Level 1

10 points

Unable to fill out interactive PDF form on Mac mini 2018

I am having issues with trying to fill out interactive PDF forms on my 2018 Mac mini.

I am able to sign forms without issue on PC's and my MacBook; however, on my 2018 Mac mini it won't let me. Natively on MacOS, when I click on a type field box all it does is the borders of the box is bolded but no text is inputted; the same occurs with buttons (check mark boxes). However when I close the app, it recognized that there are changes as it asks if I want to save my changes to the file.

I also have Parallels installed and when I try to do the same in filling out forms on Windows via Parallels, the same issue occurs.

Help with Adobe online support has not helped. I feel the issue may be with the computer.

Mac mini 2018 or later

Posted on Oct 10, 2020 12:26 AM

Similar questions

37 replies

ryanqc Author

Level 1

10 points

Oct 11, 2020 1:05 PM in response to hcsitas

I have the same settings and same issue

ryanqc Author

Level 1

10 points

Oct 12, 2020 9:27 PM in response to hcsitas

It is on both Acrobat Reader and Pro.

i have also Uninstalled and installed acrobat reader on my MacBook and now the same issue occurs.

VikingOSX

Level 10

129,462 points

Oct 10, 2020 8:42 AM in response to ryanqc

Apple's Preview has limitations with forms created by Adobe Acrobat Pro and LiveCycle Designer. Your best bet is to use a product that stays current with PDF standards, and that would be the free, current Adobe Acrobat Reader DC. Do not download the Acrobat Pro trial from that site.

Some forms have AcrobatJS (Adobe's Javascript for PDF) code associated with the form field, and Apple's Preview doesn't know what to do when it encounters it.

hcsitas

Level 6

13,976 points

Oct 10, 2020 2:50 PM in response to ryanqc

Hmm. Ok let’s start over. Why are there two files, why is the uneditable file bigger and why doesn’t it have the Adobe logo? Are you using Acrobat DC on both? Screenshot the permissions on both please. And let’s take this up tomorrow, I need to run some errands. This is definitely a permissions issue on the files so keep fiddling with it...

ryanqc Author

Level 1

10 points

Oct 10, 2020 3:35 PM in response to hcsitas

First, I want to say thank you for your assistance.

Ok I don't know why there is a difference but I don't think the file is the problem. Other than the provided example, I can't type into interactive PDF forms.

This is a link from the IRS.gov website for a 2019 Form 1040: https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f1040s1.pdf. On my MacBook, I am able to input data into it via Acrobat Reader. The same file on my Mac mini, I am unable to do it with Acrobat Reader.

ryanqc Author

Level 1

10 points

Oct 10, 2020 1:35 PM in response to VikingOSX

The 2015 MacBook is Catalina 10.15.5 and the Mac mini is 10.15.7.

I am able to fill out the documents in the Safari browser (on the mini).

hcsitas

Level 6

13,976 points

Oct 10, 2020 2:22 PM in response to ryanqc

988 is on the cloud, probably with write permissions...fix the local one 988-2.

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Unable to fill out interactive PDF form on Mac mini 2018