asked on How can I convert a pdf to a customized fillable form?
I would like to convert a pdf to a customized fillable form, using a template if possible.
A pdf file needs to be converted to a fillable form, however only specific fields need to be fillable.
Additionally, extra 2 lines of fillable fields needs to automatically be added to a specific area on the page so that the user that is filling the form out can add extra details if needed in those fillable fields.
Can Adobe Acrobat be used to take an existing pdf form and create a customized fillable form, perhaps from a template?
If not, what software will create a customized fillable form from using an existing pdf without overwriting data?
A pdf file needs to be converted to a fillable form, however only specific fields need to be fillable.
Additionally, extra 2 lines of fillable fields needs to automatically be added to a specific area on the page so that the user that is filling the form out can add extra details if needed in those fillable fields.
Can Adobe Acrobat be used to take an existing pdf form and create a customized fillable form, perhaps from a template?
If not, what software will create a customized fillable form from using an existing pdf without overwriting data?
Adobe AcrobatSoftware
Last Comment
Joe Winograd
ASKER
Thanks.
How fast is the creation from an existing pdf form?
And can it use a template so that it can add a few more lines of fillable fields in a specific area on the form?
How fast is the creation from an existing pdf form?
And can it use a template so that it can add a few more lines of fillable fields in a specific area on the form?
> How fast is the creation from an existing pdf form?
It's fast, although one person's "fast" may be another person's "slow". Try it on your PDF to see.
> And can it use a template so that it can add a few more lines of fillable fields in a specific area on the form?
Acrobat XI Pro comes with a feature called Adobe FormsCentral that has many templates. However, it is now at end-of-life. This Adobe post discusses it, along with some alternatives:
https://helpx.adobe.com/acrobat/kb/end-of-support-formscentral.html
I use FormsCentral now and haven't decided on a replacement yet. The templates in FormsCentral are very nice. Here's what the template selection dialog looks like:
![Adobe FormsCentral templates]()
The templates should still work for local forms via File>Save As PDF Form (without web-based collection, of course) after 28-July. Yes, it's easy to add more lines of fillable fields in a specific area on the form. Here's the Add Item toolbar:
![Adobe FormsCentral Add Item]()
But, again, if your your forms are for deployment on the web with data collection (i.e., not for local use), then FormsCentral is not the way to go, due to its deprecation. Do some research on the alternatives — the Adobe post is a good place to start — that's what I'm doing. Maybe some other experts who have already selected an alternative will jump in. Regards, Joe
It's fast, although one person's "fast" may be another person's "slow". Try it on your PDF to see.
> And can it use a template so that it can add a few more lines of fillable fields in a specific area on the form?
Acrobat XI Pro comes with a feature called Adobe FormsCentral that has many templates. However, it is now at end-of-life. This Adobe post discusses it, along with some alternatives:
https://helpx.adobe.com/acrobat/kb/end-of-support-formscentral.html
I use FormsCentral now and haven't decided on a replacement yet. The templates in FormsCentral are very nice. Here's what the template selection dialog looks like:
The templates should still work for local forms via File>Save As PDF Form (without web-based collection, of course) after 28-July. Yes, it's easy to add more lines of fillable fields in a specific area on the form. Here's the Add Item toolbar:
But, again, if your your forms are for deployment on the web with data collection (i.e., not for local use), then FormsCentral is not the way to go, due to its deprecation. Do some research on the alternatives — the Adobe post is a good place to start — that's what I'm doing. Maybe some other experts who have already selected an alternative will jump in. Regards, Joe
ASKER
Thank you.
A generic template cannot be applied to the pdf form which needs to be converted to a fillable form.
What I was wondering is if the pdf form which is exported, can be converted to a template where we determine which fields need to be fillable, and extra lines need to be added - and then that template can then be applied to an existing pdf form without overwriting data but only applying where the fillable fields are and the additional fields to be filled out.
This would be distributed via email, not on the web.
A generic template cannot be applied to the pdf form which needs to be converted to a fillable form.
What I was wondering is if the pdf form which is exported, can be converted to a template where we determine which fields need to be fillable, and extra lines need to be added - and then that template can then be applied to an existing pdf form without overwriting data but only applying where the fillable fields are and the additional fields to be filled out.
This would be distributed via email, not on the web.
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ASKER
Thank you for your suggestions. I might try Acrobat if possible to see if in fact it functions the way I want.
ASKER
Thanks. Perhaps this works, however I don't have Acrobat to test this with. I am not sure however that a template can be applied to an existing pdf without wiping out the data. If I obtain Acrobat, I will test. Thank you.
You're welcome. I hope that it works for you. Good luck! Regards, Joe
Regards, Joe