PDF Forms Using Acrobat and LiveCycle Designer Bible E-Book

Ted Padova

• Herausgeber: John Wiley & Sons
• Kategorie: Fachliteratur
• Serie: Bible
• Sprache: Englisch
• Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2009

Seitenzahl: 1561

Beschreibung

This comprehensive guide to creating fillable forms with the latest release of Adobe Acrobat is packed with real-world insights and techniques gained from daily use of Adobe Acrobat and Adobe LiveCycle Designer under business deadline situations. You'll get step-by-step instructions that show you how to easily create and implement interactive PDF forms using both Adobe Acrobat and Adobe LiveCycle Designer. Note: CD-ROM/DVD and other supplementary materials are not included as part of eBook file.

Leseprobe

PDF Forms Using Acrobat® and LiveCycle® Designer Bible

Table of Contents

Part I: Getting Familiar with Forms

Chapter 1: Taking a Tour of Acrobat Forms

Starting with a PDF Document

Populating a Form with Field Objects

Editing a Form

Adding Special Features to PDF Documents

Aggregating Form Data

Moving On

Summary

Chapter 2: Getting Started with Acrobat Forms

Understanding the Forms Industry

Comparing costs

Why Acrobat forms are cost effective

What Are PDF Forms?

Scanned paper forms

Static forms

Fillable forms

Looking at Forms Hosted on Web Servers

Understanding the Acrobat Viewers

Acrobat viewers

Using different versions of Acrobat

Summary

Chapter 3: Knowing Form Design Standards

Looking at Some Forms Standards

BFMA standards

W3C standards

Individual standards

Designing Forms for the Form Recipient

Rules for PDF Forms Designs

Summary

Chapter 4: Creating Form Designs

Designing PDF Forms

Using Tools for Form Designs

Using Microsoft Word to design forms

Using Microsoft Excel to design forms

Using Microsoft PowerPoint as a forms designer

Using OpenOffice.org Writer as a forms designer

Using layout programs for form design

Using illustration programs to design forms

Using other programs to create forms

Creating PDF Files

Using PDFMaker to convert to PDF documents (Windows only)

Using Acrobat to convert to PDF

Exporting to PDF

Using Acrobat Distiller

Modifying Forms

Editing text

Editing objects

Editing images

Replacing pages

Setting Initial Views

Adjusting Layout and Magnification

Using Window Options

User Interface Options

Summary

Part II: Using Acrobat Forms Tools and Properties

Chapter 5: Creating Simple Office Forms

Understanding Form Editing Mode

Getting Familiar with the Form Editing interface

Toggling views

Editing fields in Viewer mode

Using the Wizards to Create PDF Forms

Converting a native file to a PDF form (Windows)

Creating a form from a PDF file

Setting properties

Adding Field Objects

Adding fields

Adding essential buttons

Overcoming Auto Field Detection Problems

Saving Forms

Summary

Chapter 6: Scanning Office Forms

Setting Up Acrobat Scan

Understanding scanner drivers

Creating presets (WIA scanners on Windows)

Setting scanner options

Recognizing Text Using OCR

Understanding Acrobat's text recognition features

Converting image files to text (in Windows)

Converting image files to text (on a Macintosh)

Recognizing text in multiple files

Converting Paper Forms to PDF Forms

Converting a paper form to a fillable form

Scanning forms for Adobe LiveCycle Designer (Acrobat Pro/Pro Extended for Windows only)

