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How can I make an existing pdf form mobile friendly

Jul 12, 2012 7:52 PM

Categories: Windows

I have a mobile notary business and need to make Invoices for on the go.

What Ive done:

Ive created an image in Photoshop with basic text, table structure and company logo and save it as a pdf (saved file is 1.24mb)

I imported the saved pdf into Acrobat Pro X, added fields, and saved (saved file is 4.29mb)

The invoice is exactly how I want it, and runs great on the computer, but when I try to view it on my Droid Bionic or Galaxy Tab 10.1 using any pdf reader (including acrobat reader) it can't seem to open completely. It nearly freezes the devices.

What Id like to do:

Take the file Ive already made, and make it mobile device friendly so I can create and email invoices on the spot.

What are my best options to do this?

2134 Views 18 Replies Latest reply: George Johnson, Jul 24, 2012 12:48 AM

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Aug 11, 2002

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1. George Johnson,

Jul 12, 2012 9:28 PM in reply to varxtis_2

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It almost certainly can be made significantly smaller by creating the underlying form in a page layout application such as InDesign, or even a word processor, and convert to PDF and add the fields. I know you don't want to abandon what you've already done, but it really is the best approach. Try to keeps fonts to a minimum.

Note that most mobile viewers don't have much if any support for forms. Adobe Reader supports forms, but not JavaScript, which is how automatic formatting and calculations are implemented, so keep the mobile version of the form simple.

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2. varxtis_2,

Jul 12, 2012 10:18 PM in reply to George Johnson

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First off, thank you very much for the reply.
So, If I were to create an underlying form in InDesign (which I am am absolutely not opposed to doing if it gets me the results I need)... are there specific settings I should save with? what format would be best? I had been going about this thinking that the smaller the resulting file size, the better. but there seems to be a lot more to it in how its compressed and what functions (like text) are imbedded. So I want to know every setting I need to take into concideration.
If I use InDesign, can I import my business logo into the InDesign Project for the underlying form? or am I going to need to start even the logo from scratch? Again, thank you for your help.

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3. George Johnson,

Jul 13, 2012 1:09 AM in reply to varxtis_2

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Sure you can include your existing logo. The particular settings really depend on the content how how the document will be used. For example, if the form needs to be used for high quality printing, you might choose to not reduce the resolution. Make sure all the fonts are embedded. I'm not going to bother discussing every possible setting, mostly because the size with whatever you do will likely be dramatically less than what it is now. You can use PDF Optimizer in Acrobat to report on what types of things are taking up space in the document, and this can help direct your efforts at reducing it further.

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4. Dave Merchant,

Jul 13, 2012 1:27 AM in reply to varxtis_2

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[ moved to the Acrobat Forms topic ]

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5. varxtis_2,

Jul 13, 2012 8:11 AM in reply to George Johnson

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So, in esense, all I have to do is make the form in InDesign just like I did in Photoshop, save the file as an *.indd, then import it to acrobat pro, and add the fields?
Ill try that this afternoon the moment I get a chance. Thank you again.
Oh, and one more question... When filling out an existing PDF form and trying to save it (filled out) for records and to email to client, Acrobat said the form could only be printed and would not be saved filled out. What would cause this? I do not have any security setting in place.

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6. George Johnson,

Jul 13, 2012 9:34 AM in reply to varxtis_2

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After you create the form layout in InDesign, export to PDF (File > Export). I usually use the "High Quality Print" preset. Don't use "Smallest File Size" for now. If you want, you can copy the fields from the old PDF to the new. Do't select the
Optimize for Fast Web View" when exporting from InDesign of saving (Save As) in Acrobat (Edit > Preferences > Documents > Save Settings > Save As optimizes for Fast Web View > [deselect]).

Regarding not being able to save, when you got that message where you using Acrobat or Reader? Reader cannot save a filled-in form unless the document has been Reader-enabled.

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7. varxtis_2,

Jul 15, 2012 12:04 PM in reply to George Johnson

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*GLOMP* You are amazing my friend. It worked. I can open and fill the invoice fluently on my galaxy tab and droid bionic. Thank you so so sooo much.
Where is the setting for "Reader-enabled"?
Also, When I paste my company logo from a psd file (res 300 pi/inch) to the Indd project, the logo/image look VERY bad. What can I do to fix this?

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8. George Johnson,

Jul 15, 2012 12:14 PM in reply to varxtis_2

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A document only needs to be Reader-enabled if it needs to be save with Adobe Reader, but not on a mobile device. Adobe Reader for iOS, for example, is able to save a filled-in form even if it's not enabled.

You should only be getting that message in Reader (Win/Mac), not Acrobat, and it should not appear if the form is Reader-enabled. To Reader-enable a form in Acrobat 10, open the document and select: File > Save As > Reader Extended PDF > Enable Additional Features

Regarding the logo, does it look bad when it's in InDesign, or just after it gets converted to PDF?

