PDF without Adobe: 23 The nightmare of forms
eclecticlight.co
Just fill in this form – then the problems start. They look fine in Preview or another app, but don’t work right. Here’s why.

I was forced to fill out an XFA form (that was pretending to be a PDF) from the Canadian government and the experience left me feeling completely subjugated. The lengths that Adobe go to to make sure that you have the most frustrating experience possible is unbelieveable. Searching for alternatives or help leads you to either: be forced to buy their premium software (or a licensed equivalent) or subscribe for Adobe’s online tools. Why is this propriety format allowed in government forms? What is so fantastic/irreplaceable about this format?

  • lemini
    1·
    9 months ago

    Ah, that makes sense. I’m glad that all worked out in the end.

    I thought there was already a format for form-fillable PDFs that does work with other software. I wonder why they can’t just keep using that?

    • bazmatazable@reddthat.comOP
      1·
      9 months ago

      I can see how a single dynamic form can replace several plain PDF forms because not all parts of the form apply to every user. (For the record I did end up using the XFA form as dictated by Adobe and I am lucky that I have everything you need, a full fat computer and a printer, to make it work. If you wanted to do this digitally on your iPad you would have to find an alternative)