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Why Fillable PDFs Appear Blank

1. PDF Form Data Not Embedded:

   • Fillable PDFs can save form data in different ways. If students don't properly "flatten" the PDF, the data remains in a separate layer, which some PDF viewers, including Moodle's built-in viewer, may not render correctly.
     
     

2. PDF Reader Differences:

• Different PDF readers (e.g., Adobe Acrobat, web browsers) handle form data differently. Some students might use readers that don't save the data in a way that's compatible with Moodle's viewer.

Solution

Save PDFs Properly:

• Ensure to use a consistent method to save PDFs. One reliable method is using the "Print to PDF" function in web browsers.

Steps for Students to Save PDF Forms Properly:

1. Open the Fillable PDF in a Web Browser:

   • Most modern web browsers (Chrome, Firefox, Edge) have built-in PDF viewers that can handle fillable forms.
     
     

2. Fill Out the PDF Form:

   • Complete all the necessary fields in the PDF form within the browser.
     
     

3. Print to PDF:

   • Instead of saving directly, students should use the print function:
     • Press Ctrl+P (or Cmd+P on Mac) to open the print dialog.
     • Select "Save as PDF" or "Print to PDF" as the printer.
       
       

4. Save the PDF:

   • Choose a location to save the new PDF file and give it a descriptive name.
   • This process "flattens" the PDF, embedding the form data into the document, making it visible to all PDF viewers.

(Edited by Ahmad Syafwan Yusoff - original submission Wednesday, 7 August 2024, 5:44 PM)