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vickil22100631
vickil22100631
Participant
December 23, 2016
Question

Change the underlying document of the template

  • December 23, 2016
  • 4 replies
  • 10450 views

Hi

I need to make minor changes to the word document which formed the basis for my Adobe Sign form.

Its a rather complicated signing form, and will take ages to redo all the form fields.

Is it possible to amend the Word Document and re-upload, so that all the forms stay where they are and appear over the top of the new Word Document?

Or is it possible to edit the text of the form?

Thanks,

    4 replies

    L
    Lucas5CF9
    Participant
    August 9, 2021

    If you have access to the advanced form mechanics available to team, business and enterprise service levels, here is how to do it as of 2021.

    B
    Builders Logic
    Participant
    November 27, 2024

    As of 2024:

     

    First things first, get into the habit of setting  the "Template Type" for new templates you create to "Both" (Reusable document and Reusable form field layer). If the template you are trying to update isn't a reusable form field layer this will not work!

     

    1.  Create a new template
    2. Upload the new version of the underlying doc
    3. Give the new template a name. I use the name of the old template with a version number
    4. Set the template type to BOTH and continue
    5. You should now be in the authoring window staring at your freshly uploaded doc, devoid of any fields. In the upper left-hand you'll see "Field Templates"
    6. Select your old template from the list and hit apply. If you don't see your old template then you didn't originally save it as a Reusable form field layer. 

     

    The reason i always set the template type to both is because when i saved it only as a Reusable form field layer, i didn't see my fields when editing it. I probably only had to go to the drop-down and select itself, so to speak. But that's annoying. Saving it as both leaves the fields visible. 

    S
    ScottCarter
    Participating Frequently
    February 2, 2017

    Adobe Sign has the ability to take your existing library template, and save it as a form field overlay template. Then you can upload the new .doc and apply the field overlay.

    As long as the content in the .doc is structurally the same (or close) all you should then have to do is tweak the field placement so it all lines up as you expect. You would obviate the need to manually create all new fields.

    To do this, you will need to be the owner of the original document.  If you are, then on your Manage tab, you will have an edit link available for the library document.

    1. Clicking the edit link will open the document in the Authoring environment.
    2. Click the Show Properties link at the top of the page (for the classic view) or the Template Properties drop-down in the right rail (for the new experience).
    3. Set the Template type to Both (or check both boxes. The goal is to have a form field layer).
    4. Save your changes (And remember the name of the template).
    5. Then upload your new .doc as a new template. Name it something unique to avoid version confusion.
    6. When the document loads into the Authoring environment, open the Templates option in the upper-left corner of the window.
    7. Select your form field layer template from the Field Templates drop-down menu, and click Apply.
    8. The field layer will be applied to the new document.
    9. Adjust any fields that need to be re-aligned
    10. Save the new template

    This process in no way damages the existing library document, and if the field placement is identical to the previous .doc, the overlay should align very closely.

      T
      TeKnoZiz
      Participating Frequently
      March 29, 2017

      I understand your comments, but I cannot find the Templates option described in #6. I have a document with no fields and a previously uploaded document being used as a field overlay, but I cannot add it to the new document. Please assist.

        vickil22100631
        vickil22100631Author
        Participant
        February 1, 2017

        Hi Michael,

        No unfortunately, I will try to do it using Adobe Acrobat rather than using Adobe Sign.

        Thanks, good idea,

        Ben

        MichaelKazlow
        MichaelKazlow
        Legend
        December 30, 2016

        Did you create the form with Acrobat? Acrobat will allow you to replace pages in a PDF file while leaving the form fields in place. A feature that saves me time when completing a form that has a hundred fields when a find a typo that I need to correct.

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