This was supposed to be a detailed response to Dimitri’s answer on PDF Form Distribution from May 19, however, I decided to post it as a new Q as I’d really like someone(preferably Adobe) to put an end to the issue as it seems that most people are unaware their forms do not function properly on recipient computers.
Thank you for your quick response Dimitry. I’ve taken a look at Ted Padova’s book and his explanation is no different than Linda.com’s, the help files or any other tutorial on the subject – it’s just a simple wizard. There’s one difference though – if Ted Padova’s version of Acrobat has the warning "Note: Your license limits forms distribution and/or aggregation.” it most likely did not produce a fully functional form(99% certainty). That fact however, is in most cases hidden for the author of the form. Here’s why:
- There’s no difference or special warning in the creation process except the small warning note mentioned above(comparison snapshots with a functioning software is here: [link=http://img483.imageshack.us/img483/857/licenseskh3.gif]http://img483.imageshack.us/img483/857/licenseskh3.gif[/link] Note there’s no warning)
- The distributed form will function properly if opened on author’s PC with either Acrobat or Reader(that’s why most form authors won’t even know their forms are not functioning)
- The distributed form will function properly on any PC if opened with Acrobat instead Reader.
- The form will function properly if you enable user rights instead of distribute and upload it on a web server from where clients will download it or fill it up online. This method is what is most often desired by the developers, however they won’t be able to collect the returned completed forms with Acrobat as they have not been distributed using the distribution sequence.
Here’s a list of conditions when the form will give you the waning “These documents contain certain rights to enable special features. The document has been changed since it was created and these rights are no longer valid. Please contact the author for original version of the documents” and will not function as a fillable form:
- The distributed form opened in Reader on another PC(the most common case)
- The distributed form opened in Reader on author’s PC but by different computer user(this is the easiest way to check if your forms are functioning correctly. Make sure you open the emailed distributed form not authors’ form copy on the PC)
Hope this puts some light on the issue and prevent further comparison of oranges with apples.
I’ve installed Acrobat 8 trial on 4 PCs, but neither produced a fully functioning form that you’d be able to fill out in Reader. Neither did a supposedly retail version of Acrobat8 on friends PC(version contained the warning "Note: Your license limits forms distribution and/or aggregation.”).
The only fully functioning form I’ve seen so far is the one on Linda.com’s video tutorial and their version of Acrobat8 did not have the warning as you can see on the screenshot link posted above.
Dimitri, does your copy of Acrobat 8 display the small “note…”? You can build a few fields form and distribute it to [link=mailto:mbox [at] myself [dot] com]mbox [at] myself [dot] com[/link] to check it’s functionality if you’d like.
1. You are a company of < 500 employees. You need to create HR forms, Expense forms, etc. – you might collect the same form (let’s say AB1234.pdf) unlimited from your employees. That is – a single form – that has not been changed – can be collected over and over again.
2. You are a company of any size. You need to collect some information – survey your customers, organize the company picnic, collect information from your team members, hold registration for a training session. You create a form (more than likely a one-time form). You distribute it – either via email, CDROM, web, etc. You start to collect feedback. You can only collect 500 responses per form template. For example, I work at a company of 6,000 employees. I created a form to survey some Adobe team members on their needs moving forward. I know I'm only going to receive about 100-150 responses - this is a valid use.
Here’s examples where it DOESN’T work:
1. You’re at a large organization and you want to use Acrobat to collect lots of information – not valid
2. You’re at any size organization and you want to register folks for your conference that basically draws about 1,000 people.
One of the areas of concern is all around the # of forms. There is no limit on the # of forms you can create with Acrobat – it is all about collecting the information from the form. For example – I work in the forms department at my company (< 500 employees). I create all different forms with my copy of Acrobat for the company use.And to respond to the document message that the RE enablement has been disabled: If the form is “changing” (that is the underlying form) because of the type of JavaScript used, it will invalidate RE in some occasions.
And please be aware the RE functionality can *NOT* be automated or used by developers to extend the functionality.
Lori has been working with Acrobat for over 14 years. Currently, she is responsible for Acrobat Enablement at Adobe.