A most basic of basic questions--Form Fill?

[mark@greenbergcm.com]

95% of the time, my need for this sort of software is to fill out pdf forms (a physician's office intake form for example).

And I absolutely do not understand which/what menu option/feature of the software is the applicable one for the job!

It seems every time I think I've found how to fill in one of these forms, for a variety of reasons, the result of data field entering goes south and I'm left using the 'Typewriter' function as a kludge.

Would someone please forward a link that clearly and specifically addresses the 'How To'?

Thanks,

Mark

[sachinbec]

hi,

I am using Free PDF exchange viewer for filling PDF fomrs, though I could not find a way in editor.

hope , this will help you

[mark@greenbergcm.com]

According to the website: "Please note that this product (Viewer) has been updated and replaced by PDF-XChange Editor."

[sachinbec]

In that case tracker customer support to advise as i also puzzled for this.

[Tracker Supp-Stefan]

Hello Mark, sachinbec,

Can we please have a copy of one such form where you have issues filling it in?
If the form is sensitive - please e-mail it to support@pdf-xchange.com and we will take a look.

I suspect that some of the forms you get do have Form fields in them, and some forms are simply copies of the paper form, and the "fields" in them are just outlines without the actual interactive Fields that one can have inside a PDF file being present there.

Kind regards,
Stefan

[mark@greenbergcm.com]

I can send or upload an example but I think I can make this simpler if I'm more specific.

1. If a PDF has form fields that are sensitive/recognized, then which menu option and sub-menu do I use to fill out?

2. If a PDF was the result of a scan, then which do I use?

3. And if the PDF had been a doc 'saved as' PDF is there a different menu option that I'd use than #2?

Mark

[TrackerSupp-Daniel]

Hi, mark

1. If a document has clearly defined forms, you will see a banner atop the file detailing as such and offering an option to "highlight form fields" click this button, and then you can use the Hand tool (available on the far left of nearly every tab), to click the highlighted fields and fill them in.

2. if a PDF is the result of a scan, using the typewriter tool as you already have been is the best course of action.

3. This one is a middle ground, depending on how the file was created, it may actually have form fields, as such, if you see the banner, as mentioned in #1, use the hand tool, if not, then as in #2 use the typerwriter.

As followup, for all answers, if a document does not have form fields (or is missing a few areas you think it should have them), and you have an Editor Plus license, you can also manually add your own form fields to the document. These tools are located on the "form" tab in the Editor, and once placed will allow you to switch back to the hand tool and begin filling.

Kind regards,

[mark@greenbergcm.com]

Excellent response. Thank you.

Mark

[TrackerSupp-Daniel]

[sachinbec]

in my case only pressing of hand tool is not sufficient,

I need to press select text button side pf hand tool to fill data,

pl advise if this is correct

regards

[Tracker Supp-Stefan]

Hello sachinbec,

Then likely your file does not contain actual form fields, if you need to use another tool to start text input.
Can you please share a screenshot of the tool used, while you use it as well as a copy of the file?

Kind regards,
Stefan

[sachinbec]

email sent with attacment, pl advise

[Willy Van Nuffel]

Thanks to your 'print screen' we can see that the "Exclusive Mode" property of the Hand Tool has been turned on (True).

Turn it off (False) to resolve the problem.

Kind regards.

[Tracker Supp-Stefan]

Hello Willy Van Nuffel,

Thanks for the help! That was a nice catch!
We also exchanged a few e-mails with @sachinbec and the issue is now resolved!

Kind regards,
Stefan

[Lighthouse_Foundation]

I am going to revive this thread because I am having the same problem as the OP, I am unable to enter text into the interactive form fields of a PDF document. Under Highlight Form Fields, All Fields is selected. Hand Tool Exclusive Mode is turned off (false) and Select Text/Images is turned on (true). Yet when I click in a field I get a blinking vertical bar but I am unable to enter text. I can highlight in blue as you see in the attached screen shot, but not enter text.

What am I doing wrong?

[lev]

Lighthouse_Foundation,

The PDF is locked by the creator (there's a lock icon at the end of the tab showing the file name). It's meant to be printed and filled out by hand. You may print it to PDF and fill it out using the Typewriter tool.

[Lighthouse_Foundation]

Hmmm. So it is. Thanks for the observation.

[TrackerSupp-Daniel]