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9. varxtis_2,

Jul 15, 2012 12:45 PM in reply to George Johnson

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Well, I was running into problems saving a filled form on my galaxy tab and droid bionic, so thats why I was asking about the option... But I figured out the reader-enabled function and tested it (I had hoped to edit my post before you read it lol) but, it only gives me the option to "share" not to save. I tested it and sent emailed it to my computer, opened it and it was a filled form. One problem I foreseee though, is that the file (the filled invoice sent from my tab) is still editable. In other word, I could fill a form, email it to someone, and they could refill it to whatever they want. I need to be able to fill out a form on my tab/phone, save and email it to someone, and make it so they can't change anything... any suggestions?

Apparently "reader" for the droid system doesn't have a "Save/Save As/export" option at all...
But apparently if I open the Invoice PDF in Reader, fill it, then open the file in an office type app (I use quick office pro) Itll open the pdf WITH the fields fille, and then I can save as a *.docx file. But, it won't let me just opne/edit field in quick office. I've getting frustrated.

Found a solution XD an app that allows one to open a pdf, fill the fields, "flatten" (so its no longer editible), and save. qPDF Problem solved

It looks bad in InDesign, before exporting to PDF

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10. George Johnson,

Jul 15, 2012 4:45 PM in reply to varxtis_2

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As you've found, some PDF viewers available for mobile devices allow you to flatten before sending. Another one is PDF Expert on iOS. Unfortunately, Adobe Reader doesn't allow this yet. Filling/annotating/saving/sending PDF forms on mobile devices is still in its infancy and a number of limitations are imposed by the platform (iOS in particular). We'll just have to wait for them to mature and for certain features to be added.

Regarding the InDesign image problem, is probably something simple, but it would be best to ask in the InDesign forum here.

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11. varxtis_2,

Jul 15, 2012 9:16 PM in reply to George Johnson

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George, I want to thank you so much for all of your help.
You really have made my week. and Ill certainly be hopping over to InDesign right now.
Thanks again.

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12. varxtis_2,

Jul 21, 2012 10:48 AM in reply to George Johnson

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Sorry to bug you again,
But theres another problem Im running into. I can't seem to "flatten" field based forms on the PC through either Reader or Acrobatr 9 Pro. Ive gone online and searched for ways to do it, and the closest thing I got was going under the "Advanced>PDF Optimizer..." option, and flatten fields. But when I attempt to do that, I get as far as clicking "PDF Optimizer" and then an error comes up saying that an instance of the current file must be saved. "OK" brings up the Save As dialogue box, and "cancel" does nothing. But even if I go through the Save As dialogue box, it saves, and then does nothing.
I need to be able to flatten a filled out form on my PC. Any suggestions?
And I have tried this with both the original invoice form, and the Reader Enabled invoice form.
Thank you for your time and and help.

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13. chad Snelson,

Jul 21, 2012 12:18 PM in reply to varxtis_2

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Can you send me the PDF? I'll see if I'm getting the same error on my end.

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14. George Johnson,

Jul 21, 2012 2:30 PM in reply to varxtis_2

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It is not possible to flatten a form with Adobe Reader. Probably the easiest way to flatten with Acrobat is to open the interactive JavaScript console (Ctrl+J) and enter the following line of code:

flattenPages();

With the cursor on that line, hit Ctrl+Enter, or the Enter key on the numeric keypad. You cannot undo this operation, so retain a copy if needed.

If you need something that will work with Reader (not mobile versions though) so that the fields are no longer interactive, you can use JavaScript to set the fields to read-only, or sign a digital signature field that locks the document when it's signed. I'm not usre if the latest version for the mobile Reader (10.3) allows you to set fields to read-only...

I know that PDF Expert on iOS has an option to flatten before sending a form via email, but Reader does not have this feature yet.

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15. varxtis_2,

Jul 21, 2012 4:58 PM in reply to George Johnson

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Fantastic, It worked.
Thank you so much george. Is there anyway to save this script somewhere as a chooseable (not default) script option? or am I going to be required to go to javaconsole and manually put in that line followed by ctrl+enter?

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16. George Johnson,

Jul 21, 2012 8:36 PM in reply to varxtis_2

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It's possible to create a custom menu item or custom tool button that will flatten the form, or you could create a custom Action. If you need help with any of these, post again.

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17. varxtis_2,

Jul 24, 2012 12:04 AM in reply to George Johnson

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Sorry for the late response, I was down with a migraine.
Yes, if you're up for instructing me how to do that, I would be so grateful. Leaning how to create an icon/button that could be programed to flatten fields by pressing it, would be fantastic.

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18. George Johnson,

Jul 24, 2012 12:48 AM in reply to varxtis_2

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There's a page flattener script that you can down load from here: http://www.pdfscripting.com/public/Free_Acrobat_Automation_Tools.cfm

And another more flexible one here that adds a custom menu item: http://www.uvsar.com/projects/acrobat/flattener/

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How can I make an existing pdf form mobile friendly

Jul 12, 2012 7:52 PM

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