ,
May 20, 2020 May 20, 2020

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I've read through this enitre post and hoping I can also find some help for my very similar issue.  

I have a form I designed using AEM Designer 6.4 and it loads using an XML payload.   When rendered I have the following:

 

Facts:

1) The document is created as a PDF with prefilled data from an payload via AEM Designer / Workbench.  The PDF looks fine and I can type in all the fields w/o issue given the update below for security. 

2) Open document in Adobe Acrobat DC

3) File >> Save As Other >> Reader Extended PDF >> Enable More Tools ...

4) Open saved filed in Adobe Crobat DC Reader

5) Confirmed Document Extensions include "this document includes interactive form fields" and "You can save data typed into this form" and also has "You can digtally sign this document"

 

The new document in reader is certainly enabled for saving but when I update, save, close and reopen all the data is reset to the values from the prefill that was sent in with the initial payload.  Note that I am prefilling the document in the initialize event of the top level subForm.   

 

Interestingly the document also has other controls like drop downs.  If I set them to hidden (via javascript) they remain hidden but the textfield updates revert to the original document.  

 

Any thoughts?

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New Here ,
May 20, 2020 May 20, 2020

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OK I think I figured this out.  I am loading up the payload in the initialiaze event and it is executed every time you load the form.  I created a hidden variable to allow bypassing of the initialize event after the initial render and it's working! Locally anyway.  Deploying now. 

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New Here ,
Oct 27, 2020 Oct 27, 2020

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Hoping to save someone else some time on this. It was very easy once I figured it out. Instead of saving, print as a PDF and that will allow you to save the filled in document. As I said, easy once you figure it out. 

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New Here ,
Nov 12, 2020 Nov 12, 2020

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Hello !!! I am having this exact issue with some of my people losing information after they save. Confirming your suggestio is instead of saving, go print as pdf and it will give you the option to save document and filled fields stay intact?

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New Here ,
Nov 12, 2020 Nov 12, 2020

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Hi- that is correct. select “print”, and instead of sending the document
to a printer, select “save as Pdf”.
The next screen, in Windows 10, will ask you where to save it. Then, press
“save”.
when you go to the destination folder or window where you saved the pdf,
your users entries should still be there as described after you open the
file.

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New Here ,
Jul 25, 2023 Jul 25, 2023

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LATEST

This actually worked! I do this all the time and never even put the 2 together! THANKS

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New Here ,
Jan 12, 2021 Jan 12, 2021

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I found myself with this issue today, in 2021, with Reader DC. I am using a MacBook Pro. Here's what DID NOT work for me. Save As, Save As other (not an option), Converting to Word from Reader DC (not without a 30-day trial or paid subscription), and no go on the last option to Print as PDF (LOL - I was politely told, "saving a PDF file when printing is not supported" - although I've done this several times before in other apps).

So what DID work for me? File > Save As > Document Cloud. Log into Document Cloud > Convert to Word > Download (automatic for me) > Open file in Word > Save As PDF🙄 - worked perfectly 1.5 hrs later😮

Tip - for me a simple download from the document cloud put me right back into the Groundhog Day cycle - until I tried the convert to Word function. 

I hope this helps someone save time. Good luck!

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New Here ,
Feb 17, 2021 Feb 17, 2021

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I had the same exact issue today. I filled out a form (that had fillable fields). Trying to save the form gives the prompt "The document restricts some Adobe Acrobat features... To create a copy that is not restricted, click Save a Copy".

Clicking Save a Copy does nothing. This has been the effect on two different secured California State forms. 

None of the above solutions worked EXCEPT for printing the file and choosing Microsoft Print to PDF.

 

It is impressive that in 2021, Adobe Acrobat Reader DC still cannot save an editable PDF except through ludicrous workarounds.

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Community Expert ,
Feb 18, 2021 Feb 18, 2021

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Acrobat Reader DC can save filled Acrobat forms!

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New Here ,
Jan 02, 2022 Jan 02, 2022

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Seems adobe no longer allows extended features in reader. This is a problem.

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Community Expert ,
Jan 02, 2022 Jan 02, 2022

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Not true. Those features are not needed any longer. Those features are enabled in Reader DC by default. However, they can still be applied (using Acrobat) if the file needs to be used in older versions of Reader.

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