So to get started download the following form example, which is an OpenDocument text and open it in OpenOffice.ĭownload: Form Example as OpenDocument Text (ODT) It is design mode on / off, toggling between design and view mode, think of it like enable / disable the menu.Īn example says more than a thousand explanations.

One important button is the icon with the pencil on top of the ruler. This will open a small menu with typical GUI elements, such as text edit boxes and List boxes. To use the 'Form Controls' toolbar select menu View - Toolbars - 'Form Controls'. To insert and edit these fields use the special menu toolbar 'Form Controls'. For each user input special fields need to be inserted.

To create a PDF form OpenOffice Writer (the word-processor) is used. These files are for reading only, they are not forms. All documents types: Text, spreadsheets, slide-shows can be output as PDF like that. This is done with menu File - 'Export as PDF.'. OpenOffice can create PDF files that are essentially the printer output put into a file. Whew - Finally done! To avoid these complex steps it is recommended to use a different PDF viewer than Adobe Reader. A pop up window 'Deliver Your Signed Document' will appear, here click 'Not Now'. A 'Save As' dialogue window will appear, change folder or file name if needed and click Save. A pop up window 'Done Signing' may appear, here click confirm. A menu will appear to the right of the document. To simply save an updated form do the following steps: In the toolbar click on Sign. For Adobe Reader 10 and earlier versions there is a more convoluted system of add-on services that includes a signing and uploading to Adobe's servers. Note for Adobe Reader: Version 11 allows to save forms as described above. When updating of the fields are complete, save the form using menu File - Save. The example PDF can be opened and edited with a standard PDF viewer.

To test an example of a PDF form download and open the following PDF file. The form makes it clear to the user what fields should be filled out and user editing does not risk breaking the layout of the form. This provides a simple practical method to publish forms that a user can fill out by the keyboard rather than on paper. Most standard PDF viewers can be used to edit the form.

It is less known that PDF has an option which allow to create a form that can be edited and saved by the receiving user. PDF is normally used as a final publishing format for sending documents that are complete and the receiver only read.

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