How do I make a form that people can fill out and save in Adobe Reader?

First, create your form in Acrobat using the 'Prepare a form' tool. After you finish adding all the fields, go to 'File' in the menu. Choose 'Save as Other', then 'Reader Extended PDF'. Click on 'Enable More Tools' to allow Reader users to save their filled forms. This step is important because standard Reader does not allow saving filled forms.

What is the difference between making a form in Word and making one in Acrobat?

Feature Word Forms Acrobat Forms. Purpose Good for basic document creation and simple forms within Word. Designed for creating robust, fillable, and accessible PDF forms. Accessibility Word's form tools do not export to accessible PDF fields. Allows creation of fully accessible PDF fields with tags and tooltips. Saving by Reader users Not applicable, as it's a Word document. Requires 'Reader Extended PDF' to allow saving filled forms. Field Detection Manual placement of Word's form controls. Can auto-detect fields from existing documents, then allows adding/editing.

Build Evaluation Forms in Adobe Acrobat — How-to & AI prompts

AI prompts

2 ways to ask · copy any one

AExecute — “help me do it”Create a fillable evaluation form for managers to use on phones: build a PDF form with rating…+

Create a fillable evaluation form for managers to use on phones: build a PDF form with rating scales, open text fields for examples, and save it to the team folder for distribution.

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

BImprove — “do it better”Design the phone‑friendly evaluation form: create compact form fields, use dropdowns for common…+

Design the phone‑friendly evaluation form: create compact form fields, use dropdowns for common ratings, ensure fields auto‑expand for comments, test on a mobile viewport, and add brief instructions so managers can complete assessments consistently in the field.

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 place in the PDF where someone can type, pick, or check something.ExampleClick on the form field labeled 'Name' to type in your full name.

Accessible PDFA PDF that people with disabilities can use, often with tools like screen readers.ExampleAn Accessible PDF allows a visually impaired user to have its content read aloud by a screen reader.

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, create your form in Acrobat using the 'Prepare a form' tool.
After you finish adding all the fields, go to 'File' in the menu.
Choose 'Save as Other', then 'Reader Extended PDF'.
Click on 'Enable More Tools' to allow Reader users to save their filled forms. This step is important because standard Reader does not allow saving filled forms.

The best way to start is by creating your form content in a program like Microsoft Word, making sure it is well-structured. However, do not use Word's built-in form tools. Instead, save your Word document as a regular PDF, then open it in Acrobat and use the 'Prepare a form' tool. This method helps ensure that the form fields are created correctly and are accessible to everyone, including those using screen readers, which is crucial for meeting accessibility standards.

Adding a Tooltip to every form field is very important for accessibility. A Tooltip acts as a description for screen readers, which are used by people with visual impairments. It tells them what information should be entered into that specific field. Without Tooltips, screen reader users might not understand the purpose of each field, making the form difficult or impossible to complete correctly and independently.

Yes, you can turn a scanned document into a fillable form in Acrobat. When you choose 'Prepare a form' and select your scanned file, Acrobat will try to detect where form fields should go. You might need to add or adjust fields manually afterward, as scanned documents can be less clear than documents made from scratch. Always check the form carefully to ensure all fields are placed correctly and work as expected.

Feature	Word Forms	Acrobat Forms
Purpose	Good for basic document creation and simple forms within Word.	Designed for creating robust, fillable, and accessible PDF forms.
Accessibility	Word's form tools do not export to accessible PDF fields.	Allows creation of fully accessible PDF fields with tags and tooltips.
Saving by Reader users	Not applicable, as it's a Word document.	Requires 'Reader Extended PDF' to allow saving filled forms.
Field Detection	Manual placement of Word's form controls.	Can auto-detect fields from existing documents, then allows adding/editing.

Build Evaluation Forms

When to use it

AI prompts

How to do it

Glossary

The real tasks

Who does this

FAQ

Sources

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