How to Convert Fillable Fields to Text Fields??

Is there an Acrobat tool or utility that will automatically convert all the fillable fields on a PDF to Text fields?

I currently take a PDF form with fillable fields, save it as a Postscript file (to remove the fillable fields) and then use Distiller to convert the Postscript file back to PDF. I then manually add in Text fields where all the fillable fields used to be. these text fields are later filled programmatically.

I figure there has to be an easy way to do this but I'm just too green in this area. Many thanks for any ideas and suggestions!

If I understand what you're asking correctly you could try using "Run Form Field Recognition" from the Form menu to see if it works for your PDF. I'm using 8 pro. i assume it's in the same menu on 9.

I took a look and I see that if I have a regular PDF, the "Form Field Recogniition" can automatically create fillable fields. However what I need to be created are Text fields that I can assign variable names to (so we can programatically set the values instead of user filling in). Hence I'm looking for a converter that takes the "fillable form fields" and converts them to "text fields" with default variable names.

Text fields are the objects that get created by using the "Text Field" tool on the bar. You get a Text Field properties box where you can change the variable name and change appearance, action and a bunch of other properties of the text box.