Converting Adobe XML forms back to normal PDF

[_roddyguy_]

I want to get rid of the XML Forms in my PDF and then save as regular PDF format so that I can merge files into single PDF.

When I edit file in Designer and get rid of form elements, then save as PDF. I still can't combine files. I get error that says my file is still Adobe XML.

Is there a way to save PDFs that still have forms in them as non-AdobeXML files?

If not, how do I get rid of Forms and convert back into regular PDF that I can combine with othe PDFs into one single PDF?

[_Aandi_Inston_ · Accepted solution]

Once you have gone to Designer, you are stuck there. There is no way
to get that particular PDF back into Acrobat form. It no longer is a
PDF form, it's XML in a PDF wrapper even if you remove all the form
fields.

You might be able to print to PDF from Acrobat to make a new,
non-form, flat PDF.

Aandi Inston

[profstein]

Unfortunately you can not print to PDF any longer. You get a message that says "saving a PDF while printing is not supported. Instead choose File > Save. "

But then if you try to save it, the file is either the exact same XML PDF or if you do something like Optimize, it will say "This file contains an Adobe XML form. Such files cannot be optimized."

As far as I can tell there is no way to "flatten" an XML-based PDF file. The only thing I could do is to literally print it out and then scan it back in. Extremely frustrating.

[AmandaGilland]

I was having this same issue and printed the file as a PDF and was then able to insert the file into a combine PDF. 

[jems1304]

that only works on a PC. if you have a Mac, it will not let you print a PDF to PDF, it will only let you save it. it's the most glaring issue for Adobe Macbook users, IMO.

[anthonyvdberghe]

I used the 'Preview' function in Finder and was able to print to pdf that way.

[_roddyguy_]

Thanks Aandi,

Printing to PDF worked.

I'm suprised they don't have a function built into Acrobat Professional that won't revert document to non-AdobeXML format.

Dave

[bnob35]

I know this was a long time ago, but I am trying ot do the same thing but mine is not working.  Did you do something special to your adobe print settings?  When I print to pdf and try to open it is saying that the file is corrupt?

[Test Screen Name]

Please say

- which system you have

- which version of Acrobat (NOT Reader)

- step by step, how you print to PDF?

[bnob35]

Sorry, I am using Adobe Acrobat Pro 9.0.  I created the form in Live Cycle and the way I would like it to work is the first user fills out some info, signs it and sends along to a few others to sign off on.  At the last signature I want it to lock and the user be able to either use the print button which I trigger a convert function to make flat (not sure if you can do?) or they print to file so they can merge with another regular pdf document.  The steps I am using right now to test:  I open the file, fill out all, sign and save; open the signed copy and print to file; save it as a .pdf.  It thens says it is corrupt when I try to open.  Not sure if the problem is in my form settings or print settings?

[Test Screen Name]

Flattening will destroy digital signatures utterly, so I can't recommend that idea.

But if you must - don't print to file. Print to Adobe PDF, absolutely be sure Print to File is off.

[bnob35]

I can't believe I have tried so many things and the most obvious worked.  I had the "print to file" checked.  Thanks so much this worked!

[art4ind]

I just used something called graphic converter.  Its free, but I think I use it so much I paid for it.  A few dollars.  I drag pdf to graphic converter, and save it again as a pdf.  worked perfectly!

[Guest]

I figured this out!

File > Print > Printer: "Adobe PDF" > Properties > Adobe PDF Settings (Tab)

Then uncheck all of the check boxes minus the "View Adobe PDF results"

Here is a screen shot:

[Test Screen Name]

Thanks for sharing that. Good to hear that the answer I gave in 2008 still works!

[Test Screen Name]

(Though while we're here, it's worth mentioning that it no longer works in Mac).

[Guest]

Mine is an answer for dummies!

[ADHEnviro]

Which adobe program were you using? I can't get your tips to work with X Standard and the new stupid DC version. Grr.

[Bernd Alheit]

You need Adobe Acrobat on a MS Windows system.

[Joe Christy]

Let's imagine that I don't have a Windows machine available, because I don't. Is there no way to do this? I'm using the latest, updated, Acrobat DC on a Mac, w/ MacOS 10.13.6

[try67]

You can try opening the form in Acrobat, exporting it as image files, and then creating a new file in Acrobat from those images.

Run Text Recognition on then add form fields, if you wish.

[JohnH8186068544]

I was able to combine the pdfs on a mac using Preview.  open thumbnails side bar of both files and drag and drop the pages you want to merge.  Doing this did drop the content of a checkbox field which i had to recheck.  It also took some of the number formatting away.  So it's not perfect but it works.  Printing and scanning as pdf seems to be the only perfect way to do it.

[ellengee]

This works! Thank you!

[yeahgerry]

SeamlessDocs.com actually started doing a lot of projects where we can convert the PDFs with XML into online versions. They can then be printed, preserving the PDF format, or submitted online with eSignatures. Not sure if it will address everyone's issues; I know they just did a big project for a large State Department of Transportation.

[Kristen98A6]

2020 on a Mac - opening the file in Preview then selecting "Export to PDF" flattened the file so I could combine it with another in Acrobat.