Editable document so non-Adobe using clients can change the colour of text boxes

Forum|Forum|3 years ago
February 22, 2023
3 replies
842 views

I'm a designer. have created a complex flow chart for some clients. There are white text boxes in this flow chart, called 'functions' boxes. The client wants to use the flow chart as a reporting tool for their clients to use. They need their clients to be able to change the colour of the functions boxes in the flow chart to convey how well these functions are working. Imagine a heat map, where each of the boxes will show on a colour scale of 1-5 how well or poorly the function is working within a wider system. Their clients have no design software, and only basic pdf readers.

My question is: can I do this using any of the adobe products. I wondered if there was a work around using interactive features in either InDesign or Illustrator and exporting as an editable pdf. Any ideas? I'm stumped.

How to

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John Mensinger

Community Expert

This would be possible with Acrobat Pro, with contributory graphics, text, and layout done in either Illustrator or InDesign. But there are potential drawbacks in that it may not work reliably across various users' default PDF-reader choices and settings. It can work if the user circle is relatively small and known, and can be required to install and use Adobe Reader. Otherwise an online solution might be the better option.

Met1

Legend

"Their clients have no design software, and only basic pdf readers."

First step, is to determine what they can, can't, will, won't use.

There's a bunch of online interactive tools you can use, but more than likely you won't be able to (simply) design in AI, ID etc, and upload it.

Whatever method you/they choose, there's going to be some training and hand holding required.

S

smallstudiosAuthor

Participant

Thanks for responding. My gut reaction is that this is a problem best (and probably very easily) solved by an online platform of some kind and a bit of code. I just wanted to make sure I wasn't missing something obvious like a hidden 'allow people to change the colour of a box in a pdf just by right clicking on it' button.

Kurt Gold

Community Expert

This could indeed be prepared in Acrobat (Pro) or in InDesign with interactive elements.

Can you perhaps share a sample Illustrator file with detailed instructions about what you are looking for?

Monika Gause

Community Expert

I would assume they are best served by a solution such as Adobe Express perhaps?

It has a Flowchart maker. Only I haven't yet tried it out, so don't know in which way you can configure it for them. Generally you can set up a project for them in Express with templates and styles and swatches and all. Only I don't know what's possible with those flowcharts: https://www.adobe.com/express/create/chart/flow

S

smallstudiosAuthor

Participant

Thanks - I will explore this.

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