The first thing to check is the software you are using. If you are not using Adobe Reader, either on a Mac or a PC, please do so.

Download the latest version (currently version 9)

Different PDF readers work in different ways, and we have found that some do not work fully with editable PDF forms.

Whilst Adobe Reader should work perfectly on most machines, there may be some instances when users will have problems.

Below are some suggestions to issues that some people may come across.

You are getting the message:

"The file is damaged and cannot be repaired"

when trying to open the form.

This message may appear if you are using an earlier version of Adobe Reader.

Please update to the latest version of reader

You will also need to download a new copy of the application form once you have updated Reader.

You are getting the message:

"This document enabled extended features in Adobe Reader. The document has been changed since it was created and use of extended features is no longer available. Please contact the author for the original version of this document"

and you can no longer change answers, or enter new text into the form.

In these instances please follow these steps:

• Update to the latest version of reader
  
  Do not use any software other than Adobe to open, or save, the form (either on your own machine or in the browser) – this includes Preview on Mac, Foxit and PDF Plug-in for Firefox.

• Download a new copy of the form. Do not open it in your browser, save the form directly to your own machine.
• Open the new form in Reader.
• If you have already answered some of the questions in the locked form, you can save that form as a text only document.

This option is under the file menu on the toolbar in Reader. This will enable you to copy and paste your answers into the new form

Mac users

Apple Mac computers have the ability to open Adobe PDF documents without the need for additional software, using a built in programme called 'Preview'.

Unfortunately 'Preview' does not support all the features that Adobe Reader does and can therefore leave forms blank.

Make sure you are using Adobe Reader rather than Preview by:

1. Open Adobe Reader first. Do not open the form.
2. Within Reader, go to 'File', then 'Open', and then find and open your form.
3. Now fill in and save the form.

Remember to open PDF forms from within Reader every time you open them - do not click on the form itself. If you do this, it will open the document in 'Preview'.

And finally:

If you are still having problems with Adobe Reader, please see:

Adobe’s support page.

Or, you may want to consider using a hard copy of the form – please call 0845 4 10 20 30 to have one posted to you.

As Adobe Reader is freely available to download, and is normally included with new computers, we use this as the preferred software.