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_roddyguy_
Participant
October 20, 2008
Answered

Converting Adobe XML forms back to normal PDF

  • October 20, 2008
  • 14 replies
  • 229701 views
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?
    Correct answer _Aandi_Inston_
    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

    14 replies

    Show previous replies
    A
    Anonymous
    August 16, 2016

    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:

      T
      Test Screen Name
      Legend
      August 16, 2016

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

        T
        Test Screen Name
        Legend
        August 16, 2016

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

          A
          art4ind
          Participant
          March 10, 2016

          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!

          _
          _roddyguy_Author
          Participant
          October 20, 2008
          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
            B
            bnob35
            Participant
            March 13, 2014

            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?

            T
            Test Screen Name
            Legend
            March 13, 2014

            Please say

            - which system you have

            - which version of Acrobat (NOT Reader)

            - step by step, how you print to PDF?

            _
            _Aandi_Inston_Correct answer
            Participating Frequently
            October 20, 2008
            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
              P
              profstein
              Participant
              September 4, 2020

              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.

              A
              AmandaGilland
              Participant
              January 24, 2022

              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. 

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