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Known Participant
December 7, 2017
Answered

Creating editable/fillable pdf in indesign

  • December 7, 2017
  • 3 replies
  • 6578 views

Anyone ever created an editable file which is exported as a PDF directly in indesign?

I have tried creating it in adobe acrobat however this has restrictions on who can then edit the file - only people with adobe acrobat can.

This topic has been closed for replies.
Correct answer Derek Cross

I think you're asking about an Acrobat Form. You can set these up in InDesign (CS6 upwards) and fine tune them in Acrobat Pro.

End-users can complete and save the data in the form using the Acrobat Reader. I'd recommend taking an online video tutorial from Lynda.com on how to create them (you can get a 30-day free trial).

3 replies

Known Participant
December 7, 2017

this has been very helpful. thank you. the only other barrier I've stumbled across is once the form is ready to be filled out - it defaults to times new roman when typing in the text field. Is there a way I can select the font id like used for filling out the text fields?

jane-e
Community Expert
Community Expert
December 8, 2017

Not in InDesign, unfortunately. You have to edit the fields in Acrobat to change the typeface.

Tip: Be sure to choose a typeface above the solid line.

John Mensinger
Community Expert
Community Expert
December 7, 2017

As Derek rightly pointed out, to make entries in your form fields, your form users wouldn't need Acrobat; only the freely available Adobe Reader​.

...this has restrictions on who can then edit the file - only people with adobe acrobat can.

It depends on what you mean by "edit." If the editing need goes beyond making entries in form fields, then you're correct, Acrobat Pro is required; and that goes for any PDF (or PDF form), regardless of whether you compose it in InDesign, Acrobat, or a combination of both.

Derek Cross
Community Expert
Derek CrossCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
Community Expert
December 7, 2017

I think you're asking about an Acrobat Form. You can set these up in InDesign (CS6 upwards) and fine tune them in Acrobat Pro.

End-users can complete and save the data in the form using the Acrobat Reader. I'd recommend taking an online video tutorial from Lynda.com on how to create them (you can get a 30-day free trial).