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Creating a useable PDF or similar?

Discussion in 'Computers & Technology Forum' started by webdog, Aug 26, 2009.

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  1. webdog

    webdog Active Member
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    I just took on a job where I need to solicit business using a form that needs to be filled out. I would like to attach the form in a useable PDF format or something like it, but am not that tech savvy and don't know what would work best. What I would like is:

    The form being attached to an email
    The form being able to be filled out electronically (and signed electronically)
    The form being able to be submitted back to me without having to print it out and fax it
    The ability to send an automatic "thank you, your form has been submitted" email once it has been.

    What would be the best and most cost effective way of doing this? Is this even possible?
     
    #1 webdog, Aug 26, 2009
  2. rdwhite

    rdwhite New Member

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    Yes it is possible and Adobe PDF form would be a very good way to accomplish what you are looking for. You will need to purchase the Adobe program, but it may be written off or deducted as a business expense.

    For the automated response, use a dedicated email address for the purpose of processing the forms and set it to auto respond.
     
    #2 rdwhite, Aug 26, 2009
  3. gb93433

    gb93433 Active Member
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    MS Word can be used to generate a form that can be filled in.
     
    #3 gb93433, Aug 26, 2009
  4. Trotter

    Trotter <img src =/6412.jpg>

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    Faith:
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    CutePDF Writer

    It is freeware.

     
    #4 Trotter, Aug 28, 2009
  5. Johnv

    Johnv New Member

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    I use CutePDF and it works great. It doesn't have the advanced tools that Adobe Acrobat has, but for simple conversion of a Word doc to PDF, it's fantastic.
     
    #5 Johnv, Aug 28, 2009
  6. rdwhite

    rdwhite New Member

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    But will cute PDF enable him to create a form that the customer can fill in, save, and email back. I think it just converts files to the basic unchangeable PDF file type, I could be wrong on this, and cutePDF may have added that as a feature since the last time I looked at it.
     
    #6 rdwhite, Aug 28, 2009
  7. Magnetic Poles

    Magnetic Poles New Member

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    I don't think so.

    For simple conversions, another utility, PrimoPDF, is also good and free. OpenOffice.org will also export PDF, and MS Office has a plug in to do the same.
     
    #7 Magnetic Poles, Aug 28, 2009
  8. rdwhite

    rdwhite New Member

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    As far as I am aware, the only usable program for accomplishing the OP is Adobe full program.

    We tried several other form creation programs. Some were very good at creating forms, but did not allow the customer to fill in, save, and send in. I remember trying another program, that was so buggy we had to scratch it, I don't remember the name.

    I just looked and cutePDF Professional (non-free version) will allow you to create fillable forms, I've never tested it, so I can't vouch for it.
     
    #8 rdwhite, Aug 28, 2009
  9. Johnv

    Johnv New Member

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    Good question. If you use MS Word, it creates a PDF that is "text searchable", which includes form boxes. So, in short, if you create a form box in Word, it should translate to a PDF. Since CuteFTP is free, I suggest downloading it and trying it out. Since we don't know exactly what the form in question looks like, test driving it is probably the best way to go.
     
    #9 Johnv, Aug 28, 2009
  10. webdog

    webdog Active Member
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    OK...my boss handed me Nuance PDF Converter Pro and said "I'll let you figure it out". Now, I'm not computer illiterate (completely) but when it comes to this I am. I want to scan our registration form, save it to PDF and convert it using this software to something I can attach to an email to be filled out electronically. I read through most of the 41 pages on the tutorial, and much of it is like reading Hebrew to me.

    In layman's terms, what is the best way to do this with the software I recently received?
     
    #10 webdog, Dec 1, 2009
  11. Steven2006

    Steven2006 New Member

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    Congrats on the new job. Did you wrap up your real estate deal?
     
    #11 Steven2006, Dec 1, 2009
  12. webdog

    webdog Active Member
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    No, hence the new job :D It became a mess with the principle now being investigated by the FBI. It may have bankrupt me, but I'm fighting to keep my head above water
     
    #12 webdog, Dec 2, 2009
  13. Steven2006

    Steven2006 New Member

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    So sorry to hear that was the outcome. This economy has been very tough on real estate investments. I rely on income from commercial properties and have many sitting dark right now, it can get scary. I'll keep you in my prayers.
     
    #13 Steven2006, Dec 2, 2009
  14. Johnv

    Johnv New Member

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    Webdog, if you're scanning a hardcopy document to a pdf, it won't be text searchable, and won't be editable by the recipient (in other words, the recipient can't fill it in on their computer and send it back).

    Just a heads up there.
     
    #14 Johnv, Dec 2, 2009
  15. webdog

    webdog Active Member
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    Thanks, I appreciate it.
     
    #15 webdog, Dec 2, 2009
  16. webdog

    webdog Active Member
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    I thought it is? From Nuance's site...

    Fill out and edit PDF forms:

    Now you can turn static PDF forms into fillable PDF forms or Microsoft Word forms. PDF Converter Professional includes Logical Form Recognition (LFR) - the advanced form conversion technology used by the IRS, Secret Service and other leading organizations
     
    #16 webdog, Dec 2, 2009
  17. Steven2006

    Steven2006 New Member

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    I recently had some PDF files sent to me that I needed to modify, and I couldn't make any changes to them. I took them to two places for help in doing so, and was told they couldn't be changed.
     
    #17 Steven2006, Dec 2, 2009
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