Acrobat PDF and Web-based Forms Becoming More Popular

There’s bad news for Parker, Cross and Bic. More and more computer users are typing directly onto electronic forms and foregoing the pen or pencil.

Many of you have seen this cool feature in Microsoft Word documents or Acrobat PDF forms. It allows for users to fill out PDF forms right on their computer. For business this saves time, money, and duplication of information and effort.

HTML Online Forms

Many web sites have some type of form to capture and process information using a variety of mail form processing scripts.
A good example of an online form is the employment application. However, web owners should be aware of lengthy or complex forms that load slowly even over a high-speed connection.

PDF Online Forms

You should consider using a dynamic PDF form which can be constructed to allow users to type their information directly into the PDF. Once users access the form, you can provide two options:

1) Allow users to save the PDF document to their computer so they may complete it at a later time. Once the form is completed they may email it back to you as an attachment or print it out for faxing or mailing.

2) Require users to immediately complete the form. Once the required data is filled in, users can click submit and automatically attach the PDF as an out-going email without any additional interaction by the sender.

Saving Time, Money and Resources

In some cases it is advantageous for a business to receive important data in a formatted PDF form versus capturing data via a web-based form. Good examples of when to use PDF forms include: mortgage applications, employment forms, credit applications, membership forms, and medical questionnaires.

Think of the time and resources that can be saved when a perspective job applicant completes your multi-page online form in its original form. It also removes the guess work from having to decipher handwriting because ‘all penmanship talents are not created equal’.

You can convert most PDF files into a PDF Form. However, to do so, you’ll need to purchase and install a full version of Adobe Acrobat. All you need is a little HTML know how and a hosted web service account to get you started and you’ll be on your way to becoming an Adobe Acrobat Form Maker Pro!

About the Author
Ricardo Vidallon is company owner and creative designer for http://www.visionefx.net