Can't fill in Adobe PDF forms

Question

Level 1

75 points

Can't fill in Adobe PDF forms

Hi ... I'm once again turningi to my favorite trusted resource for problems ... MAC users!

I have been unable to figure out how to fill in interactive forms in PDF format ... it just doesn't work! I've read Adobe's help pages for Adobe Reader 8.0 and can't find a workable fix. The help pages mention tool bars I don't have and icons that don't appear.

It kills me that my PC Internet Explorer friends can fill out and submit forms online and I can't.

What am I missing here? All help greatly appreciated!!

ccCarol

iMac G5 17"flat panel, Mac OS X (10.4.8)

Posted on Feb 5, 2007 4:06 PM

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Answer 1

Feb 5, 2007 7:15 PM in response to ccCarol

Are your PC friends using the full version of Acrobat, or just Reader?

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Answer 2

ccCarol Author

Level 1

75 points

Feb 5, 2007 9:59 PM in response to Templeton Peck

Is this is a duh ding dong moment? I'm not using the right software?

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Answer 3

ccCarol Author

Level 1

75 points

Feb 5, 2007 10:09 PM in response to ccCarol

Actually I do believe I have the right software. The instructions for Adobe Reader 8.0 include how to fill in online pdf forms — it just isn't working for me.

These are pdf forms offered online by private companies and even governmental agencies. Users can type in info in highlighted fields and then submit completed form online.

I'm assuming I have some glitch going on here or preferences aren't selected correctly. I did select "autoform on" in preferences, but it still doesn't work.

And the version of Adobe Reader 8.0 that I have installed is specifically for Mac OS X Power PC 5 and compatible with Safari.

Suggestions anyone????

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Answer 4

baltwo

Level 9

62,446 points

Feb 6, 2007 12:00 AM in response to ccCarol

You can view "online" forms in Safari, fill them out, and submit them. Exactly like you post this forum. Why would you need Reader? Maybe I'm missing the point.

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Answer 5

Sandy B

Level 2

215 points

Feb 6, 2007 12:52 AM in response to ccCarol

Carol, in case you didn't realize it, the problem might not be on your end. It could be the particular form that's causing the problem. Not all forms are created as "interactive." If the creator did not create an "interactive" form, I don't believe there's anything you (OR a PC user) can do except pull out the old typewriter or pen.

If you'd like to test a form that's definitely interactive, try downloading this one:
http://www.utc.edu/Administration/Admissions/secure/UTCApplication.pdf

I've just tried this particular one and had no difficulty using Adobe Reader 8. You shouldn't need any "tool," rather simply click on any of the interactive fields and start typing.

Incidentally, interactive PDFs also work with Preview, the program which comes with OSX, so you might wish to try that as well. It also worked fine for me on this particular form.

If the form turns out not to be the problem, be sure to post back as I'm sure someone can help figure this out. You definitely should be able to fill out a PDF form, so long as it was created as interactive.

iBook G4 1.42GHz PPC, 14" Mac OS X (10.4.8) also iBook G3 600MHz/ MacOS 10.1.5

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Answer 6

ccCarol Author

Level 1

75 points

Feb 6, 2007 1:27 AM in response to Sandy B

Thanks, Sandy.

I was able to fill in the form on the URL you sent me. So now I'm going to go back to some of the pdf pages I couldn't complete and test them again.

At first, when I was unable to complete an online interactive form, I was told that I needed to update my older Adobe Reader, so that's what I did, even though I thought Apple's Preview software should work with Safari.

When I downloaded the new version of Adobe Reader, it gave me a prompt to change default for opening pdf documents online to Adobe Reader, rather than Preview. Since installing the newer Adobe Reader earlier today, everything is downloading slooooooooooooowly.

Now I'd like to change it back, but haven't been able to find where I can make that change. I looked in Safari preferences, Preview preferences and System preferences, and haven't found a way to change the 'open pdfs in Preview'.

Any ideas? and thanks again for responding.

ccCarol

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Answer 7

Feb 6, 2007 5:37 AM in response to ccCarol

Select a PDF file and use "Get Info" from the "File" menu. Choose "Preview" in the "Open with" section, and click "Change All...".

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Answer 8

Sandy B

Level 2

215 points

Feb 6, 2007 5:58 AM in response to ccCarol

Glad it helped, Carol. Malcolm seems to have answered your question about changing your preference back to using "Preview." Let us know if you have any problems making the switch. In the future, if you should download a form that's not interactive, you might contact the creator and ask if there's an interactive version available. I've had occasions where there actually is an interactive form available, but for whatever reason it wasn't showing up as the download link on the website.

iBook G4 1.42GHz PPC, 14" Mac OS X (10.4.8)

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