Using Batch Sequences

Summary

Chapter 7: Working with Form Fields

Understanding the Field Types

Loading the Form tools

Working with text fields

Using some common features for Form tools

Working with button fields

Working with check box fields

Working with radio button fields

Working with list boxes

Working with combo boxes

Working with digital signature fields

Working with barcode fields

Getting familiar with the Form tools

Naming Fields

Auto field naming in Acrobat

Editing field names

Using hierarchical names

Managing Fields

Organizing fields

Creating multiple copies of fields

Creating forms in Viewer mode

Using Rulers, Guides, and Grids

Using Rulers

Working with grids

Filling in Forms

Using the Typewriter tool

Navigating form fields

Setting Field Tab Orders

Summary

Chapter 8: Working with Tables

Creating Tables in PDF Forms

Auto-detecting fields in tables

Adding fields manually to tables

Converting Tables to Application Documents

Exporting tables to Microsoft Excel

Exporting tables to Microsoft Word

Exporting Table Data

Summary

Chapter 9: Working with Field Properties

Getting to Know the Properties Window

Using default views

Using tab options

Understanding Field Properties Options

Working with General properties

Assigning appearances to fields

Setting Options properties

Using Actions properties

Using the Format properties

Using Validate properties

Understanding the Calculate properties

Using Selection Change properties

Setting digital signature fields properties

Using the barcode properties

Using the Properties bar

Editing Multiple Fields Properties

Using Field Properties

Setting text field properties

Setting check box properties for mutually exclusive fields

Setting button field properties

Summary

Part III: Preparing Forms for Deployment

Chapter 10: Enabling PDF Forms for Adobe Reader

Understanding Reader Enablement

Knowing the licensing limitations

Using form servers

Adding Permissions for Adobe Reader Users

Enabling PDFs for form save and digital signatures

Enabling PDFs for commenting

Using wizards to enable files

Enabling LiveCycle Designer forms

Editing Enabled Forms

Keeping backups of forms prior to enabling

Editing enabled PDF files

Working with enabled files and PDF Portfolios

Using Batch Sequences

Using preset sequences for PDF forms

Creating custom sequences

Summary

Chapter 11: Making Forms Accessible

Understanding Accessibility

Understanding assistive devices

Creating a workflow for authoring accessible PDF forms

Tagging PDF Files

Checking the status of tagged PDF files

Creating tags in untagged documents

Designing Forms for Accessibility

Designing an accessible form

Choosing a language

Setting up form fields

Editing form elements

Summary

Chapter 12: Using Signatures and Security

Understanding Digital Signatures

Using third-party signature handlers

Using wet signatures

Creating Digital Signatures

Exploring digital ID and security menu commands

Creating a digital ID

Using signature fields

Locking fields

Applying multiple signatures on a form

Validating signatures

Using Password Security

Understanding the security settings options

Using a security policy

Summary

Chapter 13: Working with PDF Portfolios and Layers

Creating PDF Portfolios

Creating a new PDF Portfolio

Working with details

Navigating PDF Portfolios

Enabling forms in PDF Portfolios

Submitting forms from PDF Portfolios

Working with Layers

Using layered PDF forms

