Easily create online forms with Acrobat 9

Learn how to use Acrobat 9 to convert any form into an interactive online form.

By Adobe – April 8, 2009

 

With Adobe Acrobat 9, you can convert any form into an interactive online form (sometimes called HTML form or web form) that users can fill out and return electronically. Start with either a paper form you've scanned or an online form you've created in any application. It's simple, see how.

Create the PDF file.

Convert any electronic document to a PDF file, or scan a paper form directly into Acrobat (choose File > Create PDF > From Scanner).

Use the Form Wizard to create form fields

Choose Forms > Start Form Wizard. Follow the on-screen instructions. When you run the wizard, the document is analyzed and electronic form fields are automatically created.

Evaluate form fields.

Acrobat lists all form fields created in the Fields pane. Scroll through the document to see if any fields were missed or if any extra fields were created. To delete a field, select it in the Fields pane and press Delete.

Add and edit form fields.

Add text fields, check boxes, list boxes, combo boxes, radio buttons and action buttons to the PDF form. Select the type of form field from the "Add or Edit Fields" list in the Forms toolbar, and then click where you want the field to appear.

Save the form

Be sure to save the form with all the fields you've added. Choose File > Save As to save the form with a different name, so that your original static document remains intact.