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Others unable to view form data when I email a completed form

vendemia
Registered: Aug 14 2009
Posts: 6

Hello.

In an effort to streamline my everyday workload, I added forms to a variety of scanned documents that I used to fill out by hand. Instead of filling out the documents with a pen, scanning them to a pdf file, and then emailing the pdf, I now fill in the fields I created, save the document, and email it to the appropriate person.

However, the people to whom I'm sending these documents have been saying that the documents arrive blank (i.e. there are no fields present and no data where the fields should be). If I reopen the saved documents on my computer, all of the fields and that data I entered are present.

How can I make it possible for everyone else to see the data I entered in the form fields when I email the saved documents?

Thanks.

My Product Information:
Acrobat Standard 9.1.3, Macintosh
suewhitehead
Registered: Jun 3 2008
Posts: 232
I saw something like this when a form was opened in an older version of Acrobat. Adobe Acrobat was unable to render the fields and data because of the difference. So if your recipients do not have the version for which you set its compatibility, they will not see the form fields or the data in the form fields.
When you create a form, try to set the compatibility to the oldest that you think will be used to open the file. Keep in mind that some of the functions in Acrobat/ Reader 9 will not be usable in older versions.
You can set the compatibility by going to ADVANCED > PDF OPTIMIZER ( on Windows Acrobat 9, hopefully PDF Optimizer is also on the Mac version and in the same place.)
You might also consider sending them, or directing them to the website of, Adobe Reader 9, which is a free application. Then all of the fields and data will be available. Just make sure that you enable Reader Rights, if necessary for your users if they will be using Reader.
vendemia
Registered: Aug 14 2009
Posts: 6
Thank you very much. That's very helpful info. Do I have to Enable Reader Rights for others to view the form field data in Reader? Most of the individuals who I send these filled-in forms to aren't using Acrobat. What about flattening the form fields in the pdf optimizer? Would that allow others to view the data in my form fields without changing the compatibility settings?
suewhitehead
Registered: Jun 3 2008
Posts: 232
The form does not have to have Reader Rights Enabled for others to view it, only if they are going to need to save the form with changes made (data typed in). There are other operations that require Reader Rights Enabled but this is the major one.
I don't know if flattening it will help or not. I would suspect not but not sure.
vendemia
Registered: Aug 14 2009
Posts: 6
Will others be able to view data that I add to pdf files using the Typewriter tool? I'm thinking that that may be another option if I can't find a way to have the field data universally viewable...
gkaiseril
Online
Expert
Registered: Feb 23 2006
Posts: 4308
What product, version, and OS are your users using to view the form.

Are there any messages about missing fonts or other errors?

The font sets used by MacIntosh and Windows even though they may have the same common name are not the same at the system level. You may need to make sure that you have the fonts being used in the form fields are embedded into the PDF before you save and email the form.

Use of the commenting 'Typewriter' tool also uses the fonts on your system so you will need to make sure the other users have the font or you have embedded than font into the PDF. Flattening the PDF will also requite that the fonts be present on the other systems or you have embedded the fonts into the PDF.

George Kaiser

vendemia
Registered: Aug 14 2009
Posts: 6
Most people who I email docs to are using recent versions of Reader, but they do use Windowns machines while I use a Mac (OSX.5.8, Acrobat 9 Pro)

Great thought about embedding the font?. How do I do that? And what font should I use?
lkassuba
ExpertTeam
Registered: Jun 28 2007
Posts: 3636
vendemia wrote:
Most people who I email docs to are using recent versions of Reader, but they do use Windowns machines while I use a Mac (OSX.5.8, Acrobat 9 Pro)Great thought about embedding the font?. How do I do that? And what font should I use?
Your problem may be related to an issue on MAC OSX where the Mac OSX's Preview.app isn't writing any appearance into the text fields nor it is setting the proper flags. You can use Joel Geraci's [url=http://blogs.adobe.com/pdfdevjunkie/script_to_fix_mac_osx_previewa.php]Script to Fix Mac OSX Preview.app Form Fill and Save[/url] to correct the problem.

Lori Kassuba is an AUC Expert and Community Manager for AcrobatUsers.com.