Description
If you are using Adobe Reader you will notice that you are unable to write/save content in PDF files.
Adobe Reader is a PDF reader provided free-of-charge and does not allow users to “write” content in PDF files by default. In order to make and save changes to a PDF file, you need a license for Adobe Acrobat, or LiveCycle Reader Extensions. Changes that normally require Adobe Acrobat include: entering text, saving a PDF form, and adding comments.
Suggestions
PDF authors can use either Adobe Acrobat or Reader Extensions Server to enable individual PDF files with specific privileges to allow Adobe Reader write and save content into the PDF files. If you/your organization has a license for Adobe Acrobat or Reader Extensions Server, you can apply these privileges to the PDF file before distributing it, so that users can open it in Adobe Reader to write the content.
You can use one of the following solutions to enable the PDF files:
Solution 1: Enable the Typewriter tool for Adobe Reader.
- Enable the Typewriter tool on the PDF.
- With Adobe Acrobat:
Note:You must have at least one Acrobat Professional client installed.- Open the PDF in Acrobat Professional.
- Follow instructions depending on Acrobat version:
- Acrobat (8 or 9): choose Tools > Typewriter > Enable typewriter tool in Adobe Reader, or Advanced > Extend Features in Adobe Reader.
- Acrobat X: choose File > Save As >Reader Extended PDF > Enable Adding Text in Documents.
- Save the PDF.
- With Reader Extensions Server:
Note:You must have a Reader Extensions server installed in your organisation.- Go to the ReaderExtensions server portal (http://[servername]:[port]/ReaderExtensions).
- Upload the PDF file.
- Apply the commenting right to the PDF.
- Save the resulting PDF to your computer.
- With Adobe Acrobat:
- When you now open the same PDF in Adobe Reader, you will have a new tool available under Tools > Typewriter (Reader 8/9), or Tools > Add or Edit Text Box (Reader X).
- You can use this tool to type characters on top of the PDF content.
Here is a video tutorial showing how to use the Typewriter tool on a PDF: http://acrobatusers.com/tutorials/how-add-text-pdfs
Note: The typewriter tool is only available for static PDF files, not for dynamic files, as it is part of the commenting functionality. Imagine if you lay down a comment on a certain part of the PDF and then the PDF structure changes dynamically and shifts the content down a page to accomodate a new subform. The comment/typewriter text would no longer be pointing to the same position.
Solution 2: Enable the usage rights on the PDF in Acrobat.
Note: You must have at least one Acrobat Professional 8, or later, client installed.
- Open the PDF in Acrobat Professional.
- Choose Advanced > Enable Usage Rights in Adobe Reader (Acrobat 8/9), or File > Save As >Reader Extended PDF > Enable Additional Features (Acrobat X).
- Save the PDF.
- When you now open the PDF in Adobe Reader you will be able to fill the form and save the data.
Solution 3: Enable the appropriate rights on the PDF using Reader Extensions Server.
Note: You need to have a Reader Extensions Server installed in your organisation.
- Go to the ReaderExtensions server portal (http://[servername]:[port]/ReaderExtensions).
- Upload the PDF file.
- Select the Usage Rights you wish to apply to the PDF (you need Form Fill-In if you wish to complete the PDF form fields and save the data, or the Commenting right to use the Typewriter tool).
- Save the resulting PDF to your computer.
- Open the resulting PDF in Adobe Reader and you will be able to fill and save it.
Note: Reader Extensions server is a LiveCycle product to be deployed in an enterprise environment, and for this reason, may not be cost-effective if you only want to enable a handful of forms or PDFs.
Comments
Hi I’m wondering if there’s an easier solution?
I want to send interactive pdf to possible customer and add a button SEND to my e-mail but how to do this simply if they have Adobe reader and full of popup come and saying you can’t save data must do this and that before and print and share on the web and now you’ll be able to send it. I can’t add a text saying how to change your setup to to be able to send me back the document…they just won’t answer to my document which make the program useless.
Do you have anything simpler? (programs, interactive form without any popup, Pdf’s setup…)
Hi Thomas,
There is no other way to share a PDF form with Adobe Reader users and get them to fill it and send it back to you. Adobe Reader is a free product provided to do just that, read PDF files. If you want to actually fill/modify the content of PDF files, then you need to choose one of the methods above.
