why are my accented fonts not showing on pdf.

[Guest]

our office is using an online or web-based (PDF) form. we have foreign names that requires accented fonts (i.e. Spanish, French, Portuguese). The problem is when its time to proof, the accented fonts or characters are missing.

I tried to embed, change the form, adjust the properties, embed some fonts, etc. to no avail. Any ideas why?

[Dov Isaacs]

You are more likely to get some assistance here if you provide some details such as:

(1) How are you creating the PDF file used as a form? Please provide all steps including all software products (and version information) used in creating the forms.

(2) What fonts are used in the form? Are they embedded in the PDF file?

(3) What is being used to fill in the forms? Adobe Reader or Acrobat? If not, be aware that the PDF implementations in Edge, Chrome, and FIrefox browsers do not invoke Adobe Reader or Acrobat and are not full PDF implementations. Apple's Preview application and native iOS support is also crufty.

(4) Is the problem with accented text in the base document or accented characters being entered by those filling out the forms? In the latter case, what fonts are being used for the forms fields?

            - Dov

[Guest]

Thanks for responding.

Actually we created the form using Word or Excel, convert it to PDF and then convert it to (fillable) pdf form. After that, we will upload the file to WebCRD and make it available to employees to order.

On the site, there is a proof where you can view what you had just type. The english characters are showing but somehow, the accented fonts (used in some languages like Spanish, French) are not showing or missing.

I was told that the font must be embedded. It was working before for some characters, but somehow, the new form is not able to show those characters anymore. Any ideas or help will be greatly appreciated.

[Dov Isaacs]

How do you create PDF from Word or Excel? The “Save as Adobe PDF” option or something else? Do you use jobjoptions that embed all fonts?

How do create the PDF form, with Acrobat?

What is “WebCRD” doing with the PDF files? Does it simply provide them to employees to download and fill out or does it do other functions? You mention that “on the site, there is a proof where you can view what you had just type(d).” How is that content being viewed? Adobe Reader in web browser window or some other way? This is critically important.

             - Dov

PS:  Perhaps you can provide a sample of such a form with international accents being lost? PDF file of course!