Across the last 20 field submissions, inconsistent date formats, missing product codes, and mixed unit measures have c…
Open Adobe Acrobat Pro on your computer.
Select the Tools tab.
Find and select Prepare Form under Forms.
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.
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.
Use the toolbar to add, move, or delete form fields such as text boxes, checkboxes, and drop-down lists.
Double-click any form field to edit its properties, such as name, tooltip, and appearance.
When finished, use File > Save to save your fillable PDF form.
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.
Making PDF forms accessible means everyone, including people with disabilities, can use them easily. This is important because it ensures your forms can be read by screen readers and navigated with a keyboard. An accessible form has proper labels, descriptions (Tooltips), and a logical tab order, making it usable for more people and often a legal requirement.
If you use Word's form tools, they might not work correctly when you convert the document to a PDF in Acrobat. Word's form fields do not always become accessible PDF fields. It's best to start with a simple Word document and then add all your form fields directly in Acrobat's 'Prepare a form' tool for the best results.
| Field Type | Purpose | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Text Box | Allows users to type in any text or numbers. | Typing your name or address. |
| Dropdown | Lets users choose one option from a list you provide. | Selecting your country from a list. |