Signed pdf + Reader 9.1 = blank fields (9.0 works fine)

Question

Hi. This is the sequence of events for the problem we are experiencing:
1. We generate a PDF by merging with an FDF using itext. The result PDF is encrypted and signed.
2. We had a problem where the encrypted/signed document was properly formatting the fields (i.e. adding the dolar sign to a amount field) but the non signed one did not (showed 0.9 instead of $0.90)
3. The problem was solved by setting generate appearances to false, and all worked fine with Reader 9.0.X (both signed and unsigned form) BUT
4. With Reader 9.1.X the signed form comes up blank. The info is there, and can be seen if I allow field modification and I select the field, but neither is visible nor prints. The unsigned form is loaded without problem.
5. If I open the signed version with reader, go to "signed version", and view the report I see an "4002 PDF content contains errors" message, but it doesn't provide any details about the problems.
6. I used Adobe Acrobat->Advanced->Preflight to try to find the error, no luck.
Please, help! Thanks.

Answer 1

This is the biggest problem with my company's windows 7 machines- it not working with adobe
reader. Its an on going thing that I have been trying to “fix.” The issue is
with Windows 7, IE8 and adobe reader, and viewing pdfs on the internet. The blank error message is not consistent.
Sometimes it works. Sometimes
it doesn’t. Sometimes it doesn’t work and kicks you out of IE. Sometimes you
can view the pdf only if you try multiple times to open it.
I thourhgt I narrowed it down to the adobe dll or add on inside IE. I have been testing “fixes” for a couple weeks now I have been reading about whats
working for others, but:
Reinstalling hasn’t worked, as reported
Running Adobe reader 9.3 hasn’t worked, as reported
Running adobe reader in compatibility for vista and as admin hasn’t worked, as reportedRepairing IE8 (which clears out errors with addons) hasn’t worked, as reported.
Reports suggested removing adobe and going with another pdf reader such as Foxit. Foxit works
perfectly for everything but our company specific software- we HAVE to have no less than or greater than Adobe Reader 9.2.x for our other applications to work properly and pdfs HAVE to be displayd in the browser.
Another report suggested installing adobe reader in vista compatibility
mode (different than just running it in this mode). I did this on one
machine tonight and my initial testing of opening browser pdfs was
successful but it "broke" shortly after.
I set a few "problematic" sites (mostly intranet sites) to compatibility view inside IE8. Did not help.
We are also seeing pdfs crashing IE so for IE crashing unexpectedly, we tried removing Windows live software, this has been touch and go, but removing Windows live software did not help completely with IE crashing nor with the blank pdf errors. I also disabled all adobe addons for IE8 thinking that would certainly fix it but it did not as well.
So thats where I am. Anyone have any luck?