Forms don't show up

[cathybettoney]

I own Acrobat XI, Version 11.0.14. I have downloaded Acrobat Reader DC, 2015 release, Version 2015.010.20056. When I create a fillable form, I have to open it with Acrobat XI. If I send the document to someone who has Reader only, the fillable forms don't show up.

[Bernd Alheit]

What happens when you open the form in Acrobat Reader DC?

[cathybettoney]

The forms don't even show up.

[cathybettoney]

The original text is there but there aren't any fillable "boxes".  When I open the document in Acrobat, the forms are there and are fillable.

[try67]

Ask them to double-check what application they're using. Many times people

thing they're using Adobe Reader but are in fact using something else, like

MS Reader, or a browser plugin. Also ask them for the exact version number

of that application.

On Sun, Feb 14, 2016 at 2:16 PM, cathybettoney <forums_noreply@adobe.com>

[cathybettoney]

I create the form fields in Adobe Acrobat XI, version 11.0.14. Then I open the document with the form fields in Adobe Acrobat Reader DC, 2015 release, version 2015.010.20056. That's what I got when I opened the "about" information.

I create the form fields with no problem, and as long as I'm opening Acrobat first and then opening the document inside it, everything works just fine. When I click on the document to open it without specifying the program, it opens in Acrobat Reader and I just get the blank document with no form fields.

[try67]

Ah, I thought you were talking about other people using your forms.

OK, so when you say there are no form fields, do you mean you can't see them (because they're not highlighted), or you can't click on them and fill them in?

Go to Edit - Preferences - Forms and make sure that field highlighting is turned on.

[cathybettoney]

Both. Can't see them and can't fill them in. In Acrobat Professional they work fine. In Reader DC they don't show up at all; just the text in the original document.

I just checked one of the documents that has form fields. It opened in Reader. I don't see the option Edit-Preferences-forms in Reader.

[try67]

Can you post a screenshot (use the Camera icon when posting via the forums)

of what you're seeing?

On Sun, Feb 14, 2016 at 4:19 PM, cathybettoney <forums_noreply@adobe.com>

[cathybettoney]

[cathybettoney]

The top image is what I see when I open the document from a file. It opens in Reader and there are no form fields. The second image is what I see when I open Acrobat Professional first, and open the document inside the program. The form fields are visible and editable.

[try67]

Post screenshots of the entire window, please.

[cathybettoney]

[try67]

That's the same... The entire window, please.

[Bernd Alheit]

‌Or post a screenshot of the preferences.

[gkaiseril]

Check your Preferences for Reader and make sure it is not using the PDF Archive view.

[cathybettoney]

Is this what you mean?I selected the entire window with SnagIt. I didn't see where there were "preferences" in Reader.

[Bernd Alheit]

In Acrobat Reader use the menu File > Preferences...

What can you see?

[cathybettoney]

Exactly what I posted. I posted a screenshot of the entire window. There is no "preferences" button, tab, selection, or anything else.

[George_Johnson]

When you respond by email, any attachments that you may add do not show up. You can post via the forum and include an image.

[cathybettoney]

My fault! Sorry about that. Here are the screenshots. The first one is the document opened in Acrobat and the second is the document opened in Reader.

[George_Johnson]

That screen shot where the fields are not showing up does not show Reader. It looks more like the Microsoft Edge browser.

[try67 · Accepted solution]

This is exactly why I insisted on screenshots of the entire window... You're not using Reader. Looks like Edge or some other browser.

Save the file locally and then open it in the Reader application directly.

[cathybettoney]

You are right! And thank you for not calling me out as being dumber than Homer Simpson. I opened Reader and the form fields are there and fillable! Thank you all for your patience and help!