PDF form won’t save content

[karolinej60498352]

Hi all. I hope you can help me with this one.

I've created a simple PDF-form with some text fields to be filled out. The problem is that the ones I sent it to say that they can't save it with the content they fill in and they can't even print it. Any ideas to what I'm doing wrong? They are opening it in Adobe Reader.

I teTed the pdf in the exact version they’re using and it works fine on my Mac.

[BobLevine]

You’ll get a lot more help in the Acrobat forum.

[1066 & All That]

Really?  The discussion tree above you directs us to the "Acrobat Reader Discussion."  Can't get more precise than that.  And if this isn't the forum, pray tell, what use is this thread?  

[marliton · Accepted solution]

Hi. Try this with your form using Acrobat: File > Save As Other > Reader Extended PDF > Enable More Tools (Includes Form Fill-in & Save).

[karolinej60498352]

This worked beautifully. Thank you!

[Mark25631192wrur]

I have a bunch of fillable forms already made; how can I apply this to all of these forms? Is there an Action Wizard I can use?

[Barb Binder]

I'll move this to the Adobe Reader forum for you.

~Barb

[karolinej60498352]

Thanks

[nbachchad]

I have the same problem with people using the form I created.  My version of Acrobat DC doesn't have "save as other" choices.  It only lists pdf as an available save.  Is there another solution?

[Bernd Alheit]

Use Adobe Acrobat, not Acrobat Reader.

[nbachchad]

My form works for most people I send it to, but not all.  I have an old laptop running Windows 7.  It has an old version of Acrobat DC that created the form.  It has no save-as to the format you recommend.  The laptop has Reader 9, which won't save the filled in form.   The Reader can atttach the file to an Email, which isn't on a newer version of Reader on my new laptop.

Is there another solution?

[Bernd Alheit]

What version of Adobe Acrobat does you use?

[steve_k._7203 · Accepted solution]

Looks like they patched the "solution" highlighted for the thread.

I've found two other solutions. For the first one, using Chrome, navigate to url chrome://flags and enable PDF XFA support. Then open the PDF via the Chrome browser.

If the solution above doesn't work for you, the second solution it is an convoluted one that took me hours to figure out. I will tell you what worked for me on Mac.

If you don't have a printer connected to your computer, add a fake printer (aka one with dummy values like an IP address of 0.0.0.0). Not sure how to do on Windows, but for Mac, you go to Settings > Printers & Scanners > Add Printer, Scanner, or Fax... I'm sure there are tutorials on YouTube for both if needed.

Then on Adobe Acrobat, print the document to that printer. Open Terminal (Mac) or Command Prompt (Windows). Now this part if where it gets a little complicated. Enter the following command to see what print jobs have been issued:

sudo ls -lh /var/spool/cups/

You will likely be prompted for you password. After you type your password and press enter, you will see something like :

user@KW2CRGQYPL ~ % sudo ls -lh /var/spool/cups/

Password:
total 21904
-rw-------  1 root  _lp   2.1K Oct 20 21:57 c00001
-rw-------  1 root  _lp   2.4K Oct 20 22:58 c00002
drwxrwx---  9 root  _lp   288B Oct 20 23:15 cache
-rw-r-----  1 root  _lp   2.1M Oct 20 21:54 d00001-001
-rw-r-----  1 root  _lp   2.1M Oct 20 22:58 d00002-001

What you want to look for is the file that corresponds with the time that you pressed print that begins with the letter 'd.' To copy that file as a normal pdf to your desktop, enter the command:

sudo cp /var/spool/cups/d00001-001 ~/Desktop/file.pdf

Keep in mind to change the "d00001-001" value in the command above to the one that you actually want.

file.pdf should be in your Desktop folder!

[AnandSri]

Hello @steve_k._7203

I hope you are doing well, and thank you for sharing the steps that worked for you. This will help other community users facing a similar issue.

Please feel free to reach out if you need any assistance.

Regards,

Anand Sri | Acrobat Community Team