pdf conundrum on mac

[tepa]

I have a macbook air using OS X 10.7.4 and an imac that uses 10.6.8.

I filled in a pdf form on the macbook air and saved the file. Then I transferred the file to my imac using a flash disk. But when I opened the pdf on the imac, it showed none of the information I had saved. Just the form itself minus my additions.

Any idea why this would happen? The saved pdf file opens beautifully on the on macbook air and shows all the information I typed into the form.

(I have Adobe Reader 10.3.1 installed and up-to-date.)

[ericson]

One of two possibilities.

1.) a software bug
2.) the original saved file may store information into a hidden file that is called when opened. This file was not copied over and thus cannot provide info you typed before.

Try saving a copy to the usb disk rather than copying it and see what happens.

[tepa]

I tried saving the file to the USB, but had no luck. So I thought you must be right that it's a software bug. I put all my Abode stuff in the trash and, presto, the file now opens with all changes showing. I guess my iMac has other means to open pdfs and resorted to these other means when Abode wasn't around. In any case, thanks for your help.

[tepa]

Oops. I obviously meant Adobe, not Abode.

[psprof]

If you use Mac Preview, it will save your changes and allow you to view them. If you use Adobe reader software that comes with Mac, it will not save your changes and let you view them. Adobe wants you to spend the money to buy the full version of Adobe Acrobat X or whatever version it is in order to save form data and create forms. So, basically, Adobe is trying to get your money. Mac, on the other hand, already got your money, so they are happy bundling Preview that allows you to save changes to forms.
Just set your default to Preview for opening and viewing PDF files. You have to keep resetting it everytime Adobe creates an update because they will change the default back to Adobe.
Or, as you did, you can just delete Adobe from your system. I would use AppZapper to delete these types of programs, though. There are a lot of settings and hidden files that will get deleted with AppZapper but that would be hard to find on your own.

[trip_hop]

There are known bugs with acrobat reader newer bersions and mac OS X 10.6.x, including invisibility in safari.

Reverting back to older versions is the best solution, as neither maker seems interested in providing a fix.
Otherwise, upgrade your OS.

[ericson]

If you use Mac Preview, it will save your changes and allow you to view them. If you use Adobe reader software that comes with Mac, it will not save your changes and let you view them. Adobe wants you to spend the money to buy the full version of Adobe Acrobat X

This is a very good point as well, but it is not the case that adobe wants you to spend money to save the files. The tools that come with unix based systems does not use propriety code so they do the same things in different ways. What this means is that saving a pdf with typed info is actually a security setting that is curcumvented by opensource tools as they do not interpret file properties the same way. If you cannot save a pdf that you edited in reader, for one of two reasons.

1. The person that created the file does not want you to save the info.
2. The person that created the form modules does not have advanced knowledge of adobe products and did not change default settings when creating the file. With the full version you actually have to change default options to expressly allow form data to be saved. If this has been enabled with the original created pdf, then even reader will be able to save the data without a problem.

[psprof]

This is a very good point as well, but it is not the case that adobe wants you to spend money to save the files. The tools that come with unix based systems does not use propriety code so they do the same things in different ways. What this means is that saving a pdf with typed info is actually a security setting that is curcumvented by opensource tools as they do not interpret file properties the same way. If you cannot save a pdf that you edited in reader, for one of two reasons.

1. The person that created the file does not want you to save the info.
2. The person that created the form modules does not have advanced knowledge of adobe products and did not change default settings when creating the file. With the full version you actually have to change default options to expressly allow form data to be saved. If this has been enabled with the original created pdf, then even reader will be able to save the data without a problem.

I am sure you are right about the technical side. I still think Adobe wants you to spend money on their products, though.

[ericson]

I am sure you are right about the technical side. I still think Adobe wants you to spend money on their products, though.

You are right they want you to spend money. That is sort of the idea of a business. I really like their range of products but they are starting to push it to the limit now. They are releasing more often now than they ever did and the prices are not so cheap at all. I use pretty old versions of their products and have never seen the need to get stuff like the new CS5.5, I am not saying that it has not improved, but why spend money on stuff you don't need since all the features won't be used.

[trip_hop]

I use pretty old versions of their products and have never seen the need to get stuff like the new CS5.5, I am not saying that it has not improved, but why spend money on stuff you don't need since all the features won't be used.

Sometimes you have to buy it to keep up with vendors and clients who use, or risk losing the business because they then regard you as out-of-date.

There is a limit to how many times you can ask them to 'save as' or 'open' in an older version, especially with some of the advanced graphic features that are not available in or backward compatible with older versions.

But your costs should also reflect your hardware and software investments, otherwise you should not be in the business...

[ericson]

Sometimes you have to buy it to keep up with vendors and clients who use, or risk losing the business because they then regard you as out-of-date.

There is a limit to how many times you can ask them to 'save as' or 'open' in an older version, especially with some of the advanced graphic features that are not available in or backward compatible with older versions.

But your costs should also reflect your hardware and software investments, otherwise you should not be in the business...

I agree with most of what you are saying. The only thing is that in Japan, it is not that crucial because 90% of printing companies still use the EPS format for sending prints. So as far as that is concerned, having the latest and greatest does not really make a difference as far as features or backward compatibility is concerned.