How to Print to PDF in Windows 8?

Report · Feb 24, 2017

I have Adobe Acrobat Pro DC Version 2015.006.30280. I am knowledgeable enough to be functional but by far adept.

I have created a very basic password protected fillable form. The user has Adobe Reader DC and once completed they are to click an action button to print it.

I want them to print the completed form as a regular PDF that can then be signed by multiple parties using a digital signature. This seems to work flawlessly in windows 7 and 10 but unfortunately not windows 8 and that is the majority of my users. I thought perhaps ensuring they had the newest version of the Adobe DC Reader would remedy the problem but they still cannot print to pdf. Is there a setting I am missing?

As a last ditch effort for success I tried having them install a 3rd party pdf printer but the following error is received -

ERROR: undefined

OFFENDING COMMAND: get

STACK:

/quit

-dictionary-

-mark

This is just speculation but I think it is because the file is encrypted. Why are only my windows 8 users having issue printing to pdf and is there a solution?

Thanks for your assistance!

The document lady

Report · Feb 24, 2017

Certainly, Adobe does take steps to stop encrypted (secure) forms from being printed to PDF. These don't always work, but they are important because it's such an easy way to take security off.

You have an interesting problem because you say your users have Reader and are printing to PDF in Windows 8. Reader does not include a PDF printer, nor does Windows 8. So another (non-Adobe, non-Microsoft) product must be involved. Still, Reader would try to stop it working.

The key here is that printing to PDF, often called "refrying" is almost always not the best way to get something done. What is the aim you are trying to achieve?

Report · Feb 24, 2017

Thanks for replying,

I will attempt to not be too confusing and as I stated I am not well versed in all that is Acrobat DC Pro

The aim of the fillable form is to allow data/text to be added electronically (which will always vary) and then have it digitally signed by others.

I do not want others to manipulate the previously entered data a user inputted so I have them print the form as a straight pdf file that can then be forwarded to others to sign.

Report · Feb 24, 2017

If you want them to print the form then you have to allow "printing" when applying the password as well as allowing filing and signing of the form.

Report · Feb 27, 2017

Allow "printing" will not help for printing to "Adobe PDF".

Report · Feb 27, 2017

Looks like I will just be sticking with the old clunky process that originally existed. Apparently bottom line is windows 8 and Adobe does not play well together from a basic point of view.

Thanks for your time.

Report · Feb 27, 2017

Thank your for replying.

Just as a refresher. I have a fillable pdf form. Once the data has been filled into the form it will require multiple signatures to sign-off. Potentially as many as 6. The process that is currently happening:

Complete the Form
Save as a pdf
Print the pdf
put a wet signature on the paper document
re-scan the document to a pdf
forward the pdf to the next user
Rinse wash and repeat.

The above process totally decimates the image quality and compromises validity since it is difficult to read. I had hoped to create a process that was easy to use and allow each user to digitally sign the document. Which worked perfectly until I learned most people had windows 8.

Regardless of the password it appears users with windows 8 still cannot print to pdf. This is a form that sits in a static location. Currently I have 2 Action buttons one to reset/clear the page so that new data can be entered and the other "was" to print to pdf. Since my users cannot print to pdf with windows 8 I thought perhaps they could do a "save-as" but of course the document is still saved its original format. I am unsure of the exact terminology but I want it to be a plain pdf in a non-fillable format. I think the term I want it is flattened (?) without the buttons and fillable fields

How do I change the button properties to flatten the form before performing a Save-As? Would I need to utilize the Action Wizard or is there a choice in the button menu list I am not seeing?

It has already been pointed out that "refrying" the pdf is not desirable but I am at a loss on how to proceed. Perhaps I am approaching it all wrong but the generic instruction of Adobe Acrobat DC Pro is not very insightful and I greatly appreciate any direction you can provide.

Thanks again for your time

The document lady