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fillable PDF problem - when opened from web server, it's just a regular non-fillable PDF?

Participant ,
May 18, 2016 May 18, 2016

I'm clearly not understanding something in this process.

I converted a regular PDF form into a fillable form using "Prepare Form".  My ideal being that people can eventually sign and send the form back to client directly from their browser/e-mail.

I've made all the changes, saved the form, but when I open it from the web server location it just reverts back to being a bog-standard PDF that the user can't fill in!?

What am I missing?

Here's the form.  When I open this locally it's fillable, when I open it from the web server, it's not. 

http://www.nathonjoneswebdesign.co.uk/caninerescue/PDFs/MEMBERS-APPLICATION-FORM-FILLABLE.pdf

Hoping someone can point out the obvious!

Thank you.

NJ

TOPICS
Acrobat SDK and JavaScript
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Community Expert ,
May 18, 2016 May 18, 2016

When you say you open the file "from the web server", do you mean that you're opening it inside a browser window?

If so, the issue is most likely that the browser is using a non-Adobe plugin to display the file. I tried it in Firefox, for example, and the internal PDF plugin there did not recognize the fields, while Acrobat did. The solution is to report the problem to the developers of these plugins and suggest to your users to save the file and then load it in Adobe Acrobat or Reader, not directly in the browser.

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Participant ,
May 18, 2016 May 18, 2016

Hi try67,

Yes it's basically a PDF stored on my web server that, I assumed, would open in Adobe Acrobat.  I forgot that it just opens in the browser but I still assumed that whatever plugin was being used would be of Adobe's making/doing and that, therefore, it should all just work.  Silly boy!

Asking people to save the file locally and then fill it in is kind of defeating the purpose a bit, I feel, but it's a solution for now I guess.

Should this work in standard Adobe Acrobat though. do you know, or will the "Fill & Sign" option only be available for people with Adobe Acrobat Pro DC (or whatever it's called!) or a CC subscription for example?

Thank you.
NJ

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Community Expert ,
May 18, 2016 May 18, 2016

It should work if Acrobat is used, yes.

They will need Acrobat or Reader XI or higher, though.

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Participant ,
May 18, 2016 May 18, 2016

Cool. Thank you try67.

Really appreciate the help.

NJ

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Community Beginner ,
May 19, 2017 May 19, 2017

It won't even work on my own pc and I have the constantly undating Adobe cc..

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LEGEND ,
May 19, 2017 May 19, 2017

what doesn't work? Forms in a browser we expect not to work.

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Community Beginner ,
May 21, 2017 May 21, 2017

but they used to...

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Community Expert ,
May 22, 2017 May 22, 2017
LATEST

Things change.

Most browsers use an internal PDF plugin now, instead of Adobe's. These

plugins are unfortunately usually sub-par when it comes to form fields and

scripts.

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