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Correct answer Dov Isaacs

Acrobat Pro provides facilities for limited editing (and subsequent saving) of PDF files, more for “touch up” and emergency edits as opposed to any significant additions and modifications of content. The free Adobe Reader does not provide for any such editing at all.

PDF is a “final form file format” designed primarily for display, print, and annotation of the results of use of graphics or layout software. For the most part, it doesn't retain information that you have in the source document including the concepts of paragraphs, articles, sentences, or even words. The editing capabilities in Acrobat (or any software that claims to provide for editing PDF content) are based on heuristics and if provided, some tagging metadata provided by the layout program during PDF creation.

In general, you are better off going back to the source document, editing that, and recreating the PDF file than trying to directly edit a PDF file.

              - Dov

5 replies

D
Design_by_Stick
Participating Frequently
June 27, 2016

How do you add form fields (digital signature field) in Acrobat Reader?

I can do it in Acrobat Pro but can't see these options in Reader.

try67
try67
Community Expert
June 27, 2016

As I said, you need to add the fields in Acrobat, and then you'll be able to use it in Reader. You can't add it Reader itself (not easily, any way).

D
Design_by_Stick
Participating Frequently
June 27, 2016

No worries, can't throw anymore resource at this now. I got close though.

- Export as interactive PDF from InDesign

- Acrobat Pro let's me edit fields and then 'Save As Other', 'Optimized PDF', 'Discard Objects', 'Flatten Form Fields'.

- It worked great but I need it to work from Acrobat Reader, not Acrobat Pro.

Acrobat Reader does not seem to have this option, sad face!

try67
try67
Community Expert
June 27, 2016

It should work in Reader, after you add the field in Acrobat.

D
Design_by_Stick
Participating Frequently
June 27, 2016

Hi,

InDesign's interactive form option I only get the below options.

Should I be adding the signature filed directly in Acrobat Pro and not InDesign?

try67
try67
Community Expert
June 27, 2016

You should be adding all fields in Acrobat and not in ID, in my opinion.

D
Design_by_Stick
Participating Frequently
June 27, 2016

Hi,

Thanks for this, I'll try it shortly and let you know how I progress.

Dov Isaacs
Dov IsaacsCorrect answer
Brainiac
April 9, 2016

Acrobat Pro provides facilities for limited editing (and subsequent saving) of PDF files, more for “touch up” and emergency edits as opposed to any significant additions and modifications of content. The free Adobe Reader does not provide for any such editing at all.

PDF is a “final form file format” designed primarily for display, print, and annotation of the results of use of graphics or layout software. For the most part, it doesn't retain information that you have in the source document including the concepts of paragraphs, articles, sentences, or even words. The editing capabilities in Acrobat (or any software that claims to provide for editing PDF content) are based on heuristics and if provided, some tagging metadata provided by the layout program during PDF creation.

In general, you are better off going back to the source document, editing that, and recreating the PDF file than trying to directly edit a PDF file.

              - Dov

- Dov Isaacs, former Adobe Principal Scientist (April 30, 1990 - May 30, 2021)
D
Design_by_Stick
Participating Frequently
June 27, 2016

Hi Dov,

I'm hoping you can help.

- I design and export an interactive PDF using InDesign.

- It opens in Acrobat fine, all the editable fields are working.

- Once the fields have been populated how do I (or a client) then save that PDF down as a non editable PDF?

It's seems very hard to get an answer to this, I'd really appreciate your advice here.

try67
try67
Community Expert
June 27, 2016

The best way to do it is to add a digital signature field and set it to lock all the fields in the file. Once the user signs it, it will not be possible to change the contents of the file without invalidating the signature.

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