How do I make a PDF form fillable in Adobe Acrobat?

First, open Acrobat and go to 'All tools'. Select 'Prepare a form' and choose your document. Acrobat will try to find fields automatically. You can then add or change fields like text boxes or checkboxes. Make sure to save your form after adding all fields.

If I want users with Adobe Reader to save their filled-out PDF form, what steps do I need to take?

After creating your form in Acrobat, go to 'File' in the menu. Choose 'Save as Other'. Then select 'Reader Extended PDF'. Finally, click 'Enable More Tools' to allow Reader users to save their completed forms.

Build Approval Form in Adobe Acrobat — How-to & AI prompts

AI prompts

2 ways to ask · copy any one

AExecute — “help me do it”Build a fillable PDF checklist for trade approvals with fields for trade date, instrument,…+

Build a fillable PDF checklist for trade approvals with fields for trade date, instrument, notional, compliance checklist tickboxes, and required attachments, then save it to the templates library for traders to use.

when the reply comes backPush once: ask it to sharpen the weakest part, and to say what it assumed.

BImprove — “do it better”Before rolling out the approval checklist, make it enforceable: configure mandatory fields for…+

Before rolling out the approval checklist, make it enforceable: configure mandatory fields for trade date, instrument, notional, approver signature, and uploads; add conditional logic that shows extra fields for derivatives; and include a brief instruction line at the top describing acceptable file types for attachments.

when the reply comes backPush once: ask it to sharpen the weakest part, and to say what it assumed.

How to do it

the tool · the steps · what to avoid

1
Open Adobe Acrobat Pro on your computer.
2
Select the Tools tab.
3
Find and select Prepare Form under Forms.
4
Choose an existing file to use as your form, or select the option to create a new one.
Best practiceIf your form is not already a PDF, convert it to PDF before starting this process.
5
Click Start to let Acrobat detect form fields automatically, or manually add fields as needed.
Best practiceLetting Acrobat auto-detect fields can save time, but always review and adjust the detected fields for accuracy.
6
Use the toolbar to add, move, or delete form fields such as text boxes, checkboxes, and drop-down lists.
7
Double-click any form field to edit its properties, such as name, tooltip, and appearance.
8
When finished, use File > Save to save your fillable PDF form.

In the appWith the API

You can quickly test your form by switching to Preview mode in the Prepare Form tool to see how users will fill it out.

This runs in the Acrobat app - there is no separate API for this task.

Glossary

words on this page

Form FieldA special area in a document where you can type information or make a choice.

AccessibilityMaking sure everyone, including people with disabilities, can use something.ExampleThe website was designed with Accessibility in mind, so screen readers can easily navigate it.

TooltipA small message that appears when you point to something, helping people understand what a form field is for.ExampleHovering over the 'Submit' button reveals a tooltip saying 'Click to send your completed form'.

Who does this

3 roles

Administrative AssistantHR CoordinatorOffice Manager

FAQ

about this task

First, open Acrobat and go to 'All tools'.
Select 'Prepare a form' and choose your document.
Acrobat will try to find fields automatically. You can then add or change fields like text boxes or checkboxes.
Make sure to save your form after adding all fields.

It is important because Word's form tools do not create accessible PDF fields. When you use Acrobat's 'Prepare a form' tool, it helps ensure that the form fields are correctly set up for accessibility. This means people using screen readers or other assistive technologies can easily use and fill out your PDF form, making it usable for everyone.

A form field is a specific area in a PDF where a user can enter information, like their name or address. It needs a label to tell the user what information to put there. A Tooltip is a small text box that appears when you hover over a field, giving more details. Both are crucial for accessibility, helping all users, especially those with screen readers, understand and complete the form correctly.

After creating your form in Acrobat, go to 'File' in the menu.
Choose 'Save as Other'.
Then select 'Reader Extended PDF'.
Finally, click 'Enable More Tools' to allow Reader users to save their completed forms.

Starting from a well-structured Word document is better because Acrobat can more easily detect and convert text into proper form fields, making the process faster and more accurate. A scanned image, however, is just a picture. Acrobat might struggle to detect fields correctly, requiring you to manually add and position almost all form fields. This makes the process much longer and more prone to errors, especially for accessibility.

Build Approval Form

When to use it

AI prompts

How to do it

Glossary

The real tasks

Who does this

FAQ

Sources

Adobe help

Video

Other guides