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Problems with differences in PDF documents filled in with Preview vs. Adobe Acrobat Reader DC

Hi; I use fillable PDFs for progress notes in my office ((I'm a counselor). I created the forms on a Mac with Adobe (full PDF product), and saved them as PDFs in my MBA files.


And I almost always use Preview to open the form and fill it out. And then print before I send and the dates are ALWAYS printed right. Recently, I saved the newly completed form and then open it in Adobe Reader -- and it is always fine.


BUT I then I complete them and send them (confidentially) to our Billing office-- and they reach out when they open the PDF, and they are telling me that the dates on the forms are missing! (There are 2, date spaces, one on top in space for "date of service") and at the bottom next to my signature. )


But as I said, when I looked at the finished form after saving it, it looks fine in Preview but also looks fine in Reader.


Nonetheless, most of the time, I get a note or call that the date or dates did not print out!


But then I email them to the office and they tell me nope, both or sometimes 1 date is missing from my completed note form.


I would like to know why this happens and what to do about it to that the filled in PDF looks the way I made it and sent it.


VERSIONS:

Adobe app used occasionally to open and occasionally fill the pre-made forms in is:

Adobe Acrobat Reader DC, Continuous release, V 2022.001.20169

I stopped using Reader to fill the forms because I thought that was why the dates were often missing; but that is NOT the case.


My edition of Preview info:

PREVIEW: Version 11.0 (1033.4)


My MB air M1 laptop is running Monterey v 12.5.1


Finally, I checked and it does not appear that one can make PDF Fillable forms on Preview. I thought if I could, that would help and eliminate the problem. So far, nothing fixes it.


Thanks in advance for any advice or ideas anyone has.


Howard

MacBook Air Apple Silicon

Posted on Sep 14, 2022 10:43 AM

Reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Sep 14, 2022 11:59 AM

When you use Adobe Acrobat DC Pro to create forms in a PDF, it may use Acrobat JavaScript (AcroJS) in the form controls (whether you did so intentionally, or not) or even insert Acrobat plug-in references in that PDF. Apple's Preview will ignore AcroJS and any reference to an Acrobat plug-in may even further confuse it into not handling the PDF in the manner that Acrobat Reader DC can.


I have a PDF that I coded to expire after a certain date. Did that in PDFPenPro (now Nitro PDF). Acrobat Reader DC honors that timeout, but Preview is completely unaware of that code and opens the PDF without warning.


Similar questions

2 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Sep 14, 2022 11:59 AM in response to NJpsychout

When you use Adobe Acrobat DC Pro to create forms in a PDF, it may use Acrobat JavaScript (AcroJS) in the form controls (whether you did so intentionally, or not) or even insert Acrobat plug-in references in that PDF. Apple's Preview will ignore AcroJS and any reference to an Acrobat plug-in may even further confuse it into not handling the PDF in the manner that Acrobat Reader DC can.


I have a PDF that I coded to expire after a certain date. Did that in PDFPenPro (now Nitro PDF). Acrobat Reader DC honors that timeout, but Preview is completely unaware of that code and opens the PDF without warning.


Sep 14, 2022 11:05 AM in response to NJpsychout

NJpsychout wrote:

Hi; I use fillable PDFs for progress notes in my office ((I'm a counselor). I created the forms on a Mac with Adobe (full PDF product), and saved them as PDFs in my MBA files.

And I almost always use Preview to open the form and fill it out. And then print before I send and the dates are ALWAYS printed right. Recently, I saved the newly completed form and then open it in Adobe Reader -- and it is always fine.

BUT I then I complete them and send them (confidentially) to our Billing office-- and they reach out when they open the PDF, and they are telling me that the dates on the forms are missing! (There are 2, date spaces, one on top in space for "date of service") and at the bottom next to my signature. )

But as I said, when I looked at the finished form after saving it, it looks fine in Preview but also looks fine in Reader.

Nonetheless, most of the time, I get a note or call that the date or dates did not print out!

But then I email them to the office and they tell me nope, both or sometimes 1 date is missing from my completed note form.

I would like to know why this happens and what to do about it to that the filled in PDF looks the way I made it and sent it.

VERSIONS:
Adobe app used occasionally to open and occasionally fill the pre-made forms in is:
Adobe Acrobat Reader DC, Continuous release, V 2022.001.20169
I stopped using Reader to fill the forms because I thought that was why the dates were often missing; but that is NOT the case.

My edition of Preview info:
PREVIEW: Version 11.0 (1033.4)

My MB air M1 laptop is running Monterey v 12.5.1

Finally, I checked and it does not appear that one can make PDF Fillable forms on Preview. I thought if I could, that would help and eliminate the problem. So far, nothing fixes it.

Thanks in advance for any advice or ideas anyone has.

Howard


I would use a true PDF editor if you have an issue using Preview—


There are many including your Adobe...



true PDF editor, there are many, here are a few examples:


Adobe Acrobat DC

https://get.adobe.com/reader/


PDFpen

https://pdfpen.com/pdfpen/


pdfExpert

https://pdfexpert.com/


Master PDF Editor

https://code-industry.net/masterpdfeditor/?-about&ver=5832





you can file a bug report or submit your Apple Feedback— same link as here: Product Feedback - Apple


The current stable release of Monterey including bug fixes, is macOS 12.6


Keep your Mac up to date - Apple Support

Keep your Mac up to date - Apple Support



Problems with differences in PDF documents filled in with Preview vs. Adobe Acrobat Reader DC

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