PDF Form Coming back with Blank Fields - No Macs

[Manzanita Lisa]

I have an order form made with Adobe Acrobat Pro DC that's coming back with a single field that's blank. Sometimes, more than just the one field. Usually, all the other fields are populated, but inevitably the last, "additional options" field is invisible unless I click on it. I haven't created this field any differently, but it is the only multi-line field. It is not being filled out on a Mac, but the recipient is not using Reader. I can't ask all my customers to use Reader - is there some way to format this PDF so that it can be filled in by anyone with any OS? I can't possibly control what all our customers use.

[Bernd Alheit]

This is not possible.

[Manzanita Lisa]

Yes, it is possible. It could be some sort of operating system discrepancy - there are an endless number of issues it might be, but I've got to say the the previous response is not constructive. I'd really appreciate a response from someone with a solution. My only other choice is to use another software program to create forms which would be really disappointing because I'm already paying for several seats on Adobe CC. I like the program, but if it's not working, I can't use it.

[Bernd Alheit]

When you know that is possible why didn't you know the solution?

[Manzanita Lisa]

Bernd, I don't know what the problem is, and clearly, you don't either. Please do not respond to this thread anymore, I'm looking for a response from someone who can help.

[Bernd Alheit]

Good luck.

[try67]

I think Bernd's reply of "it's not possible" was to this question you asked:

is there some way to format this PDF so that it can be filled in by anyone with any OS?

And his answer is correct. You can't account for all PDF viewers out there. Best you can do is instruct your users to use software that adheres to the PDF ISO Standard. For the most part, that would mean Adobe Acrobat or Adobe Reader.

[Manzanita Lisa]

Thanks for all the responses everyone - I guess the only way to make it universal is with html. I'll invite all our customers to download Reader and hope for the best!

[JR Boulay]

Bernd know what he said.

PDF is a too versatile file format, a too "standard" file format, so no one can rely about the software used to open it, on a computer or on a mobile device.

So You (as the form creator) must ensure about the end-user software.

The workaround is tricky: cover your form with a button form field, and place a JavaScript at startup to hide it.

So: using a software that support Javascript = the form can be used.

Otherwise (Javascript not supported), the end user can only see the button that cover the form, where you had wisely placed a warning message…

[JR Boulay]

A HTML form must be used online, unlike a PDF form.