Typing on a PDF file

March 31, 2006 11:01 AM

I have a PDF copy of a form that I need to fill out. I need to type my answers onto the form; how can I do this with a PDF file?
posted by punishinglemur to Computers & Internet (14 answers total)

I think you need the full version of Acrobat to add text - can you download a trial version from Adobe?
posted by ceri richard at 11:04 AM on March 31, 2006

I know it's possible (or at least used to be possible) to make PDF files that include input fields similar to the ones in a web page -- though I have to admit it's been, literally, years since I saw anybody actually use that feature.

Try opening your PDF in acrobat reader; if you see boxes you can type in, you're good to go. Otherwise you'll be stuck with printing it out and filling it in manually, or using the full version of acrobat to modify the PDF.
posted by ook at 11:12 AM on March 31, 2006

If the creator had a full version of acrobat, they could have enabled these text box thingies, but most people and places don't bother.

If you got a PDF, generally you're meant to print it out and send it in.
posted by unixrat at 11:24 AM on March 31, 2006

Best answer: The free version of Foxit DF reader now has a typewriter tool. You can overlay text whever you want and print out the resulting "filled out" form. Works great, but you cannot save the resulting file unless you spring for the snazzy full version of Foxit.

BTW, I'm a total Foxit fanboy. Loads 10X faster and doesn't hang my system.
posted by cosmicbandito at 11:29 AM on March 31, 2006

Yes, Foxit rocks. Makes PDFs nearly tolerable.
posted by jikel_morten at 11:39 AM on March 31, 2006

If the form is designed correctly, you can just open it in Adobe Reader and click on the appropriate field and type away.
posted by JJ86 at 11:48 AM on March 31, 2006

You might not have an updated version of Reader - or, the author of the form didn't do it right.
posted by soplerfo at 11:58 AM on March 31, 2006

Best answer: If you have Foxit, overtype the text and then print it out to a PDF converter, saving it as a new PDF. Voila. PDF with typing included.
posted by blue_beetle at 12:12 PM on March 31, 2006

Best answer: I open them in photoshop and then just type over top of them.
posted by dobbs at 12:29 PM on March 31, 2006

There's a similar tool in Mac OS X is called Formulate, which lets you open a PDF, add text over it, and save it as a new PDF.
posted by nicwolff at 1:12 PM on March 31, 2006

In an office setting where I don't always have control over what software I have, I have done a workaround where I open the doc in Photoshop, then save it as a .tif. Then I open Word and use the .tif as a watermark and type the information into the Word doc. Of course you end up with an enormous doc, but most likely you only need to print it anyway.

If you don't have Photoshop, you can fax it to an e-fax account and use that fax attachment as your .tif.

Pity people can't figure out that PDF is a sucky application for forms. But, then again, where I work people still complete Fedex forms with an IBM Selectric the size of a Buick.
posted by La Cieca at 1:49 PM on March 31, 2006

Preview, built into OSX, lets me do this too.

neustile: How? You can do "text annotations" but they don't appear if you print the doc back to PDF... also they're ugly.
posted by nicwolff at 6:23 PM on March 31, 2006

If the PDF document fits on one screen - open it in Adobe PDF reader and press Print+screen. Now open MSPaint and past the screenshot. Add text with the Text tool and click save.
posted by labnol at 2:45 AM on April 1, 2006

I find PDFill PDF Editor very useful. It does what you're looking for and more. At $19.99 it's still a pretty good deal.
posted by xulu at 2:49 PM on April 1, 2006