Reader enabled forms in Adobe Acrobat Pro DC

Report · May 23, 2016

I recently upgraded to Adobe Acrobat Pro DC and since then I have not been able to save as a reader extended PDF to allow users to type/save forms. I've scoured the Internet looking for a solution and have tried File-> Properties -> Security and the security method is already set to 'No Security.' It does say that changing the document is not allowed though? Again, the error I get when trying to create/save a fillable form is: "This document could not be reader enabled." Help would be GREATLY appreciated!

Report · May 23, 2016

Can you post a screen shot of the Document Restrictions Summary (Acrobat > Properties > Security)?

Report · May 23, 2016

Of course! Thanks!

Report · May 23, 2016

That shows that the file is already Reader-enabled.

Report · May 23, 2016

Well, I tried to choose File -> Save as Other -> Reader extended PDF prior to showing you the Security tab. That's when I get the error that the document could not be reader enabled. It doesn't actually save the file though. So if I try to save regularly after it doesn't save the PDF as a form. When I open it in Adobe Reader I see this error:

If I try to again save as a Reader Extended PDF though, it tells me it already is. It's a really odd problem.

Report · May 23, 2016

Do you still have the original PDF that has not been Reader-enabled?

Report · May 23, 2016

Yes, the security tab view is attached. Thank you for your help (and patience)!

Report · May 23, 2016

That last screen shot looks like it's from Reader. If you open that same form in Acrobat you should be able to Reader-enable it.

Report · May 23, 2016

Sorry, yes it was from Reader. When I open the same file in Acrobat and show the Security tab, I see this:

When I create the form, close form editing and then select File -> Save as Other -> Reader Extended PDF This is the error I get.

Even though it says it can't be reader enabled, if I view security after trying to make the form Reader Enabled I see this:

It never actually lets me save the file as a reader extended PDF though. I'm not sure what else to try. Are there other settings somewhere that I can try?

If I again try to save with reader enabled PDF, it tells me it already is a reader extended PDF.

But when I open the same PDF in Reader at this point, this is what I'm seeing:

It's odd, I've never had issues with this with prior versions of Acrobat. I'm at a loss here! I appreciate everything!

Report · May 23, 2016

It seems like something is happening that causing the file to get corrupted when you attempt to Reader-enable it. My guess is that there's a problem with the original form that causing this to happen, but I can't say much more without looking at the original. If I had the file, the first thing I'd do is use the "Report PDF syntax issues" preflight check (PDF analysis profile) in Acrobat Pro to see if it reports anything.

Report · May 23, 2016

Thanks, this actually happens to every single file I try to create as a PDF form; I thought it might be a setting somewhere. This is a brand new computer that I got a few days ago. I just haven't gotten this one thing to work. Maybe it's a glitch. I did run the report that you suggested and it didn't find any errors.

Report · May 23, 2016

What version of Acrobat are you using? I'm asking for the exact version number, which you'll see by selecting: Acrobat > About Acrobat

Report · May 24, 2016

It's version 2015.009.20069

I'm not sure if any of this other info would help so I'm attaching a screen grab again.

Report · Jul 17, 2016

I don't know if you're still having this problem, but I had the exact same issues yesterday. Today, I completely uninstalled every adobe software on my computer (adobe acrobat pro dc and creative cloud) and reinstalled it all. Now, I can reader-enable PDFs without any error message or problem! Maybe if you try that, it will work?

Report · Jul 28, 2016

I just uninstalled Adobe Reader DC since I technically didn't need it since I am using Adobe Pro DC and it worked. I can now Save as Reader Enabled. Yea! Hope this helps

Report · Aug 22, 2016

Dang it - it only lasted for a little while then right back to the same error message.

Report · Aug 22, 2016

Ok - Now if I save the original editable version again with a new name. Then do Save Other as Reader Extended Option it works again. Wow - so I guess every time you want to create a new Reader Enabled pdf you have to save the Original as its own pdf document first then do the Reader Extended Save. Fun Fun