What is a PDF form?
Most people are aware of PDF files, but did you know that you can also turn a PDF file into a form that can be filled-in online? A PDF form could work the same way as any form that you may have filled-in on the web - just click, type in your info into the fields, and submit.

Why use a PDF Form?
Anyone who has experienced designing a form in HTML knows that it can be a challenge. Creating the layout can be time-consuming and it will never look exactly like the printed version. PDF forms have all of the functionality of an HTML form, such as submitting data to a database or populating a PDF form from a database. In addition,

PDF forms have the following advantages:

can be created using any page layout software from Microsoft Word to Adobe Illustrator, then convert to PDF.
can be made to look exactly like the printed version of the form, therefore making them more appealing to clients who may be reluctant to fill-in an online form.
can be created using existing scanned paper forms.
are easily printable.
are easily updated.
allow data to be processed using any web programming language such ASP or CFML.
can be filled-in using the free Acrobat Reader software.
Where can I see an example of a PDF Form?
We are often asked this question. So we decided to put an example on our web site for you to try out. click here to try a PDF Form (requires Acrobat Reader 5.0).

Just fill-in the form and submit the data! The form was created in MS Word, converted to PDF using PDFMaker (comes with Acrobat 5.0), the form fields were created using Acrobat 5.0, and the web programming was done in ASP.

Documedia web design consultant

About the Author
Dominic Lachance is the Co-Founder and Vice-President of Documédia a company specialized in the integration of technology and businesss process as well as the training relative to the use of these new technologies. He has also trained hundreds of people in the use of new technologies for the web, print and digital video industry