How to Convert a Word Document to a Fillable PDF Form

The use of electronic forms as opposed to paper is becoming increasingly common. Users can convert Microsoft Word documents into fillable PDF (Portable Document Format) forms. Using PDFs ensures that layout, fonts, colors and other formatting elements remain unchanged when users open the document on a different computer. Transferring the contents of a Word document to a fillable PDF form requires the use of Adobe Designer, a forms generating program.

Things You'll Need

• Adobe Acrobat
• Adobe Designer

Instructions

1. Launch Word and open the document you wish to convert to a fillable PDF form.

2. Convert the document to a PDF file by selecting the "PDF" option from the "Save As" menu and hitting "Publish." Some versions of Word have a "Convert to Adobe PDF" button on the toolbar.

   Change the file name if desired and navigate to the desired directory in which you wish to save the PDF form. Click "Save". An Adobe Acrobat window displaying the PDF version of the Word document will appear.

3. Click on the "Forms" located on the right side of the Acrobat toolbar. Select "Make Form Fillable in Adobe Designer" from the dropdown menu. Adobe Designer will open and the Designer Wizard will appear.

4. Select "Import a PDF Document" from the options presented in the "Getting Started" category. Click "Next."

5. Click on the "Browse" button on the "Setup" screen. Locate the PDF you wish to make fillable and select it. Click "Next."

6. Select the desired method for distributing and returning the form from the "Return Method" screen. The options allow users to fill the form either electronically or by hand and return it electronically or manually. Click "Next" and then "Finish." The document will appear in the Designer window. At the top of the window will be two tabs, "Body Pages" and "PDF Preview."

7. Highlight the "Text" option by dragging the mouse over it. The "Text" option is within the "Standard" tab of the "Library" field at the top right of the Designer window. Drag "Text" to a box into which you wish to enter information. Type the information into the box. Access the "Custom" tab of the "Library" field if you need to enter a Social Security number or a current date. Scroll through the options until you locate "U.S. Social Security Number" and "Current Date."

8. Click on the "PDF Preview" tab to view any changes you have made.

References

• Hartnell Community College: Create a fillable PDF form
• SmartComputing.com: Convert documents to or from PDF