PDF form fields are typically associated with forms as a data collection tool (e.g. purchase orders or registration forms). However, form fields can serve as an underlying mechanism for other interactive features. Form Assistant (FM-to-Acrobat TimeSavers add-on) enables you to include the definitions of PDF fields in FrameMaker through hypertext markers, so that they are automatically present in the PDF file: text fields, check boxes, buttons, lists and digital signatures, with complete control over field properties.

1. Enhancing PDFs
with Form Fields
Using FrameMaker-to-Acrobat
TimeSavers + Form Assistant
Shlomo Perets, microtype.com

2. 1 Enhancing PDFs in Acrobat
■ Labor-intensive, repetitive process
■ Features added in Acrobat “disappear”
next time you distill / Save as PDF
and must be recreated and tested again

3. 2 With TS: define once, use many!
■ All features described in this webinar
can be defined in your source FM
files using custom hypertext markers
■ Upon distilling with FM-to-Acrobat
TimeSavers + Form Asst, corresponding
features are automatically present in
the PDFs produced
■ Update FrameMaker source as required

4. 3 Additional info and examples
■ “32 Ways to Improve Your PDFs
with TimeSavers/Assistants”
microtype.com/ImprovePDF.html
■ TimeSavers/Assistants Showcase
(where all PDFs demonstrated in
this webinar are available)
microtype.com/showcase.html
■ TimeSavers info, order form
microtype.com/TimeSavers.html

5. 4 Overview: uses of form fields
■ Forms (optionally integrated in docs)
● Checklists / surveys
● Evaluation / feedback
■ Display of additional information
● Tooltips/rollovers (eg home page, diagrams)
● Watermarks: print + no display or vice versa
■ On-screen user interaction
● Buttons
● Page marks/notes
● Search

6. 5
Forms

7. 6 Benefits of PDF forms
■ Fillable fields – help with legibility,
validation and error reduction
■ Accessibility (tool tips, vocalize, zoom)
■ “Intelligence” (e.g. calculations)
■ Supports “print and complete” or
“on-screen fill-in” (and save/submit;
online or offline)
■ Can enable Reader save (Acrobat 8 or later)

8. 7 Form field types A
■ Text field
● Single or multiple lines
● “Scroll Long Text” option can be used
for non-printed forms
● Can be set to calculate
■ Check box
■ List box
■ Combo box

9. 8 Form field types B
■ Radio button (option)
■ Buttons
● For example: Submit, Reset Form, Print
● Can be visible on-screen but hidden when
printing
■ Digital signature

10. 9
Selective Display
of Information

11. 10 Tooltips
■ Provide brief information on
● Buttons or text fields
● Icons
● Image elements
■ Note: cannot control font/size

12. 11 Pop-ups/rollovers
■ Can display additional information,
helping the reader make sure that this is
indeed the item being looked for, without
being forced to leave current page
■ Reduce clutter when there is a lot of
information to display for various items
that are in close proximity to each other
■ Font/size can be controlled

13. 12 Form + Presentation Assistants
The combination of Form + Presentation
Assistants enables:
■ Conditional image display, based on
selection of option / list item
■ Image flipping
■ Image rollover
■ Image sequences
● Can include image number display

14. 13 Form + Multimedia Assistants
The combination of Form + Multimedia
Assistants enables media activation
through form fields:
■ Video / audio / image
■ Play, Stop, Pause, Resume, Restart

15. 14
On-screen
User Interaction

16. 15 Buttons
Enable advanced interactivity:
■ Enhanced visual style
■ Multiple triggers (enter/exit area, click)
■ Can specify “no print”
■ Can use symbols from fonts
■ Audio options

17. 16 Enhanced search
Custom search forms:
■ Predefined search phrases
■ Save search queries, with control
over all search parameters
(useful when repeatedly performing the
same search operations)

18. 17 Page marks / notes A
■ Users can mark pages of special interest
● Navigate to next/previous page mark
● Mark/unmark all pages
■ Users can add text notes in specific pages
● Navigate to next/previous page note;
directly access a specific note
● Generate e-mail message with all notes
● Display note text in Acrobat console
● Reset all notes

19. 18 Page marks / notes B
■ Page marks/notes can be set to be
visible on screen (and not print),
or as visible & printing
■ Find function (Acrobat/Reader)
can be used to search text in notes