How do I make sure my Reusable Onboarding Checklist is easy for everyone to use, including people with disabilities?

Start with a well-structured document, like a Word file, before converting it to a form in Acrobat. Add a label and a 'Tooltip' (a description for screen readers) to every form field. Ensure the tab order is correct so users can easily move through the fields. Keep fonts simple (Arial/Times) and at least 11pt for readability. Run the 'Accessibility Checker' in Acrobat before you share the checklist to find and fix issues.

What is the difference between a simple PDF document and a fillable PDF Reusable Onboarding Checklist?

Feature Simple PDF Document Fillable PDF Checklist. Interaction View and read only Type text, check boxes, select options Data Entry Requires printing to fill out by hand Can be filled out digitally on a computer Purpose Information sharing Data collection, interactive forms

Reusable Onboarding Checklist in Adobe Acrobat — How-to & AI prompts

AI prompts

1 way to ask · copy any one

CDecide — “help me choose”Onboarding keeps getting territory data in different formats and I want a single fillable…+

Onboarding keeps getting territory data in different formats and I want a single fillable checklist the team can reuse. I know what fields we need but not how to make it both easy for reps and structured for CRM ingestion. Tell me which fields must be required, which can be optional, and one subtle UX choice that will get busy reps to complete it reliably.

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.

Who does this

3 roles

Administrative AssistantHR CoordinatorOffice Manager

FAQ

about this task

Start with a well-structured document, like a Word file, before converting it to a form in Acrobat.
Add a label and a 'Tooltip' (a description for screen readers) to every form field.
Ensure the tab order is correct so users can easily move through the fields.
Keep fonts simple (Arial/Times) and at least 11pt for readability.
Run the 'Accessibility Checker' in Acrobat before you share the checklist to find and fix issues.

The 'Reader Extended PDF' option allows users who only have the free Adobe Reader program to save the information they type into your form. Without this, they can fill it out but cannot save their changes, which means they would have to print or re-enter information every time. It's crucial for any form you want people to fill and save.

It's best not to use Word's built-in form tools if you plan to make an accessible PDF. Word's form tools do not export correctly to accessible PDF fields. Instead, start with a regular, well-structured Word document, then use Acrobat's 'Prepare a form' tool to add the fillable fields directly in Acrobat. This ensures better compatibility and accessibility.

Acrobat's 'Prepare a form' tool is designed specifically for creating professional, fillable PDF forms. It offers features like auto-detection of fields, various field types (checkboxes, dropdowns), and crucial accessibility settings like tooltips and tab order. It also allows you to enable saving for Adobe Reader users, which is often not possible with simpler methods, ensuring your checklist is fully functional and widely usable.

Feature	Simple PDF Document	Fillable PDF Checklist
Interaction	View and read only	Type text, check boxes, select options
Data Entry	Requires printing to fill out by hand	Can be filled out digitally on a computer
Purpose	Information sharing	Data collection, interactive forms

Reusable Onboarding Checklist

When to use it

AI prompts

How to do it

Glossary

The real tasks

Who does this

FAQ

Sources

Adobe help

Video

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