PDF, often misunderstood and deemed inconvenient, holds a wealth of untapped potential beyond our preconceived notions. Like the memorable quote of a renowned TV hero, “You don’t like cats? You just don’t know how to cook them,” we often overlook the extraordinary possibilities offered by PDF. It’s time to challenge our assumptions and embrace the hidden power of this versatile format.
Today, we will explore one of the most sought-after features of PDF: the capability to effortlessly fill in various types of forms with ease and convenience.
Imagine having a PDF form that requires completion and submission. Traditionally, you could print it out and manually fill it in, or resort to capturing an image or scanning it before sending it back. However, a more efficient approach involves opening the document in Adobe Acrobat and utilizing the “Prepare Form” button for seamless form editing and submission.
Upon opening the document in Adobe Acrobat, a prompt will inquire whether to use the existing document or initiate a scan. Choose the preferred option and click “Start.” Adobe Acrobat will then employ its Auto Detection feature to identify the necessary fillable fields, resulting in a modified document layout that facilitates easy data entry.
In this step, we can proceed to fill in the fields that Adobe Acrobat has identified as editable. However, there may be instances where not all the required fields are recognized by the software, as demonstrated in the aforementioned example. To address this, we have the option to remove any extraneous fields by right-clicking and selecting “Delete” from the dialog box. Moreover, for the creation of comprehensive text fields, we navigate to the toolbar and choose the “Add Text Field” option. Utilizing this tool, we can define a text field where text can be inputted.
Continuing the process, we can customize the properties of the text field by right-clicking on it and selecting “Properties”. This allows us to modify various aspects such as appearance, validation, and formatting of the text field. With these options, we can tailor the field to our specific requirements, ensuring a seamless and accurate data entry experience.
After performing the necessary modifications, we are presented with two functional fields that are now ready for use, despite their initial unrefined appearance.
To achieve uniformity in size, utilize the “Match Size” tool to adjust the dimensions of the fields, and then align their heights using the “Match Height” option. This process yields two aligned text fields that are now ready for utilization.
For personal use, you can proceed with filling in the required fields as they are. However, if the form needs to be shared with another user, it is advisable to rename the text fields to provide clear instructions for the intended input. Simply locate the field names in the right menu and modify them accordingly.
To ensure consistency, adjust the font size and style of the newly renamed text fields to match the existing ones. Simply select both fields, right-click, and choose the “Properties” option to make the necessary adjustments.
Within the “Properties” window, navigate to the “Appearance” section, where you can specify the desired Font and Font size for the text fields by selecting from the available options.
To ensure the desired outcome, utilize the “Preview” button for a glimpse into the form’s appearance after modifications. Additionally, in cases where a text field exceeds the window’s boundaries, like in clause 18, manual adjustments are necessary. By employing the mouse, resize the text field to fit snugly within the window, accommodating the entire content. This approach guarantees that all text remains visible without any overflow. Taking these steps allows for precise control over the final presentation of the form.
By the way, we can immediately set the filling parameter of this text field by selecting, for example, the Cross option.
The culmination of these steps yields a fully prepared and functional form, ready for immediate use.
In this part, we focused exclusively on creating text fields. However, in the next article, we will delve into the topic of inserting dates in a predefined format that allows users to conveniently select them from the calendar.
Stay with us as we delve into the boundless potential of PDF and let this phrase “Don’t you like PDF? You simply haven’t explored its capabilities” guide your way.
