Planning your PDF form depends on the methods you’ll use for collecting data. In Windows, the planning also influences your choice between editing a form in Acrobat or editing it in Adobe LiveCycle Designer.
Your answers to the following questions may guide your decision about what elements to include in the form.
The possibilities include:
On paper or fax, to be collated manually.
On paper or fax, to be scanned and save as an electronic document.
On paper or fax, to be scanned and interpreted from one or more barcode fields included in the form.
As an email attachment that includes the entire form.
As an email attachment that includes only the form data.
Through an Internet or network connection directly to a database.
Consider the following factors, which affect who can fill in a form and how comfortable they are in doing so.
Compatibility. Consider whether all members of your intended audience are likely to be using the latest version of Acrobat or Reader to fill in the form. You may need to set up the form to be compatible with earlier versions.
Security. Especially if the form captures sensitive or personal information, consider adding security measures, such as passwords, digital signatures, or masked form data to protect you and your audience, and to prevent others from being able to access the data.
Adobe Reader users. Consider granting Reader users extended rights for the form so they can save a copy of the completed form before submitting it.
Acrobat 8 offers tracking features that you can use to keep yourself informed on the submitted data. For more information on this topic, go to the Adobe website.