10 Replies Latest reply: Nov 7, 2013 10:47 AM by lrosenth RSS

    PC users can't save PDF form data from form created on Mac

    Rudylandnet Community Member
    Rudylandnet Feb 9, 2012 12:27 PM

      I'm trying to create a PDF form for a client that will be accessing the form on a PC. However, when the client opens the form, a message appears saying that any data filled in the form cannot be saved and the document must be printed. If the client tries to "Save As" a message appears saying the form will be saved without the data. This defeats the whole purpose of using PDF forms.

       

      What can I do to allow my client to save data in the form? When I check the permissions on my end, there is no security and no restrictions.

      Screen shot 2012-02-09 at 10.24.51 AM.png

      Developer environment:

       

      • Acrobat 9 Pro
      • OSX Snow Leopard

       

      Client environment:

       

      • Windows 7
      • Acrobat Pro X
        • 1. Re: PC users can't save PDF form data from form created on Mac
          Karl Heinz Kremer CommunityMVP
          Karl Heinz Kremer Feb 9, 2012 1:08 PM (in response to Rudylandnet)

          Is it possible that your client is not running Acrobat Pro X as you've

          indicated, but Adobe Reader X? What you describe is the behavior the free

          Reader would exhibit. It's standard behavior is to not allow a user to save

          a filled PDF file. And no, that does not defeat the purpose of a PDF form:

          You can submit the form data e.g. to a server that would then process and

          store that data.

           

          However, there are ways to "reader enable" a form, which would allow the

          client with just the free Reader to fill a form and locally save it.

          Depending on your application, you can do that either with Acrobat Pro, or

          a server based LiveCycle product. Before you get further involved, you need

          a better understanding of the PDF forms eco system and what you can and

          what you cannot do with PDF forms created with these different solutions

          (both from a technical, but also a legal point of view).

           

          Karl Heinz Kremer

          PDF Acrobatics Without a Net

           

          khk@khk.net

          http://www.khkonsulting.com

          • 2. Re: PC users can't save PDF form data from form created on Mac
            Rudylandnet Community Member
            Rudylandnet Feb 9, 2012 1:36 PM (in response to Karl Heinz Kremer)

            Thanks for the quick response, Karl.

             

            The client downloaded the trial version of Pro X, to verify that the form works before buying. Would the trial version impose restrictions?

             

            The client does not want to store data on a server. He wants the form to function as a template that he can save-as to customize. The completed forms will be shown on the computer as a part of a presentation, sometimes without Internet access.

             

            I tried using the Advanced > Extend Form Features options to enable to ability to save form data, but when I tested the PDF on my PC (Vista, latest version of Reader) I got an error message along the lines of "this document has been modified from previous version, please get a copy of the original" and all form fields are gone.

             

            I'm currently downloading the trial of Pro X so I can test the PDF.

             

            I am also using a Javascript to allow the client to place photos in the document. This is achieved using a button with a Javascript attached to it: event.target.buttonImportIcon();

             

            Screen shot 2012-02-09 at 11.35.02 AM.png

             

            This works correctly in my environment, but could it be screwing up the file as it's opened on a PC?

            • 3. Re: PC users can't save PDF form data from form created on Mac
              lrosenth Adobe Employee
              lrosenth Feb 10, 2012 4:46 AM (in response to Rudylandnet)

               

              The best solution here is for the customer to have Acrobat Pro as well and do NOT Reader Enable.

              • 4. Re: PC users can't save PDF form data from form created on Mac
                inko9nito Community Member
                inko9nito Jun 19, 2012 11:27 AM (in response to lrosenth)

                That's not really a solution. That's just a ploy to get people to buy a piece of software they don't really need.

                • 5. Re: PC users can't save PDF form data from form created on Mac
                  roclg Community Member
                  roclg Oct 26, 2012 9:21 AM (in response to inko9nito)

                  Exactly, I'd buy it just to use for a few minutes, and it's a pretty expensive software, if it was a little bit less expensive I'd consider it.

                   

                  Wish all my clients used Foxit, it allows to change and save, just adobe has that "no-save" function, no idea why, maybe just to piss me off.

                  • 6. Re: PC users can't save PDF form data from form created on Mac
                    lrosenth Adobe Employee
                    lrosenth Oct 26, 2012 9:34 AM (in response to roclg)

                    Adobe Reader XI now supports Fill and Save for ANY PDF.

                    • 7. Re: PC users can't save PDF form data from form created on Mac
                      RobKeppel Community Member
                      RobKeppel Nov 28, 2012 10:34 PM (in response to Rudylandnet)

                      Step 1

                      Click "Start," "All Programs" and click "Adobe Acrobat" to launch the program.

                      Step 2

                      Click "File," "Open" and click the fillable PDF form you want to make savable. Click "Open."

                      Step 3

                      Click the "Advanced" menu tab.

                      Step 4

                      Click "Extend Forms Fill-In & Save In Adobe Reader." This will enable your recipients to fill in your PDF form, type their digital signature and save their electronic responses.

                       

                      I did this and it worked like a charm!!

                      • 8. Re: PC users can't save PDF form data from form created on Mac
                        redhead314 Community Member
                        redhead314 Jun 18, 2013 10:42 AM (in response to Rudylandnet)

                        if you are using Adobe Acrobat X to make the form go to the top menu and select File> Save As> Reader Extended PDF> Enable Additional Features. The resulting PDF form can be saved when filled in, if opened in versions of Adobe Reader before XI.

                        • 9. Re: PC users can't save PDF form data from form created on Mac
                          QualDev Community Member
                          QualDev Nov 7, 2013 9:41 AM (in response to redhead314)

                          I tried using the extended features which seem to work on reader if you use the file you saved. I wrote an application which populates a pdf file on our server with request data from the customer. The form is then emailed from the server to the agency to complete and post the data back to the server. Some of the locations the agency goes to don't allow internet access so the ability to save the data to their harddrive is important. When I used the template with extended features enabled, I get a notice from the server that the file has changed and extended features are disabled. How can I do what I need to with out making every contactor purchase the full version of acrobat.

                          • 10. Re: PC users can't save PDF form data from form created on Mac
                            lrosenth Adobe Employee
                            lrosenth Nov 7, 2013 10:47 AM (in response to QualDev)

                            Sounds like whatever tool you are using on the server is breaking the reader extensions.  I would talk to the vendor of that tool.