How do I make a PDF form accessible for everyone?

Use simple fonts like Arial or Times, at least 11pt size. Give every field a label, a Tooltip description, and a tag. Make sure the tab order is correct so users can navigate easily. Run the Accessibility Checker in Acrobat before sharing your form.

What is the difference between a regular PDF and a Reader Extended PDF?

Feature Regular PDF Reader Extended PDF. Filling Forms Can fill forms Can fill forms Saving Filled Forms Cannot save filled forms (in Adobe Reader) Can save filled forms (in Adobe Reader) Other Tools Limited tools in Adobe Reader Enabled additional tools in Adobe Reader (like commenting)

Reusable Fillable Evaluation in Adobe Acrobat — How-to & AI prompts

AI prompts

1 way to ask · copy any one

CDecide — “help me choose”We need a fillable course evaluation that trainers can deploy at the end of each session.…+

We need a fillable course evaluation that trainers can deploy at the end of each session. Create a consistent form with ratings, space for comments, and trainer/course metadata prefilled where possible. Make sure fields are searchable when responses are exported. I don't want custom forms for each trainer—one reliable template is enough for tomorrow's class.

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

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'.

Accessibility CheckerA tool that checks if your document is easy for all people, including those with disabilities, to use.ExampleRunning the Accessibility Checker helped identify images missing alternative text descriptions.

The real tasks

the one, listed here

Trainers ask for a reusable fillable evaluation and I need one by tomorrow's class.

FAQ

about this task

Use simple fonts like Arial or Times, at least 11pt size.
Give every field a label, a Tooltip description, and a tag.
Make sure the tab order is correct so users can navigate easily.
Run the Accessibility Checker in Acrobat before sharing your form.

Microsoft Word's form tools do not create form fields that are fully compatible or accessible when exported to a PDF. This means your form might not work correctly, and people using screen readers could have trouble filling it out. Always use Acrobat's 'Prepare a form' feature to add fields to ensure proper function and accessibility.

A Tooltip is a short description for a form field that appears when a user hovers their mouse over it. It is very important for accessibility because screen readers use Tooltips to tell visually impaired users what each field is for, helping them understand and fill out the form correctly.

Yes, you can use 'Prepare a form' with a scanned document. Acrobat will try to detect fields, but you will likely need to manually add text boxes, checkboxes, and other fields over the scanned image. It's best to start with a digital document if possible, but a scanned document can still be made fillable with some effort.

Feature	Regular PDF	Reader Extended PDF
Filling Forms	Can fill forms	Can fill forms
Saving Filled Forms	Cannot save filled forms (in Adobe Reader)	Can save filled forms (in Adobe Reader)
Other Tools	Limited tools in Adobe Reader	Enabled additional tools in Adobe Reader (like commenting)

Reusable Fillable Evaluation

When to use it

AI prompts

How to do it

Glossary

The real tasks

Who does this

FAQ

Sources

Adobe help

Video

Other guides