Adobe Reader won't let me continue filling out forms -- is it just me or...!?!?!

[fandv]

Hi everyone...

You know, there's tons of those PDF forms that we've got to fill out, both for the sponsor and the sponsored person. They're very long and often we'd want to save the files, close them, turn off the computer, get some rest, and continue filling them out in later days.

But what I've found out is, once I am ready to continue filling them out, the fields are no longer editable in Adobe Reader 9.0....how come??! I thought these forms should be editable forever?

Examples of those crazy forms:

IMM5481

IMM5490

(Don't tell me I've got to purchase Adobe Acrobat Professional in order to be able to edit the forms whenever I want...?!)

 

[tahsinmohammad]

Hi everyone...

You know, there's tons of those PDF forms that we've got to fill out, both for the sponsor and the sponsored person. They're very long and often we'd want to save the files, close them, turn off the computer, get some rest, and continue filling them out in later days.

But what I've found out is, once I am ready to continue filling them out, the fields are no longer editable in Adobe Reader 9.0....how come??! I thought these forms should be editable forever?

Examples of those crazy forms:

IMM5481

IMM5490

(Don't tell me I've got to purchase Adobe Acrobat Professional in order to be able to edit the forms whenever I want...?!)

I had the same problem with some forms editing in Adobe.I tried 3-4 times and then took the print out of the application forms and filled it with hand....It worked for me...Hope it helps..

 

[figgy]

I had the same problem, but I have a macbook and I found that if I opened the file with "preview" rather than adobe it would let me save the info.

so, that only works if you have a mac... if not, sorry I couldn't be more helpful

 

[amikety]

We have the same issue. Tried 3 of our 4 computers. (Maybe I should try the old laptop? Hmmm...)

Printing out is one option. I printed out and highlighted areas that need re-done. Made a list by form. Will do form over when the list is complete. I'd rather have it all typed.

 

[3000miles]

There's some troubleshooting tips at the bottom of this page:


http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/applications/additional.asp

 

[amikety]

I read the entire page top to bottom, but I don't see a connection?

 

[Rob_TO]

I remember this being a big annoyance too when doing the application! Some of the adobe files are actually programmed to lock as soon as you edit and then save it 1 time.

I tried all sorts of ways to re-edit the files after... but nothing worked. So in the end (after repeating the same form several times) i just made sure to fill in all the info in one try. A few hints that i ended up doing:
- as soon as you download the blank adobe file from government website, immediately save a back up copy under another name. So in case you accidentally close the file you're working on before finishing and it locks you out, you can go back to your other saved copy to start over instead of having to download from the website again
- fill out the info first in a separate txt or doc file (especially good for the ones that involve lots of writing). Then when you are confident and ready to complete the real forms just copy & paste over.

 

[motorcyclerider]

You can save and re-open them. If you have a Mac use the Preview program or get a copy of Adobe Acrobat Pro. The free version of Adobe Acrobat Reader only allows access to those files once, with the Pro version you can open, save, and even modify the file as many times as you want. They do it on purpose to make you pay for the pro version. They offer a free trial version, http://www.adobe.com/cfusion/tdrc/index.cfm?product=acrobat_pro&loc=us
I was lucky that the computer at my work had the Pro version so was able to modify my files. It would be a pain to make a mistake and and have to rewrite or retype the forms again.

 

[amikety]

Free trial version? Sweet. Do they require a credit card?

 

[Rob_TO]

They do it on purpose to make you pay for the pro version.

Why on earth would the CIC/Canadian government have any financial interest in Adobe, where they would benefit if you pay for the full version?

The cause of the forms locking you out is entirely up to the CIC. Some of the forms in the application work perfectly fine and you can edit as many times as you want. Its just for some reason the CIC decided to make some forms non-editable.

Anyways some good tips here on how to get around this... wish i'd known when i did my app instead of filling in the same form 3 or 4 times!

 

[Luis Decker]

Hi everyone...

You know, there's tons of those PDF forms that we've got to fill out, both for the sponsor and the sponsored person. They're very long and often we'd want to save the files, close them, turn off the computer, get some rest, and continue filling them out in later days.

But what I've found out is, once I am ready to continue filling them out, the fields are no longer editable in Adobe Reader 9.0....how come??! I thought these forms should be editable forever?

Examples of those crazy forms:

IMM5481

IMM5490

(Don't tell me I've got to purchase Adobe Acrobat Professional in order to be able to edit the forms whenever I want...?!)

Hey. The Acrobat does not allow you to re-fill the document. I use PDF Form Fillers in such cases. In this editor you can work online.