Save a fillable form as non-fillable

[cybelex]

Hi

I am using Adobe Acrobat Reader DC - how can I save a fillable form I have filled in as non-editable by the people I send it to?

Thanks

cybelex

[AadeshSingh]

Hi cybelex,

Please let me know the application using which the form is created?

Regards,

Aadesh

[cybelex]

Hi Aadesh

The document has been created with Adobe Acrobat X Pro by our graphic designer. It is a certificate template which I then enter the details into the fields and want to send on to the learner - however, I don't want the learner to be able to change the details in the fields and create their own certificates! Even if I save the document with a different name and email it, the recipient can still edit the fields. How can I get around this? I do not have Adobe Acrobat X Pro on my machine, only Adobe Acrobat Reader DC.

Thanks

Jane 🙂

[AadeshSingh]

Hi cybelex,

Such restrictions cannot be implemented using  Adobe Acrobat Reader DC. You will need Acrobat for it.

Try suggestion from this link: How to "flatten" a pdf in Adobe Acrobat X Pro, Under print production, under tool in Acrobat--> Flattener preview. Also, ::Form Field Flattening in Acrobat X

Regards,

Aadesh

[cybelex]

Thanks Aadesh, although this does not help my situation!

Kind regards

Jane 😞

[acka94029163]

After you're done filling out the form, click Print and when you see the drop down menu with your printer name on it, click the arrow and select "PDF" and then Print. It will ask you to name it and where to Save it - after Saving it, go back to it an open it, you should see that it can no longer be edited. You can then attach to email and send.

[~graffiti]

acka94029163 wrote:

After you're done filling out the form, click Print and when you see the drop down menu with your printer name on it, click the arrow and select "PDF" and then Print. It will ask you to name it and where to Save it - after Saving it, go back to it an open it, you should see that it can no longer be edited. You can then attach to email and send.

That requires having Acrobat Pro or some other pdf printer on your system and is not available with the free Adobe Acrobat Reader.

[Cassie5FFA]

You can go into each feild and set it to read only then save it, or you can print and scan it.

[try67]

You can't do that with the free Reader, unless you use a script.

[wellroots]

I have Acrobat Pro DC, and printing to PDF is not an option

[Aegis0D4C]

Thank you acka94029163 I have so many fill-in forms that I need to email as non-fillable without restricting it with a password. you are a genious. 

[shawfin]

what if the form has hyperlinks in it? then PRINT TO PDF will disable it too. 

[Amal.]

Hi @shawfin_b2390

@shawfin

Thanks for reaching out. 

'Print to PDF' is Generally not advisable as it will flatten the PDF file. This means the meta data, links will all be removed from the PDF file.

When you flatten a PDF, you essentially merge all the layers and annotations within the document into a single layer. This process ensures that the content appears as a single, uneditable image, removing any interactivity or editable elements like form fields or annotations.

Once a PDF is flattened, it merges all layers and annotations into a single, uneditable image. Reversing the flattening process to restore the original document structure is generally not possible. It's advisable to keep a backup of the original PDF before flattening if you anticipate needing to make further edits in the future.

The option of 'Print to PDF' is available with Acrobat Pro (Paid Subscription). To know more, please check the help page https://adobe.ly/3O0WKCS

Hope this information will help.😊

~Amal