Pros and cons for Acrobat fillable and livecycle

[marilynr59152174]

Currently I am designing forms in Adobe Indesign using text fields, checkboxes and radio buttons applying all tool tips for AODA (Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities). I export to pdf using the PDF Interactive format and then complete the formatting in Acrobat. This way if they make changes to the Indesign file the fillable fields, tagging and tool tips remain. This has been working very well until lately I have had a couple of corrupt files in Acrobat where it won't allow some formatting of the fields.

I have watched a video on livecycle which shows you how to apply heading levels and tool tips etc which is already in my indesign file.

My question is, if I export my form from Indesign using the PDF Interactive format then open in livecycle will all of the fillable fields, tooltips etc appear in the pdf when opened in livecycle. I am always updating these forms and wouldn't want to recreate all the fillable fields, tagging and tool tips every time.

I am currently working on Mac computer and understand that Livecycle is only windows program. My Mac has Bootcamp set up with Windows 10 and thinking of buying Livecycle Designer.

Looking for feedback please.

[Bernd Alheit]

Try the forum for LiveCycle Designer.

[marilynr59152174]

Thank you, I did post in LiveCycle as well.

[Test Screen Name · Accepted solution]

Things you really need to know.

LiveCycle Designer makes a different kind of PDF form completely. Pros

* Dynamic sizing

* XML based

Cons

* Works only in Adobe software on Mac and Windows

* No support on mobile devices

* Forms cannot be edited in Acrobat ever again

* No accessibility support (so far as I know but check if critical).

Question: your workflow seems hard work. Why aren't you making the interactive fields in InDesign?
Tip: if you can't do that, you can still preserve the form elements using Replace Pages in Acrobat.

[marilynr59152174]

I guess I didn't make myself clear in my note (first paragraph), I am creating interactive fields in InDesign, all my fillable work is done there except for the Properties formating that need to be done in Acrobat. I am also aware of the Replace pages and have used this many times in my fillable forms.

I heard that Livecycle has better formatting functions and didn't know if it would work with my InDesign Interactive fields.

Bottom line, I wanted to be sure I was doing this i the most efficient way.

Thank you for your answer it was very helpful. You saved me a lot of wasted time, sounds like Livecycle is not for me.

[George_Johnson]

You won't be able to edit the fields in LiveCycle Designer, so that approach won't be an option.