Section 47. About PDF Forms

47. About PDF Forms

There are several advantages to PDF forms versus paper forms or HTML -based forms. PDF forms provide a fast and convenient method for form distribution and information retrieval. Paper forms need to be faxed, which is often inconvenient and always results in poor visual quality, or they must be sent by postal mail, which is also inconvenient and very slow. Another advantage of PDF forms is that changing the content and information within a PDF form is easy. For example, if you need to change a list of possible responses, you can simply go into Acrobat or Designer and change the items in a drop-down list. In a paper document, you have to revise and reprint the original document, possibly requiring major changes to the document's layout.

KEY TERM

HTML This stands for Hypertext Markup Language, a language used to define how text and images are displayed on the Web.

Unlike HTML forms, which require an image of the text to ensure the integrity of the font style used, all fonts and images can be embedded into a PDF form. With an HTML form, these images need to be saved to a separate folder, causing delays in uploading the form to a web browser and increasing the chances of file structure problems causing the form to be displayed improperly.

KEY TERMS

Interactive forms Forms that allow end users to enter data directly into a form and have it electronically delivered either by email or to a database.

Dynamic forms Interactive forms that adjust to the amount of content to be displayed and how much information is entered by the end user .

Static forms Forms with a fixed area for data display and input. If the information entered into a static form is more than the space allows for, the information is not captured.

Another advantage to creating a PDF form is that the integrity of the form is maintained across different platforms. Font style, size , and layout remain constant, regardless of whether the form is viewed on a computer running Windows or Mac OS or different web browsers, such as Internet Explorer, Netscape, Safari, or Mozilla.

PDF forms also allow digital signature fields. After the form is filled out, the reader can attach her digital signature to show proof that the form was approved or that all the information provided is accurate.

The three types of PDF forms are interactive forms , dynamic forms , and static forms . Interactive forms enable end users to enter data and have it electronically delivered, either by email or to a database. Dynamic forms are interactive forms that adjust to the amount of content being input by the end user, and static forms are the opposite of dynamic formsthey do not adjust to end user input.