Forcing PDF to open in Reader?

[deant99893197]

Hello,

I created a PDF service order form.   It has drop down fields with the associated price for a service.  It also has check boxes with values.   I thought I could email to client and they could fill out the project details and select services to compute a project cost.    The form works great, but people are opening the document in browsers or non-adobe readers.  So, the drop downs and check boxes don't work.   I don't know code and am not an expert.  I was wondering if you can set a PDF to require at least Reader to open?  Anyone have other suggestions?   I live in Maine and my clients are not tech savvy.

Best, Dean

[try67]

No, you can't enforce it. What you can do is add a large warning on the

first page, saying the file is best viewed in Adobe Reader.

[gkaiseril]

What you want to do is force all users to install Reader and no other PDF viewer. Unless you are their employer and providing  them their system, you probably cannot accomplish this.

[deant99893197]

Thanks for the reply.   I guest I am out of luck.   The PDF form is nice, but people can't use it.   Just in case I am missing something.   Is there a format that will work with other viewer that will save the drop down and calculations?

Thanks, Dean

[try67]

Again, we can't answer that question because we don't know what "other viewer" you're referring to. Each viewer will have its own set of things that work in it, and things that don't.

[deant99893197]

Well, I don't know that they are using either.   I have used the form 4x with clients and it hasn't worked once.   I guess PDF is the wrong format.  

Thanks for the replies.

Dean

[gkaiseril]

Well many government organizations still use the PDF format but they also provide a page about how to access the form by explaining what web browser to use, how to download the file and open it on their desktop with a preferred viewer. From many post on this forum and other it is obvious many do not understand the requirement or chose to ignore the requirements.

Many web browsers cannot handle PDF forms but can view PDF files. Many user do not know how their browser can download a file to their system and how to open the file once it has been downloaded.

Microsoft is pushing their View browser and their version of a PDF viewer, which combination cannot process PDF forms. Apple has their Preview application which does not process PDFs correctly and corrupts them and does really baid things to PDF forms. Both companies feel they do not need to comply with the ISO standard or chose to ignore it.