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Need software to fill in .pdf forms

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11 replies

by rossdd234

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I occasionally have some governmental forms and Texas state legal forms that I need to be able to fill in and save as .pdf then later revise and resave as updated .pdf. Any inexpensive software that will do the trick? Don't want to buy the whole Adobe package.

11 replies

by Former member

PDF Converter Professional 5 from:
http://www.nuance.com/products/
It is very good, save nearly anything in PDF format and any pdf document you get (either from Adobe or anywhere else) you can undo it and save it as a doc file or what ever file you need it in, the "save as" box has many different formats that you can save the docs in.

Please post back if you have any more problems or questions.

by nepenthe0

Old Mycroft, I'll give you a [i]thumbs up[/i] anytime.

Seriously, though, Adobe Acrobat Professional is awesomely useful software, only overpriced ($449 retail). The Adobe marketing folks are clever - they make the same software available to educational institutions for $120 a copy, and the student gets hooked for life.

There is a workaround for those with MS Word:

1) Complete the interactive document
2) use Prt-Sc to copy to clipboard
3) paste (Ctrl-V) into Word
4) format the Word picture and save

Unfortunately for [i]rossadd234[/i], one cannot save the [i]changes[/i] in the .pdf form without software such as [i]Foxit[/i] from FoxitSoftware.com

My advice for [i]rossadd234[/i], however, would be to inquire whether Adobe provides comparable discounts. Once you have used Acrobat, you are indeed hooked for life...

Rick/Portland, OR

by older mycroft

You are correct about users being hooked on Adobe of course.

However, Adobe tend to follow the same marketing strategy as Norton , McAfee, and all things Symantec. If a new user gets a brand spanking new machine and Norton comes as part of the package - they'll use it because they think it [i]must[/i] be good, otherwise the computer company wouldn't put it on the system.

What they don't realise is that Norton pays the computer company to pre-install the system with the Norton product.

Same goes for Adobe.

As for your workaround with M$ Word. Don't forget (omit to mention) that Open Office can save to PDF as standard.

By comparison: if Adobe is an envelope, Foxit is the stamp.

by dr dij

you just need the software to CREATE the PDFs to fill in. The end users don't need anything. (but the reader plugin for free).

example: I downloaded the 1040a form from irs.gov. I typed in the boxes and saved, printed it. It can even do some scripts (probably javascript) like take the bottom box and put the value in form on next page.

by nepenthe0

Most interactive .pdf forms are created with Adobe Acrobat. Without Acrobat software, you cannot save your form entries. Try it sometime. Your saved file will open with blank text fields.

This has been an irritant for many years. Adobe posts the free Reader so everyone can open an Adobe .pdf document, but Adobe wants you to purchase its pricey Acrobat software.

If you doubt the truth of this, send me an e-mail (my e-mail is posted on the TR Profile page), and I'll send you an interactive .pdf form created with Acrobat. Let me know if you can 'save' the entered text...

Rick/Portland, OR

by dr dij

is that the END USER doesn't need Acrobat. They only need the free Acrobat Reader. SO they don't need to buy a zllion copies.

I filled my taxes out at home with IRS provided 1040 form, AND saved the filled out forms and I don't have Acrobat installed, just acrobat reader.

by popstac

I needed to do that the other day.

Pdffileer.com It does indeed work. I was able to fill out the form and then email to myself, which I
then forwarded to the organization.

convenience.
No fuss. No muss. No software to install.

by kellymccohan

I use pdffiller.com to fill in my documents. It is not expensive and you don`t have to install any software. I like it. I hope this link will be useful. :)

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