Interactive Forms not printing on website

[racheller99894308]

Hello

I have created an interactive form using InDesign. When I export the file into an interactive PDF it works fine, and prints correctly from my desktop.

However, when I upload the form onto a website, the form looks fine on the webpage, however when you go to print the form all of the text boxes and check boxes disappear. The text boxes  and check boxes only show if they have text entered into them or are ticked.

Has anyone else encountered this problem? How do I fix this so the form prints correctly?

Thanks,

R

[Steve Werner]

PDF forms will only display and print reliably from Adobe Reader or Adobe Acrobat. For other PDF readers — especially those in web browsers, there is no guarantee they will print reliably.

Download the PDF and open in Reader or Acrobat, and it will print fine.

[Mike Witherell]

Just to be doubly-sure, when you are editing the form in Acrobat DC, and you double-click on the individual form field, and you are in Text Field Properties, for example, under General tab, is the common properties set to visible? or visible but doesn't print?

[racheller99894308]

The Form Field Properties are set to 'Visible' - which is why I think it is really strange the text and check boxes won't print.

I have placed Interactive forms on a website in the past and they worked fine, but in the last month or so this weird glitch is occurring.

[Steve Werner]

But you're using a web browser to view the PDF, right? You're not using Acrobat or Reader, right? What browser?

[racheller99894308]

I am using Chrome. When viewed in Chrome the form looks fine, but when I go to print preview, all of the text and check boxes disappear.

It's really strange as I have created interactive forms in the past and they work and print fine on the website. Recent forms I have created in the last month, the forms are no longer visible when printing from a website.

[Steve Werner · Accepted solution]

I'm not a Chrome user. I would never try to print a PDF form from any web browser.

For what it's worth, I have heard more reports of display and printing problems from Chrome in the past six months in several Adobe forums. Google may have made some code changes that are have adverse effects on what you're seeing/printing. I could be wrong, but I'd look for other options. There is definitely nothing you can do about it in InDesign.

[racheller99894308]

Thanks for your reply Steve - I have just tried printing the form using Internet Explorer and it prints correctly - so you are right, the issue is with Chrome - how frustrating!!

[Steve Werner]

Just a reminder: Not all PDF readers are created equal!

[Willi Adelberger]

For PDFs you should not use Chrome or Explorer or any other web browser, only Acrobat. Web browsers are not reliable PDF readers, only Acrobat is.

[Dave Creamer of IDEAS]

To add (slightly) to this conversation...

Most newer browsers have their own PDF viewer built in (and Flash viewer too).

Internet Explorer, being older, still hooks into an external viewer. (It's replacement, Microsoft Edge, does not.)

Chrome and other newer browsers usually have an option to either change the viewing program or to download the PDF directly.