Adding new layers to a form

Summary

Part IV: Managing Form Data

Chapter 14: Working with Data

Deploying Forms

Hosting forms on Web sites

Distributing forms via e-mail

E-mailing forms using Acrobat

Participating in an e-mail form distribution

Hacking the Submit Form button

Working with Network Servers

Using Acrobat.com

Logging into Acrobat.com

Using Acrobat.com services

Submitting forms to Acrobat.com

Viewing files on Acrobat.com

Managing Data

Using the Tracker

Managing responses from distributed forms

Managing manually distributed forms

Summary

Chapter 15: Working with Field Calculations

Using Acrobat's Preset Formulas

Formatting fields

Getting familiar with calculation formulas

Averaging data

Calculating a product

Summing data

Summing and averaging data

Setting field calculations orders

Using Simplified Field Notation

Naming fields for SFN

Performing math calculations with SFN

Calculating Time

Designing a form using time calculations

Creating time calculations

Summary

Part V: Working with JavaScript

Chapter 16: Introducing JavaScript

Getting Started with Acrobat JavaScript

Finding JavaScripts

Using the JavaScript Debugger

Using the JavaScript Console

Writing a script in the console

Copying and pasting scripts

Changing editors

Learning JavaScript

Searching for JavaScripts

Reviewing manuals

Using online services

Filing Scripts

Summary

Chapter 17: Creating Simple JavaScripts

Creating Application Alerts

Creating a message alert

Assessing viewer versions

Assessing viewer types

Adding alerts to document actions

Adding application beeps

Managing Field Behaviors

Showing and hiding fields

Locking fields

Changing highlight color

Changing text colors

Check box and radio button behaviors

Creating Form Submission Scripts

Submitting a form

Submitting form data

Using Scripts for Printing

Printing a document

Printing a page

Eliminating fields from print

Creating Document Viewing Scripts

Resetting fields

Zooming views

Navigating pages

Full Screen scripts

Summary

Chapter 18: Creating Advanced JavaScripts

Adding Annotations

Assessing coordinates

Adding a text box comment

Writing Calculation Scripts

Summing columns and rows

Calculating a sales tax

Calculating a shipping charge

Date stamping a form

Custom Formatting Fields

Eliminating zeros

Creating fixed response options

Moving items between lists

Creating Application Response Dialog Boxes

Using an application response dialog box for a name field

Using an application response dialog box for a credit card number

Working with Optional Content Groups

Summary

Chapter 19: Creating JavaScripts for Acrobat Users

Adding Fields via JavaScript

Designing the form

Using the addField Object

Deleting fields

Spawning Pages from Templates

Creating page templates

Appending pages to a document

Overlaying templates on form pages

Working with scanned forms

Sending Data to Secondary Forms

Setting up secondary forms

Sending data to summary forms

Summarizing data with paper forms

Adding Menu Commands

Adding functions to menus

Adding URLs to menus

Summary

Part VI: Getting Started with LiveCycle Designer

Chapter 20: Using LiveCycle Designer on the Macintosh

Understanding Designer's Development

Setting Up Designer on the Macintosh

Using virtualization software

Installing Acrobat on Windows

Justifying the costs

Editing XML Files in Acrobat

Summary

Chapter 21: Introducing LiveCycle Designer

Why LiveCycle Designer?