ReaderExtensions is a server product, intended for large volume conversion of non-fillable PDF files into fillable forms. This therefore carries a significant cost which is not realistic for smaller projects with only a handful of conversions.
Therefore we have provided this functionality also in Adobe Acrobat. You would need just one license for Adobe Acrobat and this would enable you to extend your PDF files into fillable forms for distribution to your users.
If you only want to display a message explaining to your users how they should interact with your PDF files, then you can add some Javascript to your PDF which will display a popup message whenever the PDF is opened.
David.
now export data function not work in pdf reader how make user export file in pdf reader to send xml file to me?
It sounds like you are reporting a new issue not related to the above post. If so, please use the forums to report your issue: http://forums.adobe.com.
You can find similar topics posted on the forums explaining the requirement to apply rights to a PDF using LiveCycle ReaderExtensions server, in order to be able to export XML data:
http://forums.adobe.com/thread/784249
http://eslifeline.wordpress.com/2008/06/04/importing-and-exporting-form-data/
Hi! I have Reader X. I received a pdf document that I’m supposed to fill out. It does not have the fields I’m used to seeing, but I have been able to use the Add Text to put things in. I’m not very good at getting things lined up so I went looking for a way to grab and move what I had written. I came back to the document and the Typewriter function was mysteriously on. I started using it and was excited to have it. But then I had to add more text and can’t find the Typewriter tool again. How did it show up and disappear like that? How do I activate it again?
You cannot enable the Typewriter tool, only the PDF author can do that using one of the methods detailed above. You will have to contact the PDF author if the Typewriter tool is not available for this PDF file.
If you are using Reader X, and the PDF author has enabled the Typewriter tool correctly, then you can access it under Tools > Add or Edit Text Box. See this post for more details.
I need help. I have downloaded forms before that were PDF formatted and was able to save changes. Now the new (7 page) form that is required as 6/1/2012 for a modification process is not allowing me to save changes. I need to be able to make changes saving my clients work while helping them save their homes.
The form is: RMA form
Type: Adobe Acrobat Document
Author: Fanniemae
Title: Request for Mortgage Assistance
Date Modified: 6/12/2012 10:15 AM
Size: 1.48 MB
HELP !!!
Hi Dwayne,
If the form has changed and the new version no longer allows you to save changes, you should contact the form’s author to request them to apply rights to the PDF (solution 2 or 3 above) and re-distribute it. If the author decided not to allow users fill and save the form, then maybe there is a reason they have done that.
The only alternative would be to fill the form and then print it.
best regards,
David
I am using Adobe Acrobat X Professional and LiveCycle Designer ES2 and I need to be able to have someone using Adobe Reader save the document as a .pdf. I have created the necessary buttons but when I go to Enable the User Rights there is no Advanced tab in my top menu. Do I not have the proper program or is this a different problem?
If you have Acrobat X Pro you can enable the PDF rights at File > Save As >Reader Extended PDF > Enable Additional Features (Acrobat X).
ive got a hp deskjet 1050a i have scaned my document but i want to change some
thing and i dont no how to do it is there any easy way to edit onto my computer and change detail please help
Adobe Reader is a free tool to read PDF files. With Adobe Acrobat, you can write/change content in PDF files. You can only use Adobe Reader to change a PDF file by using one of the 3 methods above, all of which require having a license (paying) for Adobe Acrobat/Reader Extensions server.
You can purchase Adobe Acrobat, or if someone you know has Adobe Acrobat then they could add rights to the PDF file (as described above) to allow you to edit it with Adobe Reader.
Hi David,
Short and sweet, more than 50% of the population ARE computer nerds, we are illiterate unless the machine shows us a check box to check or fill in and then hit enter.
I have always believed in the KISS principle and am requesting that you address my question along those lines.
Everyone receives forms from time to time that have blank boxes or fields that just have to be filled in. The most obvious answer is take out your pen and fill out the form. But for those of us whose handwriting is less than desirable, we would like to put the form in a typewriter and fill it in.
