Why is the PDF document is switching back to old format?

Not sure why but when you place data in a 2 column format, it moves the fields back to 1 column and tosses the format of the form.  So hours are lost and have to redo only to have do it again.

Are you working on a 'PDF Document' template or on a 'PDF Form' fillable PDF? Could you please provide a name or a link of the affected web form?

It would be great if provide us with screenshots of the issue. This is how the screenshots can be added in this support forum:

How to Post Screenshots to Our Support Forum

The branding footer issue has been moved into a separate thread so we will be able to address it properly:

https://www.jotform.com/answers/1683685

PDF Document - created at the time the form is submitted...

It is possible that there are empty fields when the form is submitted that's why some fields in the PDF Document moves its position when it fills those empty fields. I believe this is the default behavior of the PDF Document.

You can try to uncheck the "Hide empty form fields" option in the PDF Document. See if this stops fields from moving its position.

If this isn't the problem you're referring, please give us more details. You can also name the form so we can check it here. A screenshot would be a big help too.

Hide empty fields is a requirement for me.  

but why is this changing the template?  I get that hide empty will change a the output document but not the template.

Are the fields changing when you click "Hide empty field fields"? Also, have you already customized your PDF Template? If the issue still persists, you can delete your PDF Template and create a new one.

Click the three dots and select delete to delete the current template. Pop-up will show and it will ask you to create a new one with a new layout.

After trying this and the issue still persists, please let us know.

Thank you!

The template is changing when a output form is viewed that has different fields filled.  so the output form is causing the template to change.

Keep in mine I do not use PDF editor for creating the form.. I ONLY use it for the output after the form is submitted.

I am checking on this issue. Please allow me sometime to check this up and get back to you with relevant information.

Thank you for your patience. 

Thank you for your patience. I believe that you are referring to the form https://www.jotformpro.com/form/43116324005945. I see that the form is enabled to use new PDF editor in the Form settings. You should be able to download the new format PDF report of the submissions received to the form from the PDF editor.

https://www.jotform.com/pdf-editor/43116324005945

However, when you try to download the PDF report from the submissions view the old version of PDF report is being generated. This could be occurring due to the old form or the account is not enabled to use new PDF editor. You may switch to the new PDF editor from the submissions view by clicking on PDF icon -> Customize PDF and then click on Try new PDF editor button so that the PDF report shall be using the new format.

Also, you may enable the PDF attachment report in the email notification so that the new PDF report should be attached.

Please give it a try and let us know if you need any further assistance. We will be happy to help. 

Thanks!

not sure which form that is in the link, if it is the live or clone.  I can not take a live to the new format until it works... 

I'm trying to format the attachment that is emailed.  I'm not running a report.  Then test it to make sure it works before moving it the live form...

so how do I save a PDF template so I can copy it to the duplicated form?  I see I share and print... 

This one is live as far as I could see; http://www.jotformpro.com/form/43116324005945.

This one is the cloned form; http://www.jotform.us/form/82876198794177.

The template cannot be saved unless you will switch it to the new format in the Form Settings. Please do it first on the cloned form.

Next, go to the PDF editor, make sure it is the new one. At the bottom of the customize window, you have a way to save the template and make it private;

Once shared, you can look up the template on the other form by clicking the Templates tab, and choose My Templates from the dropdown;

get all the way to looking up "My templates" on the other form and this not an option...

Update - It worked but I had to wait a few minutes...

yep.. on https://form.jotform.com/83618684642164 (the clone)

When hidden fields are not used it moves the other fields around on the form.

Even when adding empty space to hold the format for that selection, it still does a re arrange on the form.

When hidden fields are not used it moves the other fields around on the form.

Generally, when the field is empty the next field displayed below shall be moved up in the PDF document. I have checked the PDF document of a submission from the form https://form.jotform.com/83618684642164 with and without hidden fields. It appears that the fields are being displayed normally except for moving the field up when there are hidden fields in the column. Could you provide us with a screenshot of the report that are misaligned so that we can check it further and assist you?

Here is what is missing in the elements for the PDF editor...

Like in the form  you can create sub groups... so to hold the formatting we need the ability to "group" or "section" element in the New PDF editor.

This question is moved to a separate thread and shall be addressed there shortly.

https://www.jotform.com/answers/1684781

Thank you.

It is not a question.  It is an issue with the ability to create columns of data and hide unused.

I ONLY use PDF editor for the reports, not to create the form.

The issue which you have reported is moved to a new thread so that we can address it separately:  https://www.jotform.com/answers/1684781

My colleague already responded to you in the above thread.

IT IS NOT A NEW ISSUE....  It is the cause of the problem.

Let's step back and ask this question.

How do you feel it is acceptable to reformat the original template when "Hide empty" fields on a the template is acceptable behavior of the New PDF editor?

The Hide Empty Fields is there ever since. There is no difference except for the formatting. If you will use the default format on the old one, it hides the fields, and since fields are on top of each other, you don't feel the difference. On the new editor, especially the column format, fields automatically move to the place where a field is hidden. 

Now, if you'd like the fields to stay where they are placed in the PDF editor, you may consider unchecking Hide Empty Fields. I think that's the only solution here because adding placeholders will just mess it up. There is no feature in the editor to hide empty fields and keep alignments as it is. We can request this if you'd like. 

in the old format, one as not able to move the data around on the form.  that is new in the new editor.

So if this is allowed and Jotform feels that is reasonable to just auto reformat the form... this is nuts.

Like the old form, if hide empty fields is check then your code should not allow us to move the data into columns.  OR you should provide a warning to this behavior,  or you should provide the ability to provide sub group formatting.  The hours I have wasted to get to something that you seem to know.. is not reasonable.  This is simple common sense...

In the old format, you can actually edit the PDF, but with limited formatting options. There's the column option in the old format (by resizing and moving), but still, would move fields up if hide empty fields is enabled. 

I understand and our apologies for all the troubles and inconvenience they may have caused. We have two options to create your PDF Document in the new editor. You may consider choosing the Side-By-Side option;

Again, we can create a ticket if you like the option to keep the alignment of the fields as it is while enabling hide empty option. I don't know if our devs would consider this, but we can try. 

I understand. Let me raise that up to our backend team. I will do it on a new thread here https://www.jotform.com/answers/1685085.