Automator - Encrypt PDF removes filled in text

Question

Automator - Encrypt PDF removes filled in text

Hello,

Requirement:

I am trying to automate the encryption of many PDF files at once. The PDF files all have filled-in text. These are fillable forms in PDF format.

I have the following steps -->

Get Specified Finder Items
Encrypt PDF Documents
Move Finder Items

Result and Problem:

The files get encrypted, the workflow is successful.
The filled-in text is missing.

However, if I encrypt the file manually using Preview --> Export as PDF, then the filled-in fields are retained in the encrypted file.

What am I missing here? Thanks for the help!

MacBook Pro 15”, macOS 10.14

Posted on Mar 15, 2019 7:32 PM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

VikingOSX

Level 10

124,454 points

Mar 16, 2019 4:15 AM in response to CrazyAppleMan

Ensure that you have updated to Mojave 10.14.3, in case Apple has fixed this particular Automator action from prior releases.

That Automator Encrypt PDF Documents action uses a custom, compiled binary that is not used by the Preview application. That would explain why Preview treats the form contents correctly. As we are fellow users, only Apple can fix that Automator action. I suggest that you submit feedback as a bug category to the Automator product team.

If you have a free, or paid developer account, you can submit a proper bug report with explanation, and a sample attached PDF document that is unencrypted and example form fields filled. They can then test this to reproduce the problem.

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Answer 2

Mar 16, 2019 2:27 AM in response to CrazyAppleMan

Could you post an example pdf that exhibits the problem, to a place like dropbox, so we can test?

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Automator - Encrypt PDF removes filled in text

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