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Ways to Improve Your PDFs with FrameMaker-to-Acrobat TimeSavers/Assistants
Author interactive/fillable PDF forms
Form fields -- including text fields,
check boxes, radio buttons -- can be used to create fillable/interactive
PDF e-forms and checklists and are particularly useful to retrieve
input automatically. Form fields are also often beneficial in
large documents that are typically authored in FrameMaker, for
example manuals or workbooks.
Adding form fields manually after creation of the PDF is labor-intensive, and all work invested will have to be repeated every time the source documents are updated.
Using FrameMaker-to-Acrobat TimeSavers & Form Assistant, you can take advantage of all of FrameMaker capabilities (such as layout, numbering, conditional text, cross-reference, text insets and variables) to author documents that, upon conversion to PDF, will automatically contain text fields, check boxes, radio buttons and additional form controls.
Creating a PDF that uses form fields does not mean that the document is designed purely for on-screen use. The same document can serve both for print and online purposes, designed to have a different output depending on use. For example, printed lines for quiz answers can replace the fields used for on-screen interaction such as data entry and selection.
PDF examples (authored with FrameMaker, distilled with TimeSavers+Form Assistant):
- PDF form fields created through hypertext markers in FrameMaker documents [view]
- Dual-function true/false test (PDF: 164K)
- Order form (PDF: 247K); form-related features include input fields, selection lists, active field highlight, tool tips, calculations, validation of values, input formatting
- Registration form (PDF: 203K); form-related features include input fields, check boxes, tool tips, calculations, validation of values, date auto-insertion
- Sample form, demonstrating validation of domain names / IP addresses (PDF: 58K); input is limited to valid characters, incomplete/incorrect data is highlighted
(Note: Form data can be saved when the PDF is viewed in the free Adobe Reader XI or later)