Open the form's source document and print to PDF or scan a paper copy and create a PDF using OCR. Open the PDF in Acrobat to add form fields.
PDF forms can be powerful JavaScript programs, but we won't be using any PDF JavaScript. Instead, we will create PDF forms that let the web server do all the work. This gives you the freedom to program the form's logic with any language or database interface you desire.
PDF form fields correspond closely to HTML form fields. Add them to your PDF using one or more Acrobat tools.
input type="text"
Text
input type="password"
Text with Password Option
input type="checkbox"
Checkbox
input type="radio"
Radio Button
input type="submit"
Button with Submit Form Action
input type="reset"
Button with Reset Form Action
input type="hidden"
Text with Hidden Appearance
input type="image"
Button with Icon Option
input type="button"
Button
textarea
Text with Multiline Option
select
Combo Box or List Box
In Acrobat 6, you have one tool for each form field type. Open this toolbar by selecting Tools Advanced Editing Forms Show Forms Toolbar. Select a tool (e.g., Text Field tool), click, and drag out a rectangle where the field goes. Release the rectangle and a Field Properties dialog opens. Select the General tab and enter the field Name. This name will identify the field's data when it is submitted to your web server. Set the field's appearance and behavior using the other tabs. Click Close and the field is done.
In Acrobat 5, use the Form tool to create any form field. Click, and drag out a rectangle where the field goes. Release the rectangle and a Field Properties dialog opens. Select the desired field Type (e.g., Text) and enter the field Name. This name will identify the field's data when it is submitted to your web server. Set the field's appearance and behavior using the other tabs. Click OK and the field is done. Using the Form tool, double-click a field at any time to change its properties.
Take care to maximize your PDF form's compatibility with older versions of Acrobat and Reader.
To upload form data to your web server, the PDF must have a Submit Form button. Create a PDF button, open the Actions tab, and then add the Submit a Form (Acrobat 6) or Submit Form (Acrobat 5) action to the Mouse Up event.
Edit the action's properties to include your script's URL; this would be an HTML form's action attribute. Append #FDF to the end of this URL, like this:
http://localhost/pdf_hacks/echo.php#FDF
Set the Field Selection to include the fields you want this button to submit; All Fields is safest, to start. Set the Export Format to HTML and the PDF form will submit the form data using HTTP's post method.
When you are done, save your PDF form and test it.
Buttons look funny on paper. If users will be printing your form, consider making buttons unprintable. Open the button properties and select the General tab (Acrobat 6) or the Appearance tab (Acrobat 5). Under Common Properties set Form Field: to Visible but Doesn't Print. Click OK.
PDF forms can be powerful JavaScript programs, but we won't be using any PDF JavaScript. Instead, we will create PDF forms that let the web server do all the work. This gives you the freedom to program the form's logic with any language or database interface you desire.
PDF form fields correspond closely to HTML form fields. Add them to your PDF using one or more Acrobat tools.
input type="text"
Text
input type="password"
Text with Password Option
input type="checkbox"
Checkbox
input type="radio"
Radio Button
input type="submit"
Button with Submit Form Action
input type="reset"
Button with Reset Form Action
input type="hidden"
Text with Hidden Appearance
input type="image"
Button with Icon Option
input type="button"
Button
textarea
Text with Multiline Option
select
Combo Box or List Box
In Acrobat 6, you have one tool for each form field type. Open this toolbar by selecting Tools Advanced Editing Forms Show Forms Toolbar. Select a tool (e.g., Text Field tool), click, and drag out a rectangle where the field goes. Release the rectangle and a Field Properties dialog opens. Select the General tab and enter the field Name. This name will identify the field's data when it is submitted to your web server. Set the field's appearance and behavior using the other tabs. Click Close and the field is done.
In Acrobat 5, use the Form tool to create any form field. Click, and drag out a rectangle where the field goes. Release the rectangle and a Field Properties dialog opens. Select the desired field Type (e.g., Text) and enter the field Name. This name will identify the field's data when it is submitted to your web server. Set the field's appearance and behavior using the other tabs. Click OK and the field is done. Using the Form tool, double-click a field at any time to change its properties.
Take care to maximize your PDF form's compatibility with older versions of Acrobat and Reader.
To upload form data to your web server, the PDF must have a Submit Form button. Create a PDF button, open the Actions tab, and then add the Submit a Form (Acrobat 6) or Submit Form (Acrobat 5) action to the Mouse Up event.
Edit the action's properties to include your script's URL; this would be an HTML form's action attribute. Append #FDF to the end of this URL, like this:
http://localhost/pdf_hacks/echo.php#FDF
Set the Field Selection to include the fields you want this button to submit; All Fields is safest, to start. Set the Export Format to HTML and the PDF form will submit the form data using HTTP's post method.
When you are done, save your PDF form and test it.
Buttons look funny on paper. If users will be printing your form, consider making buttons unprintable. Open the button properties and select the General tab (Acrobat 6) or the Appearance tab (Acrobat 5). Under Common Properties set Form Field: to Visible but Doesn't Print. Click OK.
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