Creating dynamic forms

Understanding system requirements

Knowing Designer Advantages and Limitations

What you can do with LiveCycle Designer

What you cannot do with LiveCycle Designer

Using LiveCycle Designer and Acrobat

Editing XML forms in Acrobat

Enabling XML forms in Acrobat

Distributing XML forms in Acrobat

Looking at the Installed Files

Examining the sample files

Using the scripting references

Summary

Chapter 22: Getting Familiar with the Designer Workspace

Getting Familiar with the LiveCycle Designer Environment

Navigating the welcome window

Creating forms with the New Form Assistant

Examining the workspace

Examining the Fields palettes

Working with the tabs

Customizing the Workspace

Using the Window menu

Changing palette views

Using the View menu

Summary

Part VII: Creating XML Forms

Chapter 23: Designing Forms in LiveCycle Designer ES

Creating New Forms from Blank Pages

Setting up the environment

Creating blank new forms

Using the New Form Assistant wizard

Adding objects to a blank page

Using Microsoft Word documents

Using Microsoft Excel spreadsheets

Creating a Form Based on a Template

Examining the templates

Creating a form from a template

Creating a custom template

Importing a PDF Document

Summary

Chapter 24: Working with Designer's Form Fields and Objects

Adding Fields and Objects to a Form

Using the drag and drop metaphor

Stamping fields and objects

Drawing fields and objects

Copying fields and objects

Using the Insert menu to add objects

Using the Tools toolbar to add objects

Duplicating fields and objects

Using Copy Multiple

Selecting and aligning objects

Grouping fields and objects

Examining the Object Library Palette

Working with object types and default settings

Exploring the Standard Group

Exploring the My Favorites group

Exploring the Custom Group

Exploring the Barcodes Group

Creating Custom Library Objects

Creating a new library group

Adding a new library object

Managing custom library objects

Sharing a custom library

Form Fragments

Creating form fragments

Creating fragment library groups

Using form fragments

Updating form fragments

Adding Fields and Objects to Master Pages

Using the Object Editor

Summary

Chapter 25: Working with Objects

Formatting Field Objects Appearances

Changing Appearance properties

Changing object attributes

Changing font attributes

Setting paragraph attributes

Editing strokes and fills

Setting Field Object Properties

Changing field attributes

Binding data to fields

Understanding pattern types

Setting Tab Orders

Reordering fields

Changing the views

Returning to normal edit mode

Summary

Part VIII: Creating Dynamic Forms with LiveCycle Designer

Chapter 26: Creating Dynamic XML Forms

Comparing Static and Dynamic Forms

Creating dynamic forms in Acrobat

Using dynamic elements in Designer

Understanding data binding

Understanding Runtime

Using the Hierarchy Palette

Understanding Dynamic Properties

Summary

Chapter 27: Working with Tables

Creating Tables in LiveCycle Designer ES

Creating a static table in Designer

Creating static tables using Insert Table

Working with dynamic tables

Working with Table Data

Creating an XML file

Adding field objects from a data source file

Creating Sections in Tables

Designing the form

Adding fields

Summary

Chapter 28: Working with Subforms

Creating Subforms

Setting subform properties

Adding headers (overflow leaders) and footers (overflow trailers) to subforms

Previewing a dynamic form

Nesting subforms

Using tables for dynamic subforms

Creating dynamic expanding text fields

Creating User-Controlled Dynamic Forms

Understanding the Instance Manager

Creating buttons to call the Instance Manager

Testing Forms and Previewing XML Data in Dynamic Forms

Creating some sample XML data

Importing sample XML data

Summary

Part IX: Working with Data and Scripts

Chapter 29: Introducing LiveCycle Designer Scripting

Scripting Advantages

Using the Script Editor

Setting Scripting Language Preferences

Writing Scripts

Referencing objects

Choosing the right scripting event

Using FormCalc

Using JavaScript

Debugging Scripts

Getting Help

Using the FormCalc user reference

Using the LiveCycle Designer Scripting Reference

Comparing Scripting Languages

Summary

Chapter 30: Deploying Forms

Preparing for Deployment

Saving LiveCycle Designer Forms

Saving static forms

Saving dynamic forms

Setting the target version

Saving XDP forms

Rendering HTML forms

Rendering form guides

Adding Security

Distributing Forms

Summary

Chapter 31: Working with Data

Creating an XML File

Understanding XML structure

Using XML editors

Creating New Data Connection

Binding to an XML schema

Binding to an XML sample file

Binding to an OLEDB database

Binding to a WSDL file

Setting Field Data Bindings

Setting bindings to existing fields

Setting bindings while creating new fields

Summary

Chapter 32: Examining Some Dynamic Forms

Working with Designer's Tutorials

Examining the Sample Forms

Copying the Sample files

Examining the Dunning Notice form

Examining the E-ticket form

Examining the Form Guide

Examining the Grant Application form

Examining the Purchase Order form

Examining the Scripting form

Examining the SubformSet forms

Examining the Tax Receipt form

Exploring Sample Forms Online

Summary

Chapter 33: Working with Databases

Working with a Database

Exploring a database design

Importing data into an Access database

Exporting data from the Access database

Importing Data from a Database

Testing the exported database data in the original form

Modifying a form for importing data

Summary

Chapter 34: Introducing LiveCycle Enterprise Suite

Examining a Process

Looking at the paper workflow

Comparing a paper process to the LiveCycle ES workflow

Justifying the need for electronic processes

Exploring the LiveCycle ES solution

Getting an Overview of LiveCycle ES

LiveCycle ES clients

LiveCycle ES Foundation

LiveCycle ES solution components

LiveCycle ES development tools

Taking a Tour of LiveCycle Workspace ES

What is the Workspace?

