[Patentcenter] Trouble filling PDF forms on a Mac with Preview - esp. leading slash in an electronic signature

[George Jakobsche]

Patricia, it is interesting you had this problem with Acrobat. I have not. If I use Adobe Acrobat Pro (version 2024.002.20736) or Adobe Acrobat Pro DC (version 2022.001.20169), the first slash entered into a text field is preserved.

Best regards,
George
George Jakobsche Patent Counsel PLLC
39 Old Farm Road, Concord, MA 01742-5234
George at JakobscheLaw.com<mailto:George at JakobscheLaw.com> | +1-978-245-8100

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From: Patentcenter <patentcenter-bounces at oppedahl-lists.com> on behalf of Patricia Werschulz via Patentcenter <patentcenter at oppedahl-lists.com>
Reply-To: "For bug reports, feature requests, and tips and tricks about Patent Center." <patentcenter at oppedahl-lists.com>
Date: Wednesday, May 8, 2024 at 4:30 AM
To: "For bug reports, feature requests, and tips and tricks about Patent Center." <patentcenter at oppedahl-lists.com>
Cc: Patricia Werschulz <pat at wplllc.com>
Subject: Re: [Patentcenter] Trouble filling PDF forms on a Mac with Preview - esp. leading slash in an electronic signature

Hi! I had the same issue, but didn’t realize it.  I submitted an 85b and could not figure out why the patent didn’t issue.  After four months I got a phone call from Publications saying I had not submitted an 85b.  I checked Patent Center and it was there.  Then I saw the missing slash.  I have no idea why Preview does this, but so does Acrobat which I tend to use more than Preview.  Now I am vigilant about the slash.
Patricia P. Werschulz, Esq.
pat at wplllc.com

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On 7 May 2024, at 19:14, George Jakobsche via Patentcenter <patentcenter at oppedahl-lists.com> wrote:

It seems Preview on a Mac drops the first character entered into a fillable PDF form field, if the first character entered is a slash. This is not apparent in the Preview window. However, closing and re-opening the document reveals that the slash is gone. I tested this with USPTO fillable PDF forms and IRS fillable forms.

This poses a problem when entering an electronic signature (ex., “/Paul Practitioner, #00,0000/”). By experimenting, I found that if the first character is not a slash, for example if the first character is a space, the first slash is not dropped. Similarly, if the first two characters are both slashes, only the first one is dropped. So, the problem occurs only if the first character is a slash.

Thus, to enter an electronic signature, either of the following entered strings would work:

“ /Paul Practitioner, #00,000/”
“//Paul Practitioner, #00,000/”

Does anyone know why Preview drops the first character, if it is a slash?

Best regards,
George
George Jakobsche Patent Counsel PLLC
39 Old Farm Road, Concord, MA 01742-5234
George at JakobscheLaw.com<mailto:George at JakobscheLaw.com> | +1-978-245-8100

This e-mail is from George Jakobsche Patent Counsel PLLC, a law firm, and it may contain confidential or privileged information. If you are not the intended recipient, do not read, copy, or distribute this message or any attachment(s). Instead, please notify the sender and delete the message and the attachment(s). Thank you.

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