Enabling PDFs for various types of user input can strengthen the interaction between users and the content, and improve satisfaction due to greater user involvement/control. In addition, designated avenues for user input can contribute to documentation quality and provide outlet for frustration, for example by sending inputs regarding the documentation or the product directly from within the PDF. Techniques demonstrated in this webinar include features that are all embedded in PDFs that are viewed with the free Adobe Reader: • text fields where users can record data values and options • checkboxes to track progress (e.g. in procedures) • page marks and notes (also useful for user-defined navigation, optionally e-mailed) • embedded grading/feedback forms • storing useful search queries in the PDF file for future use The focus of the webinar is the additional interactivity in PDF files, available to users with the free Adobe Reader. Although the webinar also describes how such elements can be incorporated in source files using FrameMaker with custom markers (available with FrameMaker-to-Acrobat TimeSavers + Form Assistant), if you use other tools these features can be defined manually in Acrobat, so that the webinar can still benefit you substantially by demonstrating the abilities that are available with PDFs.

1. ShlomoPerets microtype.com
Enable and Encourage
User Input in PDFs
(Viewed with Adobe Reader)

2. 1
Focusofthiswebinar
■ Strengthening the bonds between the
author/company/content and the users
■ Features we can employ here and now,
without setting up dedicated servers /
complex mechanisms (input received via
e-mail or FDF/XFDF form data submitted)
■ PDFs viewed with the free Adobe Reader

3. 2
Tools/add-onsused
■ Sample PDFs were authored with
FrameMaker + add-ons (FrameMaker-to-
Acrobat TimeSavers + Form Assistant +
~PageMark / ~PageNote shortcuts),
so that all features are defined once
in the source FM files, and are created
automatically in PDFs upon distilling
■ You can also add fields/features
manually to PDFs using Acrobat

4. 3
FreeAdobeReaderXI
■ Supports the full set of Acrobat
commenting tools, without having to first
enable PDF files for commenting
in Acrobat
■ PDF form can be filled in Reader XI
without assigning extended rights in
Acrobat
■ The commented or form-filled PDF
can be saved in Reader XI

5. 4
PDFformfields
 ■ Check boxes – track progress,
for example in procedures
(complete/incomplete steps)
 ■ Fields – record data in documents
(optionally validated)
■ Lists – select from a list of available
options (instead of typing; custom values
can be typed as well)

6. 5
Pagemarks
 ■ Users can mark pages of special interest
● Click continuously to change color
● Navigate to next/previous page mark
● Mark/unmark all pages

7. 6
Pagenotes
 ■ Users can add text notes on specific pages
● Navigate to next/previous page note;
● Directly access notes via a pop-up menu
● Generate e-mail message with notes
● Display note text in Acrobat console
● Reset all notes
■ Can search text in notes
■ Can be set to be visible on screen (and
non-printing), or as visible & printing

8. 7
Feedbackbookmark
 ■ Can indicate “Feedback”, “Report...”,
“Suggest...” or simply show the e-mail
address if self-explanatory
■ Current page number + doc title can
be retrieved automatically into subject/
body of e-mail message (clarifying
feedback context)

9. 8
Feedbackform
 ■ Can embed a feedback form PDF in the
manual (not printed or visible except when
needed, through a link/bookmark)
■ Can automatically report the Adobe
Reader version number being used

10. 9
ExtendingSearch
 ■ Users can save their search queries,
with control over search parameters
(useful when repeatedly performing the
same search operations)
■ Create highlight annotations for words
throughout the PDF, in different colors
(can clear all when needed)