How do I edit a FormsCentral PDF form in Adobe Acrobat?

created by Randy Swineford on Jul 23, 2013 3:16 PM, last modified by Randy Swineford on Jul 23, 2013 3:27 PM
Version 1

    PDF forms generated by FormsCentral are Reader Extended to allow Adobe Reader users to fill and save PDF forms. A side effect of Reader Extending the PDF form is that it cannot be modified in the full (paid-for) Adobe Acrobat product. The instructions below explain how to edit FormsCentral PDF forms in Acrobat X or XI:

     

    1. Open the FormsCentral PDF form in Adobe Acrobat
    2. Go to the File menu and select the Save a Copy… menu item (Note: this is not the same as File > Save As...). This step is important as it will remove the Reader Extended rights and allow you to modify the PDF. Make sure you save under a different name than the current PDF.
    3. Open the copy you just saved in step #2
    4. Do your modifications. Note: If the form has a FormsCentral Submit button on it then be careful making changes because you could break the Submit button.
    5. If your form has a Submit button then test your form by submitting data to make sure the changes you made didn't break anything
    6. If you have Acrobat XI then go to File > Save as Others... > Reader Extended PDF > Enable More Tools (include form fill-in & save)…; If you have Acrobat X then go to File > Save as... > Reader Extended PDF > Enable Additional Features... This will add the Reader Extended Rights back so that the fillers can save the PDF in previous version of Reader