Can I ask computer tech question

[Amethyst]

I will be starting a new job soon and the new employer sent a PDF for me to fill out many forms. For some reason, I can’t fill in the PDF. I know how to do this; Fill and Sign; I’ve done it many times for other forms. But for some reason it’s just not letting me fill anything in.

Do you think this is a problem on their end (someone forgot to allow it)? Or does it have something to do with Adobe? Or am I just an idiot? 

Using my Mac laptop, if that matters. TIA

[gardenmom5]

It could be adobe.  Is editing enabled?  (that does require adobe).

[almondbutterandjelly]

I think Google Docs lets you fill in pdfs

[ieta_cassiopeia]

If Google Docs or PhantomPDF (which also works on Mac) don't allow you to edit the PDF, the file has the problem. Try re-downloading first, and if that doesn't fix it, tell your employer what has happened (it may be an oversight).

[Amethyst]

1 hour ago, gardenmom5 said:

It could be adobe.  Is editing enabled?  (that does require adobe).

I’ve been using Fill &Sign. In order to enable editing, I would have to do a free trial. I don’t want to do that because I’ve never had to do that before. 

[gardenmom5]

1 minute ago, Amethyst said:

I’ve been using Fill &Sign. In order to enable editing, I would have to do a free trial. I don’t want to do that because I’ve never had to do that before. 

can you contact the sender and let them know it's not allowing you to "fill & sign"?

[Amethyst]

1 hour ago, perky said:

I think Google Docs lets you fill in pdfs

I’m confused. Or dense. If I go to Google Docs, I can create a document, but the pdf from my new employer is not there. Is it??? 

[almondbutterandjelly]

According to my college student:  you open a new tab with google on the front page, and then you go to the google apps button located in the upper right hand corner next to your profile picture.  You click on the button and scroll down until you find docs.  When you get to the docs page, there is a button that looks like a file on the Recent Documents row.  Next to the capitlized letters A and Z.  Click on that.  Then click upload.  Then you just select the file from your computer from there, and it will open it up for you in docs.

[KathyBC]

5 minutes ago, Amethyst said:

I’m confused. Or dense. If I go to Google Docs, I can create a document, but the pdf from my new employer is not there. Is it??? 

You should be able to upload a pdf into Google Docs

[Amethyst]

3 minutes ago, perky said:

According to my college student:  you open a new tab with google on the front page, and then you go to the google apps button located in the upper right hand corner next to your profile picture.  You click on the button and scroll down until you find docs.  When you get to the docs page, there is a button that looks like a file on the Recent Documents row.  Next to the capitlized letters A and Z.  Click on that.  Then click upload.  Then you just select the file from your computer from there, and it will open it up for you in docs.

This is wonderful info. Thank you. I asked my college student too and she didn’t know how to do this either. So I’ve learned something new today!

Unfortunately, I’m STILL not able to fill it out. 
😞 

[Arcadia]

3 hours ago, Amethyst said:

 

Do you think this is a problem on their end (someone forgot to allow it)? Or does it have something to do with Adobe? Or am I just an idiot? 

Using my Mac laptop, if that matters. TIA

 

1 hour ago, Amethyst said:

Unfortunately, I’m STILL not able to fill it out. 

😞

It should be on their end. My kids had a student form where the reason text box wasn’t enabled for edit. We end up using Notability app on the iPad to draw our own text box and typed.

I have been sent PDFs where the person expected me to print out, fill it up and sign, then scan (using multifunction printer or cellphone) and email them back.

[Wheres Toto]

I agree with Arcadia that it's likely on their end.  A lot of places send pdf's that aren't set up as forms so they are not fillable.  

I usually bring it into Powerpoint (by screenshot or import), use textboxes to fill in the proper blanks and then resave as a pdf.   My handwriting is atrocious so I try to avoid it on anything official. 

[Amethyst]

Ok. Thanks everyone. I tried contacting the new employer but it’s snowing today so no answer. I decided to just print it out and fill it out by hand.