PDF forms basics

You can fill in forms using either Acrobat or the free Acrobat Reader. You can create static or interactive forms in Acrobat. Interactive forms streamline the process of filling in and collecting data.

You can use Acrobat to create forms using one of the following methods:

• Convert an existing electronic document (for example an Adobe PDF, Microsoft Word, or Excel document) to a PDF form.

• Scan a paper form to convert it to a PDF form.

After you convert an existing document to a PDF form, you can add fields to it to convert it to an interactive form.

An interactive form can be filled out on a computer and submitted through an Internet or local network connection.

Forms preferences

Set forms preferences to control various aspects of your interaction with form fields.

In the Preferences dialog box, select Forms on the left. The forms preferences are organized in three sections: General, Highlight Color, and Auto-Complete.

General

Automatically performs all field calculations upon user entry.

Resets the tab order when you create, delete, or move form fields.

Indicates which form field currently has the focus.

Displays a plus sign (+) in text fields that exceed the bounds specified when the fields were created.

Displays the appearance of a form field when you create or edit forms.

Detects the form fields automatically and places the respective fields.

Highlight Color

Displays a black outline around a form field when you place the pointer over it.

Opens a color picker for selecting the color of highlighted form fields. The highlight appears when the Highlight Existing Fields button on the document message bar is clicked.

Opens a color picker for selecting the border color of form fields that must be filled in. The border appears for required form fields when the Highlight Existing Fields button is selected or after you attempt to submit the form.

Auto-Complete

Displays three options for Auto-Complete: Off, Basic, or Advanced.

Suggests your previously entered numerical entries when you type the same first character into a similar field. When deselected, Auto-Complete offers suggestions only for text entries. (Available only when Basic or Advanced is selected.)

Displays current entries stored in the Auto-Complete memory. You can select and delete any entries that you don’t want to keep for filling in future forms. (This option isn’t available if no entries are in the memory.)

Links to all forms topics

• Create and distribute forms
• PDF form field basics
• PDF barcode form fields
• Form field properties
• Set action buttons in PDF forms
• Publish interactive PDF web forms
• Filling in PDF forms
• Collect and manage PDF form data
• Online PDF tools: fill and sign PDFs online