Overview of the interface

Optimizing Designer Forms–Server Deployment

Scripting considerations

File type considerations

Additional server-required objects

Summary

Chapter 35: Getting More Help with LiveCycle Designer

Using Some Help Guidelines

Using Internet Resources

Using the Reference Manuals

LiveCycle Designer Help Guide

Using scripting guides

Monitoring RSS Feeds

Summary

Appendix A: Using the CD-ROM

Adobe Reader 9.0

PDF version of the book

Author-created PDF documents

PDF forms eBook

PDF Forms Using Acrobat® and LiveCycle® Designer Bible

Ted Padova and Angie Okamoto

PDF Forms Using Acrobat® and LiveCycle® Designer Bible

Published by Wiley Publishing, Inc.10475 Crosspoint BoulevardIndianapolis, IN 46256www.wiley.com

Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Indianapolis, Indiana

Published simultaneously in Canada

ISBN: 978-0-470-40017-3

Manufactured in the United States of America

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning or otherwise, except as permitted under Sections 107 or 108 of the 1976 United States Copyright Act, without either the prior written permission of the Publisher, or authorization through payment of the appropriate per-copy fee to the Copyright Clearance Center, 222 Rosewood Drive, Danvers, MA 01923, [phone], fax [phone]. Requests to the Publisher for permission should be addressed to the Permissions Department, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030, [phone], fax [phone], or online at http://www.wiley.com/go/permissions.

Limit of Liability/Disclaimer of Warranty: The publisher and the author make no representations or warranties with respect to the accuracy or completeness of the contents of this work and specifically disclaim all warranties, including without limitation warranties of fitness for a particular purpose. No warranty may be created or extended by sales or promotional materials. The advice and strategies contained herein may not be suitable for every situation. This work is sold with the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in rendering legal, accounting, or other professional services. If professional assistance is required, the services of a competent professional person should be sought. Neither the publisher nor the author shall be liable for damages arising herefrom. The fact that an organization or Website is referred to in this work as a citation and/or a potential source of further information does not mean that the author or the publisher endorses the information the organization or Website may provide or recommendations it may make. Further, readers should be aware that Internet Websites listed in this work may have changed or disappeared between when this work was written and when it is read.

For general information on our other products and services or to obtain technical support, please contact our Customer Care Department within the U.S. at [phone], outside the U.S. at [phone] or fax [phone].

Library of Congress Control Number: 2009920044

Trademarks: Wiley, the Wiley logo, and related trade dress are trademarks or registered trademarks of John Wiley & Sons, Inc. and/or its affiliates, in the United States and other countries, and may not be used without written permission. Adobe, Acrobat , and LiveCycle are registered trademarks of Adobe Systems Incorporated in the United States and/or other countries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Wiley Publishing, Inc., is not associated with any product or vendor mentioned in this book.

Wiley also publishes its books in a variety of electronic formats. Some content that appears in print may not be available in electronic books.

Ted Padova:

For Arnie.

Angie Okamoto:

For my family, who put up with me while I tried to figure out how to become an author.

About the Authors

Ted Padova is the former chief executive officer and managing partner of The Image Source Digital Imaging and Photo Finishing Centers of Ventura and Thousand Oaks, California. He has been involved in digital imaging since founding a service bureau in 1990. He retired from his company in 2005 and now spends his time writing and speaking on Acrobat, PDF forms, and LiveCycle Designer forms.

For more than 17 years, Ted taught university and higher education classes in graphic design applications and digital prepress at the University of California, Santa Barbara, and the University of California at Los Angeles. He has been, and continues to be, a conference speaker nationally and internationally at PDF conferences.

Currently he lives in the Philippines where he serves as President/CEO of his company ApoVisions, Inc. — a company working with third-world nations to develop electronic document workflows and forms routing.

Ted has written more than 30 computer books and is one of the world's leading authors on Adobe Acrobat. He has written books on Adobe Acrobat, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Photoshop Elements, Adobe Reader, Microsoft PowerPoint, and Adobe Illustrator. Recent books published by Wiley Publishing include Adobe Acrobat PDF Bible (versions 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9), Adobe Creative Suite Bible (versions CS, CS2, CS3, and CS4), Color Correction for Digital Photographers Only, Color Mangement for Digital Photographers For Dummies, Microsoft PowerPoint 2007 For Dummies — Just the Steps, Creating Adobe Acrobat PDF Forms, Teach Yourself Visually Acrobat 5, and Adobe Acrobat 6.0 Complete Course. He also co-authored Adobe Illustrator Master Class — Illustrator Illuminated and wrote Adobe Reader Revealed for Peachpit/Adobe Press.

