Answered
I've created a form with Acrobat 9 and will be placing it on a server for users to complete a local copy and email. Is there a limit to the number of times a user can download and complete the form?
License limitations for Forms
2010-08-16 12:13:38
My Product Information:
Acrobat Standard 9.3.1, Windows
Acrobat Standard 9.3.1, Windows
2010-08-17 00:41:46
#2
Obvious point - your post says you're using Acrobat Standard, so the idea of distributing Reader-extended forms is moot, as it's only a feature in Pro.
Standard allows you to create forms but only other Acrobat users can fill them in and save the data, and if your users are all working in Acrobat, there are no limits on how many responses you can process.
If you're using Acrobat Pro and are using Reader-extended forms, then to be specific there are (and can be) no limits on the actions of the [/u]user[u] as they're not bound by the Acrobat EULA. An unlimited number of people can open and fill in the form, and an unlimited number of them can submit the data back to you.
[b]However[/b] if the recipient list exceeds 500 people, you are only permitted to extract information from 500 of those replies. If there are less than 500 recipients in total (and you must of course know this in advance) they can each keep sending you the same form data over and over again, which means you could end up with thousands of extracted datasets.
In the context of Acrobat, "extract" means either to reload the FDF data into Acrobat to see the fields populated in your copy of the PDF, or to take the data directly and use them without Acrobat (including human or machine reading of printouts, faxes, etc). Anything whereby you get access to what they typed in the fields.
Remember that this is a per-document limit; so if you send out ten different surveys, you could process responses from 5000 users in total (some of whom can overlap) - which is the typical way people will handle things like a PDF form on a website (when your 500th user emails in their data, delete it, upload a new form and start again from zero).
We know the wording of 15.12 is ambiguous, so there is opportunity for interpretation; however to work beyond the 15.12.3 limits on a unique document you would need to purchase the server-based Adobe LiveCycle product.
Standard allows you to create forms but only other Acrobat users can fill them in and save the data, and if your users are all working in Acrobat, there are no limits on how many responses you can process.
If you're using Acrobat Pro and are using Reader-extended forms, then to be specific there are (and can be) no limits on the actions of the [/u]user[u] as they're not bound by the Acrobat EULA. An unlimited number of people can open and fill in the form, and an unlimited number of them can submit the data back to you.
[b]However[/b] if the recipient list exceeds 500 people, you are only permitted to extract information from 500 of those replies. If there are less than 500 recipients in total (and you must of course know this in advance) they can each keep sending you the same form data over and over again, which means you could end up with thousands of extracted datasets.
In the context of Acrobat, "extract" means either to reload the FDF data into Acrobat to see the fields populated in your copy of the PDF, or to take the data directly and use them without Acrobat (including human or machine reading of printouts, faxes, etc). Anything whereby you get access to what they typed in the fields.
Remember that this is a per-document limit; so if you send out ten different surveys, you could process responses from 5000 users in total (some of whom can overlap) - which is the typical way people will handle things like a PDF form on a website (when your 500th user emails in their data, delete it, upload a new form and start again from zero).
We know the wording of 15.12 is ambiguous, so there is opportunity for interpretation; however to work beyond the 15.12.3 limits on a unique document you would need to purchase the server-based Adobe LiveCycle product.
2010-08-17 04:16:28
#3
AnnaLu / UVSAR -- Thank you very much. That makes sense.
2010-08-17 12:27:15
#4
Hi acrojack,
"Obvious point - your post says you're using Acrobat Standard, so the idea of distributing Reader-extended forms is moot, as it's only a feature in Pro."
I think that is incorrect- you should be able to add the Save Rights with Acrobat Standard 9.3.
Unless I have lost my mind and there are days you could certainly convince me of it :) It is difficult to keep all the features released in every new version straight, but I believe Adobe introduced the Extend for Reader Save Rights in Acrobat Standard when version 9 came out.
All the other restrictions, etc listed above are the same for Standard too.
Hope this helps,
Dimitri
WindJack Solutions
www.pdfscripting.com
www.windjack.com
"Obvious point - your post says you're using Acrobat Standard, so the idea of distributing Reader-extended forms is moot, as it's only a feature in Pro."
I think that is incorrect- you should be able to add the Save Rights with Acrobat Standard 9.3.
Unless I have lost my mind and there are days you could certainly convince me of it :) It is difficult to keep all the features released in every new version straight, but I believe Adobe introduced the Extend for Reader Save Rights in Acrobat Standard when version 9 came out.
All the other restrictions, etc listed above are the same for Standard too.
Hope this helps,
Dimitri
WindJack Solutions
www.pdfscripting.com
www.windjack.com
2010-08-17 23:59:38
#5
Yes, you're correct - provided the PDF has only a basic set of form fields, Standard can enable it. however Reader-extending to allow comments and digital signatures is only possible with Pro.
http://www.adobe.com/products/eulas/pdfs/Gen_WWCombined-20080205_1329.pdf
15.12 Acrobat Pro and Acrobat Pro Extended Feature. 15.12.1 Definitions.
15.12.1.1 "Deploy" means to deliver or otherwise make available, directly or indirectly, by any means, an Extended Document to one or more recipients.
15.12.1.2 "Extended Document" means a Portable Document Format file manipulated by Acrobat Pro or Acrobat Pro Extended Software to enable the ability to locally save documents with filled-in PDF forms.
15.12.2 If the Software includes Acrobat Pro or Acrobat Pro Extended, the Software includes enabling technology that allows you to enable PDF documents with certain features through the use of a digital credential located within the Software (“Key”). You agree not to access, attempt to access, control, disable, remove, use or distribute the Key for any purpose.
15.12.3 For any unique Extended Document, you may only either (a) Deploy such Extended Document to an unlimited number of unique recipients but shall not extract information from more than five hundred (500) unique instances of such Extended Document or any hardcopy representation of such Extended Document containing filled form fields; or (b) Deploy such Extended Document to no more than five hundred (500) unique recipients without limits on the number of times you may extract information from such Extended Document returned to you filled-in by such Recipients. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, obtaining additional licenses to use Acrobat Pro or Acrobat Pro Extended shall not increase the foregoing limits (that is, the foregoing limits are the aggregate total limits regardless of how many additional licenses to use Acrobat Pro or Acrobat Pro Extended you may have obtained).