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Creating a PDF form from a docx or xlsx

Jun 16, 2012 1:44 PM

Categories: Macintosh Tags: #acrobat #x #word #forms #excel

Hello,

 

Pulling my hair out over here... Can you help me out?

 

I am trying to create a PDF form from either a word or an excel file.

 

When I choose File > Create > PDF Form, I get the dialouge box asking to use either a file or scan from paper. Choosing file, then hitting next shows the choice of current document or browse for file. I browse for file, find my docx file, but it shaded out. Docx or xlsx does not appear in the "show" drop down below, which suggests that this function doesn't support these formats. HUH?

 

I have read & watched the tutorials linked below, both of which clearly say Word and Excel are supported.

 

http://help.adobe.com/en_US/acrobat/pro/using/WSB3F26303-0F1D-494a-BC5 5-7BF7F6684B4D.html

http://tv.adobe.com/watch/learn-acrobat-x/getting-started-creating-sim ple-forms/

 

Then I noticed a difference in the create window from the video, to my version...

 

The video says "(PDF, Word, Excel or other file format)":

Screen Shot 2012-06-16 at 12.48.36 PM.png

 

My pop-up says ONLY PDF:

Screen Shot 2012-06-16 at 12.48.16 PM.png

 

Whats going on?

 

I am using:

MAC OSX 10.7.4

Office 2011 MAC

Acrobat X Pro 10.1.3

 

Only way I can create a Form from Word files is to first print it to PDF, then use the form wizard on the PDF file... Which seems to have POOR results in auto-recognizing fields.

 

PLEASE HELP Adobe!

 

Thanks.

757 Views   5 Replies   Latest reply: Toniziack, Jun 20, 2012 4:42 AM
 
Replies
  • Sandeep V.
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    1. Sandeep V.,
    Jun 17, 2012 1:05 AM   in reply to APBC-Admin
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    Alas! This is not for Mac users. The help documentation and Adobe TV you are referring is on Windows. This requires Adobe PDFMaker addin which is not available on Mac. I agree that the quality after creating the form from a printed PDF is not that good.

     

    You can use Form Central Service and get the forms distributed in PDF. Watch this video and see how it works - http://tv.adobe.com/watch/acrobat-x-tips-tricks/formscentral-now-suppo rting-pdf-forms/

     
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  • Bill@VT
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    2. Bill@VT,
    Jun 18, 2012 1:12 PM   in reply to APBC-Admin
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    I don't know the features in the MAC version, but you might try printing to a PDF file. Then under the forms menu use Run Form Field Recognition. I am assuming this option is available in a MAC version of Acrobat. You can then edit the fields and fix them up with proper names and such. You may have to add some fields separately.

     

    Another option might be to save the WORD or Excel file as an HTML file that has form fields in it (I am also assuming this is possibly from WORD). Then open the HTML file in Acrobat to create the PDF.

     

    Maybe one of those ideas will work for you.

     
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  • Toniziack
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    3. Toniziack,
    Jun 19, 2012 4:18 PM   in reply to Bill@VT
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    I just got Acrobat X for my mac, for a class.  I am SO frustrated.  Almost everything in the class focuses on PDFMaker options.   The 'save as adobe pdf' or save as pdf options have zero functionality.  So I now own PDF software that doesn't really function on a MAC, and have to go to a windows machine.  I keep reading that it is a Microsoft problem, but I don't know how that can be when the software I thought I bought is this fancy PDF software that converts everything!!

     

    I asked a tech today if there were 'any' adobe work-arounds for this and basically the answer is to save PDF with no attribute functionality.  Period.

     

    Wasted $$ for me

     
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  • Sandeep V.
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    4. Sandeep V.,
    Jun 19, 2012 9:08 PM   in reply to Toniziack
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    This page provides more information on why there is no Adobe PDF printer on Mac and the requirement of 'Save as PDF': http://helpx.adobe.com/acrobat/kb/cant-print-pdfs-mac-os.html and same goes for PDFMaker.

     
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  • Toniziack
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    5. Toniziack,
    Jun 20, 2012 4:42 AM   in reply to Sandeep V.
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    But it does not explain why the save as does not provide very important features.  Tagging, hyperlink data, header, body and other styling information.  

    These are all conversion features lost in the 'save as' feature - which now have to be done manually.  Which defeats the purpose of even having a pdf app on a MAC!

     
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