How to Preserve Fillable Fields After Submitting a Signed PDF Form
Question details
The user needs to keep specific fillable fields and signature blocks active for internal use after a customer has signed and submitted a PDF form.
- Product
- PDF / Adobe Acrobat
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Collecting customer signatures on a PDF form that requires further internal processing and signing upon return.
- Observed behavior
- Fillable fields and secondary signature fields disappear or become flattened once the customer signs and submits the document.
Check the security and signature properties of your PDF form to ensure that 'flatten on submission' or 'lock document after signing' features are not prematurely activated.
Configure Form for Multiple Signers without Locking
Adjust your PDF signature workflow to allow sequential signers without locking or flattening the document after the first signature.
When a digital signature field is configured to lock the document, all subsequent fillable fields are rendered uneditable. Preventing this requires configuring the signature properties before sending the form.
In your PDF editor's Form Preparation mode, right-click the customer's signature field and select 'Properties'.
Navigate to the 'Signed' tab. Ensure the option 'Mark as read-only' or 'Lock document after signing' is unchecked. This allows the remaining yellow fields to stay editable.
If using an advanced e-signature workflow tool, assign the customer-facing fields to 'Signer 1' and internal completion fields to 'Signer 2' or 'Sender' to preserve their visibility and editability across different stages.
Prevent Flattening on Form Submission
Ensure the form submission button does not inadvertently flatten the PDF into an image or uneditable format upon sending.
Create and Manage Fillable PDF Forms with WPS Office
WPS Office provides a comprehensive PDF toolkit that allows you to easily create fillable forms, manage multiple signature fields, and control document permissions without losing data during the signing process.
- 1. Open your PDF: Launch WPS Office and open the PDF document you want to prepare as a fillable form.
- 2. Navigate to the Form tab: Click on the 'Form' tab in the top ribbon to access the fillable field tools.
- 3. Add Signature Fields: Insert distinct signature fields for the customer and internal staff, ensuring document permissions allow multiple modifications.
- 4. Save and Share: Save the PDF and send it to your customer for the first round of signatures without fear of the document locking prematurely.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does a PDF lock after it is signed?
PDFs often lock after signing as a security measure to prevent unauthorized changes to the document after a digital signature is applied. This happens if the 'Lock document after signing' option is enabled in the signature field properties.
What does flattening a PDF mean?
Flattening a PDF merges all interactive elements, such as fillable form fields, annotations, and signatures, into the main document layer, making them permanent and no longer editable.
Can I edit a PDF after it has been signed?
Generally, any edits that alter the content of a signed PDF will invalidate the signature. However, if the document was set up for multiple signers, designated unfilled form fields can still be completed without breaking the previous signatures.
