How do I make a PDF form that people can fill out and save?

First, create your form fields in Acrobat using 'Prepare a form'. After you add all fields, go to 'File' > 'Save as Other' > 'Reader Extended PDF'. Then, select 'Enable More Tools (includes form fill-in and save changes)' to let Adobe Reader users save their filled forms.

What are the main differences between creating a basic PDF form and an accessible PDF form?

Feature Basic PDF Form Accessible PDF Form. Form Fields Just adds places to type. Adds places to type, each with a label, Tooltip, and tag. Structure May not have a logical order. Has a correct tab order and logical structure for screen readers. Fonts Any font can be used. Uses simple fonts (Arial/Times), 11pt minimum, for readability. Checking No specific check for usability. Runs an Accessibility Checker before sharing to ensure usability for all.

Standardize Field Submissions in Adobe Acrobat — How-to & AI prompts

AI prompts

2 ways to ask · copy any one

AExecute — “help me do it”Create a fillable change request form for field engineers including requester, location,…+

Create a fillable change request form for field engineers including requester, location, description, impact, and approvals, and publish the form to the team folder so engineers can submit consistently starting [deadline=Monday].

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

BImprove — “do it better”Before publishing the change request form, prefill project codes, make impact fields required,…+

Before publishing the change request form, prefill project codes, make impact fields required, add dropdowns for common categories, and include a one‑line help tip for engineers so submissions are complete and reviewable without clarification calls.

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 the PDF file that already contains the fillable form fields and layout you want to reuse.
2
Select the Prepare Form tool from the right-hand toolbar.
3
Review and finalize all form fields, ensuring names, types, and properties are set as needed for duplication.
Best practiceUse clear, consistent field names to simplify future data merging and automation.
4
Save this PDF as your template form.
5
For each target PDF with a similar layout, open the file in Acrobat.
6
Select the Prepare Form tool for the target PDF.
7
In the form editing mode, use the More menu and choose to import form fields from your template PDF by copying and pasting fields or using the duplicate fields functionality.
NoteAdobe does not support true batch form field import for multiple PDFs at once; this step must be repeated for each file.
8
Adjust the position of imported fields as needed to align with the target PDF's layout.
Best practiceHold Shift to select and move multiple fields at once for faster alignment.
9
Save the newly created fillable PDF form.
10
Repeat steps 5-9 for each additional PDF requiring the fillable form layout.
Best practiceIf you have many files, consider using Acrobat's Action Wizard to automate opening and saving, but field import still requires manual steps.

In the appWith the API

You can speed up repetitive edits by copying and pasting fields between open PDFs in Acrobat's form editing mode.

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.

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

Create a fillable change request form so field engineers can submit scope or schedule changes consistently.

FAQ

about this task

First, create your form fields in Acrobat using 'Prepare a form'.
After you add all fields, go to 'File' > 'Save as Other' > 'Reader Extended PDF'.
Then, select 'Enable More Tools (includes form fill-in and save changes)' to let Adobe Reader users save their filled forms.

You should not use Word's form tools because they do not export correctly to accessible PDF fields. This means your form might not work well or be usable for everyone, especially those using screen readers. Always create your form fields directly in Acrobat after starting with a simple, well-structured Word document.

A Tooltip is a short description for a form field that appears when a user hovers over it. It matters because it helps people understand what information to put in the field. For users with screen readers, the Tooltip is read aloud, making the form accessible and easier to use for everyone.

While you can convert a scanned image into a PDF and then add form fields, it's much better to start with an accessible source document, like a well-structured Word file. Scanned images often lack proper text and structure, making it harder to ensure the final PDF form is fully accessible and has correct tags and reading order. It requires more manual work to fix accessibility issues.

Feature	Basic PDF Form	Accessible PDF Form
Form Fields	Just adds places to type.	Adds places to type, each with a label, Tooltip, and tag.
Structure	May not have a logical order.	Has a correct tab order and logical structure for screen readers.
Fonts	Any font can be used.	Uses simple fonts (Arial/Times), 11pt minimum, for readability.
Checking	No specific check for usability.	Runs an Accessibility Checker before sharing to ensure usability for all.

Standardize Field Submissions

When to use it

AI prompts

How to do it

Glossary

The real tasks

Who does this

FAQ

Sources

Adobe help

Video

Other guides