Angie Okamoto works as the Director of Enterprise Development for Easel Solutions in Lincoln, Nebraska. She has been in the technology training industry for more than nine years. Angie is an Adobe Certified Expert, an Adobe Certified Instructor and a Master Level Microsoft Office Specialist. She currently specializes in Adobe Acrobat, Adobe LiveCycle Enterprise Suite, and PDF forms. Angie enjoys presenting at business associations and conferences on PDFs, Acrobat forms, and LiveCycle Designer forms. Teaching is her passion, getting excited about each of the new features released in the new versions of the software, and sharing them with her students.

Credits

Senior Acquisitions Editor

Stephanie McComb

Project Editor

Martin V. Minner

Technical Editor

Lori DeFurio

Copy Editor

Gwenette Gaddis Goshert

Editorial Manager

Robyn Siesky

Business Manager

Amy Knies

Senior Marketing Manager

Sandy Smith

Vice President and Executive Group Publisher

Richard Swadley

Vice President and Executive Publisher

Barry Pruett

Project Coordinator

Erin Smith

Graphics and Production Specialists

Andrea Hornberger, Nikki Gately, Jennifer Mayberry, Sarah Philippart, Ronald Terry

Quality Control Technician

Caitie Kelly

Proofreading

Christine Sabooni

Indexing

Broccoli Information Management

Media Development Project Manager

Laura Moss

Media Development Assistant Project Manager

Jenny Swisher

Media Development Associate Producer

Kit Malone

PDF Forms Using Acrobat and LiveCycle Designer Bible is written for a cross-platform audience. Users of Microsoft Windows XP Professional or Home Edition, Windows Vista Professional and Home Editions, Tablet PC Edition, and Apple Macintosh computers running OS X v10.2.8, 10.3, 10.5 and later will find references to these operating systems.

About This Book

This book is like having two books in one. The first half of the book is devoted to working with Adobe Acrobat on both Windows and the Macintosh. The second half of the book is devoted entirely to LiveCycle Designer ES, which is a Windows-only program. In Chapter 20 we provide some guidance for using LiveCycle Designer ES on an Intel Macintosh computer using virtual desktop software, the Windows operating system, and the Windows version of Acrobat Pro.

Most of the chapters in the first part of the book include screenshots from Acrobat running under Windows. The user interface is closely matched between Windows and the Macintosh; therefore, Macintosh users will find the same options in dialog boxes and menu commands as found in the screenshots taken on a Windows machine. Where significant differences occur, you'll find additional screenshots taken on a Macintosh to distinguish the differences.

With the exception of Chapter 20, the second half of the book shows screen shots take on Windows only. Because LiveCycle Designer ES is a Windows application, you'll fine no images taken on the Macintosh.

How to read this book

This book is designed for the novice forms author as well as intermediate and advanced users of Acrobat Standard, Acrobat Pro, Acrobat Pro Extended, and Adobe LiveCycle Designer ES. We created a publication that's like having two books in one. Because LiveCycle Designer ES ships with Acrobat for Windows users, we broke the book up to cover in the first half all you need to know about PDF forms using Acrobat Standard or one of the Pro applications. The second part of the book is for Windows-only users who want to know how to create dynamic forms using Adobe LiveCycle Designer ES.

To begin with, you need to think about what application you have access to. If you're a Windows user you need to decide what application you want to work with — either Acrobat or LiveCycle Designer ES. If you're a Macintosh user and you want to create dynamic forms using LiveCycle Designer ES, your first stop should be Chapter 20 where we talk about how you can install LiveCycle Designer ES on an Intel Mac.