advanced editing acrobat forms
TRANSCRIPT
This document suggests ways in which one would create successful PDFS forms. Also to advise on ways to avoid known problems when using Acrobat and creating PDFS forms.
ADOBE ADVANCED EDITINGCREATING FORMS
Acrobat Forms V1 – Author K Baker
Information Technology
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Introduction
The Advanced Editing Toolbar
Click to add a button. You can use buttons to navigate to another page, open a document, submit a form or view a web page. To name a few things.
Click to add a check box. This will allow the end user tick selected items
Click to add a combo box. This will allow the end user to type a large amount of text on a form as well as drop down lists etc
Click to add a radio button. This will allow the end user to select a yes / no button.
Click to add a text area for people to be able to type in.
Here is the Advanced Editing Toolbar. We will be focussing on the forms menu that comes from the button tool icon. At present we do not use the combo box tool or digital signatures.
Before we begin adding buttons and check boxes we need to create the form. The form needs to be produced in software such as MS office, you can use Word, Excel or PowerPoint to create a form, plus any other software that you use.
For the purposes of this document I created a form in Microsoft Word then printed it as PDF.
Click to list box tool to create a drop down list where the user can select a predefined answer
To test your form, simply click on the hand icon. This will allow you to see what the end user will see.
To switch back to form mode click on the arrow in the forms menu
Before we begin
Adding Check Boxes and Radio Buttons
Click on the tool you require. Click and drag the mouse in the area you want the Button/Box to beThe Button/Box will appear with a red outline and the Button Properties box will appearAgain the general tab is always the sameThe options tab allows you in both the radio or check box areas, to change the style (tick, or circle) and if you would like it checked as default
Adding List boxes
Click on the List Box tool. Click and drag the mouse in the area you want the List Box to beThe List Box will appear with a red outline and the List Box Properties box will appearThe options tab allows you to add the items want in your list.Just type an Item in the Item field and click on addDo this for all items in your list then click on close.
Creating an Interactive Form
Adding Text Fields to your Form
Click on the Button toolFrom the menu select Text Field ToolThe cursor will change to a plus signDrag the mouse over the area you want the text to be typed. Here I have added so a person can add there name
If you click on the appearance tab, you can change the look and colour of the border and fill, the font style and size
The Text Field Properties will appearIt’s best to give a name to your fieldsYou can also add a tool tip, this is the text that appears when you hover your mouse over the field
You can also change the common properties of the Form Field from the drop down menu displayed above.
Adding Buttons to your Form
Click on the Button ToolClick and drag the mouse in the area you want the Button to beThe Button will appear with a red outline and the Button Properties box will appearThe General Tab and the appearance tab will have the same options as the text field box, so you can change these in the same way.
Adding an Action
You can add an action to a button from the drop down list shown.To have a button that submits a form, click on submit a form from the list and click addThe submit forms selection box will appear. Type in mailto: followed by the email address that you want the data to be sent back toLeave all other settings as they are. Then Click on OK
This will now allow another person to fill out your form and send the data back to you. (providing that they are using Acrobat Reader 7).