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enable 'submit form' feature for clients using Outlook Web Access

Forum Index > Forms: Acrobat > enable 'submit form' feature for clients using Outlook Web Access
2009-10-19 15:08:00
klwalsh611
Registered: Sep 10 2009
Posts: 28
Answered

I have created forms in Acrobat 9 Pro for Mac and included a button that will allow the client to fill out the form and then submit it to an email address that I prepopulate using the mailto: function. The problem that I have just been made aware of is that some of those clients are using Microsoft's Outlook Web Access for their email rather than the full blown Outlook client. They are unable to submit the form without first saving the document locally as an owa file and then attaching it to an email and manually entering the recipient's email address. This process is unacceptable to the client -- any ideas how I can resolve that on my end -- or is it up to the client's mail server admin to properly configure the Outlook Web Access client to submit the pdf? Thanks in advance for any help!

My clients are on PCs utilizing Internet Explorer (version unknown).

My Product Information:
Acrobat Pro 9.1.3, Macintosh
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2009-10-19 15:38:39
#1
try67
Online
Expert
Registered: Oct 30 2008
Posts: 2399
Acrobat just uses the system's default mail application. If your clients want to use Outlook Web Access then they need to install it as the default mailer on their machines. I don't think there's anything you can do about it.

- AcrobatUsers Community Expert - Contact me personally at try6767 [at] gmail [dot] com
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2009-10-19 18:17:11
#2
daka630
Expert
Registered: Mar 1 2007
Posts: 1420
Hi klwalsh611 ,

try67 wrote:
Acrobat just uses the system's default mail application.
fwiw - was curious, so tossed the chicken bones (a web search) - resulted in the following items that appear to be relevant to the issue you describe.

Quote:
1. Start Adobe Acrobat Reader.
2. From the tool bar of Acrobat Reader select "Edit | Preferences".
3. From the left pane in the preferences Window select "Internet".
4. Under the Web Browser Options heading UNCHECK the option next to "Display PDF in browser"
5. Click OK and exit the Acrobat Reader program.
6. Login to Outlook Web Access using Internet Explorer, right click on the attached PDF file and select Open in new window.
Quote:
Try following: IE> Tools> Internet Options> Advanced> HTTP 1.1 Settings> Uncheck Use HTTP 1.1
Quote:
It's difficult to make Outlook Web Access your default mail. Here's a third-party product that can help you fix that.
...it's difficult to make Outlook Web Access your default mail client unless you use a third-party product that can
map mailto: and email links to Outlook Web Access instead of (an installed email client).
[url]http://articles.techrepublic.com.com/5100-10878_11-5864521.php[/url]
Quote:
[url=http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;873138]KnownContentTypes registry entry for OWA[/url]
A Microsoft KB article identified that Exchanger Server 2000 & 2003 had a problem with links in an email.
An update/upgrade to the Exchange Server in use may be called for.

The clients using OWA may want to consider an appropriate add-on to enhance OWA's functionality.
(After all, OWA is, fundamentally, a "light" version of OL client, eh?).
[url=http://www.msexchange.org/software/OWA-Addons/rating/2/]Some OWA add-ons[/url]

Change browser - some browsers support use of some webmail services (such as OWA).
Perhaps one of these supports using OWA.

"OWA Launcher" may be worth a look over.
http://www.everywherenetworks.com/owa-launcher.php

jmo - at the end of the day, it might be best for all involved if the hold outs opt for an install of Outlook.
Just taken care of business that way, no?

Be well...

Be well...

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2009-10-20 07:58:57
#3
klwalsh611
Registered: Sep 10 2009
Posts: 28
Thanks to you both for such quick responses! daka630 - that's alot to digest and I'm sure I'll confuse the client with this answer but hopefully they have a techie who will understand what to do. It's definitely worth a shot. Thanks again.
Regard,
klwalsh611
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2009-11-04 12:06:19
#4
lkassuba
ExpertTeam
Registered: Jun 28 2007
Posts: 3636
klwalsh611 wrote:
I have created forms in Acrobat 9 Pro for Mac and included a button that will allow the client to fill out the form and then submit it to an email address that I prepopulate using the mailto: function. The problem that I have just been made aware of is that some of those clients are using Microsoft's Outlook Web Access for their email rather than the full blown Outlook client. They are unable to submit the form without first saving the document locally as an owa file and then attaching it to an email and manually entering the recipient's email address. This process is unacceptable to the client -- any ideas how I can resolve that on my end -- or is it up to the client's mail server admin to properly configure the Outlook Web Access client to submit the pdf? Thanks in advance for any help!My clients are on PCs utilizing Internet Explorer (version unknown).
If you use the Distribute feature in Acrobat 8 or 9, then your recipients will be prompted to select whether they have webmail or a local client email such as Outlook when they submit the form -- from the message toolbar. The down side of this is that you cannot custom program a submit button such as what you're doing with the mailto:.

Lori Kassuba is an AUC Expert and Community Manager for AcrobatUsers.com.

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2009-11-04 13:42:19
#5
klwalsh611
Registered: Sep 10 2009
Posts: 28
thanks for the suggestion. they won't want to manually enter the email address -- difficult client. i may end up having to recreate the entire form as an html/javascript page for there intranet. Haven't ever done that so it will be a learning experience for sure!
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2009-11-05 09:22:23
#6
lkassuba
ExpertTeam
Registered: Jun 28 2007
Posts: 3636
Thom Parker has a tutorial on [url=http://www.acrobatusers.com/tutorials/2006/submitting_data]Submitting Data[/url] in which he discusses submitting data to a web server (just like it's done with a browser) that you might find helpful.

Lori Kassuba is an AUC Expert and Community Manager for AcrobatUsers.com.

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