I am just looking to scan the form into my computer as a PDF file and then into a program that will recognize the empty, titled boxes, that are needing to be filled in. I am not looking for all the bells and whistles. I envision the answer as having the program recognize the first empty box and drop a cursor right there. I would then type in the info and the cursor would automatically move to the next box or I could tab it over.
Once the form has been completed, I would then either save as a file or send it to the printer and be able to present a professionally completed application rather then chicken scratch.
The only Extras that would be nice, but not at all necessary, would be: choice of type, font size and color, bold or italic, and spell check. That’s about as simple a form filler that more than half the population are eager to have.
The only whistle that I would choose, if possible, would be to have the capability of sending the completed form back by email.
The short answer is Adobe Acrobat.
Acrobat already has a feature to create a PDF form directly from a scanned document (Tools > Forms > Create). It can also call your scanner and scan the document directly into Acrobat. You can fill/save/email the form through Acrobat also.
As described above, such functionality is not available in Adobe Reader (free product), as it involves creating/editing PDF files which is only available in Acrobat (licensed product).
I created a form using illustrator, then saved as a PDF. Next, i went to forms, and used the form wizard to create form fields. When i was finished, i went to advanced and chose “extend features in adobe reader”.
Here’s the problem i encounter:
I sent the saved PDF form to other people, they open it, input text into the form fields, then save the document and close. When they reopen the document with saved content, they get an error message saying they don’t have the rights to edit any of the entered data, and the form becomes read-only for lack of a better explanation.
Is there a way to create the form, pass it off, allow people to fill in information, save, close, then reopen and continue editing the form fields?
I greatly appreciate any help you can offer.
Thanks,
That should work fine. I have also just tested it successfully with Illustrator CS5/AcrobatX/Reader X, and the PDF remains editable after multiple saves. The error you describe occurs when the PDF has been modified by some external process disabling the saving functionality in Reader, or it could be caused by some version incompatibility between your versions of Illustrator/Acrobat/Reader.
My Acrobat X does not say either File>Save As>Reader Extended PFD>Enable Adding Text in Documents OR File>Save As>Reader Extended PDF>Enable Additonal Features.
It says File>Save As>Reader Extended PDF>Enable Forms Fill-In & Save in Adobe Reader…
If I chose this option is says ‘The following features will become available for this document when opened in the free Adobe Reader. – Save form data (for a fillable PDF form only).
In past versions I have been able to set up documents so Reader users could type on them, but have not been able to do that with Acrobat X. What else should I be looking for to enable this function?
Exactly what version of Acrobat X do you have installed?
Do you have Acrobat Standard or Acrobat Professional?
Help. I have Adobe Acrobat Pro 9. I am not an expert, don’t know anything about scripts, or the other complementary programs that folks sometimes use. I have learned what little I know from these types of (wonderful) forums.
I had a document that was scanned. I used the Form Wizard to add a few simple text boxes and saved the document as “Editable.” I then RE-saved it as a second document with Extended Features, so that I could email it to a co-worker who only has Reader, and she could fill it out. I have done this before with success.
Co-worker filled out the form, and saved it. When she opens it, and when she sends it to me, and to certain others, the text can be read. But when she sends it to other users (their version of Adobe is unknown, but I didn’t think that mattered if I extended the features), they only see blank boxes.
What do we do? Thanks.
Hi Kristina,
If the document works fine for you and other users, then we can rule out any issues with the file itself. If it is not working for some users, then it could be, as you say, related to their Adobe Acrobat/Reader version.
It is possible that they have a very old version of Reader that does not work with these extended PDF documents, as that feature was introduced with Acrobat 9. You could compare the versions and installations between users where it works, and those where it doesn’t.
best regards,
David
We have Acrobat Standard 9.5.2 – after upgrade the Tools > Typewriter > Enable typewriter tool in Adobe Reader is gone. The Tools/Typewriter is there (I can add the typewriter toolbar) but the option to Enable the typewriter feature to send to acrobat reader users is gone.
Any ideas?
In Acrobat 9.5.2 this option is available under Advanced > Extend Features in Adobe Reader
How do i access my pdf files once saved!