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Is Acrobat Pro the right solution here? Acrobat Newbie

Forum Index > Forms: Acrobat > Is Acrobat Pro the right solution here? Acrobat Newbie
2011-01-25 09:57:57
trailerparkboy
Registered: Jan 25 2011
Posts: 1

Our business today: Currently we have an ugly long Excel sheet with tons of fields and different tabs, but only some information is required to be filled out depending on the Product Type.
 
What we need: A dynamic form whereby based on what Product is selected, only specific fields appear. Futher branching with new fields may need to appear based on user selections. Once saved, the form should be in a nice printable format with only those required fields appearing. Once saved, the user should be able to open again and make any modifications to.
 
I'm waiting to get my IT dept to install trial, so before testing out, thought I would ask if Acrobat Pro can do what we require and any limitations to Acrobat Pro with Form design.
 
Thanks!

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2011-01-26 02:56:49
#1
try67
Online
Expert
Registered: Oct 30 2008
Posts: 2399
Forms created with Acrobat Pro are not dynamic in the way that you describe, although fields can be dynamically added, removed, made visible or hidden. But it requires quite a bit of coding.
However, LiveCycle forms (which are also PDF files, eventually) can be quite dynamic.

I'm not sure if LiveCycle Designer is included in the Trial version, though. It is included in the full version of Acrobat Pro (Windows only!)

- AcrobatUsers Community Expert - Contact me personally at try6767 [at] gmail [dot] com
Check out my custom-made scripts website: http://try67.blogspot.com

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2011-01-26 11:03:07
#2
maxwyss
Online
Registered: Jul 25 2006
Posts: 255
This can be done using Acrobat, AcroForms technology, as PDF. It has been done so in the past over and over. XFA (the format LiveCycle Designer produces) may be easier to implement, but from the description of your requirements, it may turn into a nightmare.

Yes, an Acroforms solution will require some programming, but this is rather straightforwarding (experience level required comparable to manually assemble a dynamic HTML page).

For getting serious, feel free to contact me in private.

HTH.

Max Wyss.

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