About PDF Forms
PDF Converter Professional supports the following actions:
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Filling in active PDF forms, including those with XFA components
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Importing form data into unfilled active forms and exporting data from filled forms
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Preparing forms using auto-detection (FormTyper) and manual form control editing.
Use the product to fill active PDF forms that contain standard PDF form elements including buttons, text fields, check-boxes, radio buttons, dropdown lists and more. Form field calculations also function for forms with such calculations in them.
While PDF Converter Professional gives you everything you need to fill, save and digitally sign PDF forms, it is not intended to be used as an advanced form design application. It is suggested that you design more complex forms using Microsoft Word or Corel WordPerfect.
FormTyper – making existing PDF forms fillable
Since PDF is ideal for making documents universally viewable online, it is common to find PDF files that contain ‘forms’. However, due to the complexity associated with designing fillable PDF forms, most PDF forms are static, having the visual appearance of forms but lacking electronically fillable form fields. PDF Converter Professional overcomes this limitation with FormTyper, a unique technology that “discovers” where fields and checkboxes are located on a static PDF form, and overlaying the appropriate fields onto the form. With FormTyper the original appearance of the form is preserved, with invisible fields overlaid on top. Retaining the visual appearance of the original is important, especially for forms used in government or legal transactions.
Nearly any form can be processed using FormTyper, including paper forms scanned to image PDF and forms designed in Microsoft Word or Corel WordPerfect that are saved to PDF (using PDF Create! or another PDF creation application.)
Manually Adding Form Elements
PDF Converter Professional allows you to overlay text, checkbox, radio buttons and digital signature fields onto an existing PDF. You can move, resize and delete these by selecting them when the appropriate form element is active in the Forms drop-down list. For example, when the Text Field selection is active, you will see all Text Fields that are overlaid onto the PDF. Click to see a full list of available form elements.
Scanning Paper Forms
Use the FormTyper feature to turn paper forms into fillable PDF forms. Simply use your favorite scanning application, such as ScanSoft PaperPort or OmniPage, with your scanning device to create a scanned PDF of the form. Open the PDF using PDF Converter Professional, and run FormTyper.
Forms from Word Processing and Desktop Publishing
Most forms are designed using word processing and desktop publishing products. To convert these to fillable PDF forms, first save them to PDF from the original application (Microsoft Word, etc.) Then open the PDF file using PDF Converter Professional and run FormTyper.
See Filling Forms and Preparing Forms for Distribution for a set of typical form handling scenarios.