How do I create a "fill in form" on Adobe?

August 18, 2009 7:53 AM

How do I create a "fill in form" on Adobe with text boxes and check boxes?

I have a pdf that I am trying to modify so that the user can tab through and fill in the form. I can't figure it out. I want to be able to not only fill in text boxes...but a check box feature as well. Any ideas? I'm using Acrobat 6.0

posted by genniangel0 to computers & internet (9 comments total)

Go to view, then toolbars and make sure the "advanced editing" toolbar is on.

This should give you, among other things, a "button" tool. The dropdown menu for the button tool has options for text fields, radio buttons, and check boxes.

I am also using Acrobat 6.0. I don't think I had to install anything special to get that function.
posted by ZeroDivides at 8:03 AM on August 18

To be clear, you need Acrobat Pro to do any type of authoring, including creating forms. Acrobat Reader doesn't have the ability to author forms.
posted by nathan_teske at 8:07 AM on August 18

Oh..that is probably my problem...I am running standard!
posted by genniangel0 at 8:12 AM on August 18

https://www.fillanypdf.com/ may be a useful alternative.
posted by Hartster at 8:16 AM on August 18

gah: with working link https://www.fillanypdf.com/
posted by Hartster at 8:16 AM on August 18

Thank you so much!!! I'm going to check that out!!!
posted by genniangel0 at 8:36 AM on August 18

One caveat about creating a form in Acrobat Pro...Map-out where you want fields, checkboxes, radio buttons, etc. in advance. And then, create these items in the order they appear on your page. This will facilitate correct tabbing through the fields and buttons in order. Otherwise, when a user tabs through your form, the focus will jump all over the page.

Now, this is in Acrobat 6, mind you. With any luck, Adobe has made it a lot less aggravating in newer editions.
posted by Thorzdad at 8:46 AM on August 18

Now, this is in Acrobat 6, mind you. With any luck, Adobe has made it a lot less aggravating in newer editions.

No... no... it's still equally aggravating but is now even slower.
posted by nathan_teske at 2:47 PM on August 18

PDFill works and is cheap. http://www.pdfill.com/
posted by reddot at 12:47 PM on October 7