software for application forms

louisaL

hi i was wondering if anyone could give me any advise on a software for documents that people can fill out.

at the moment i am using pdf and word but when the applicants are typing their info for example Name:_________ Date of Birth_______
when they type next to Name, DOB moves and they find their having to alter the application form.

ideally i'd like a program so they can type but the original words on the application form doesnt move.

also how do u input your details on a pdf document because i could maybe get round this by advising people how to do that instead of using a different software.

hope you know what i'm getting at.

thank you

Savvy_Sue

I do, and if anyone knows of something good, I'll be glad to hear of it!

Although when it's job applicants filling in our application form I find it quite instructive to see whether they know HOW to edit documents so that they still look 'right'.

however, the whole point of pdf documents is that they're NOT easily editable. You can get editors for that format, but their widest use IME is for 'setting' a document so that people can download it regardless of their software, and it will be just as you wanted it to look!

wonka

How about Microsoft InfoPath?

Or, do you need forms software for a website?

krustylicious

PDFs can support form filling in quite well if the document is setup to do that. In this case it sounds as if it wasn't.

The other option is actually excel or access. It depends on what you want the data for and how it is going to be used.

paulwf

Are there any restrictions in what software you can use? You may have to be careful e.g. using an Excel document if some people only have a read only trial version and don't know about Open Office. It depends how inclusive you have to be seen to be, and how tech savvy you expect the applicants to be.

I like the idea of a web form with a PDF option for those that want to print it off and send it in. You may need to use a secure server as you are dealing with personal data.

louisaL

krustylicious wrote: »

PDFs can support form filling in quite well if the document is setup to do that. In this case it sounds as if it wasn't.

The other option is actually excel or access. It depends on what you want the data for and how it is going to be used.

thank you everyone for your advise, krustlicious you say if its set up.. are you able to explain how to do this?

Chai_2

Hi,

You can use Acrobat Pro to create an editable form. Its quite expensive to buy just for that so it may be worth talking to a local student who can take you word file and turn into and editable pdf.
Alternatively, all web packages usually come with a 'contact form' which you could edit and use as an order form?

HTH

Cx

Owain_Moneysaver

In Word you set up your document with Form Fields where people are to enter text. Then lock the rest of the document, people will only be able to type in the form field boxes then.

Or you can just format the document as table rows and colums and lock the cell heights/widths.

teabelly

If you use word to create forms it ends up looking like a right dog's dinner if you only have OpenOffice to fill it in with. For some reason it just ends up ghastly! I ended up losing a job opportunity because I'd use Open Office. It looked ok when I viewed it but apparently when they looked at in word it was a mess. My heart sinks every time I find an online job application in word. Although for my last one I did correct a typo in it that the original person had left. I wonder if that is why I haven't heard from them....

Having an online html form with check boxes and text fields which is emailed to you is probably the least likely to get mangled by the user.

Openoffice will export as pdf so I wonder whether you could create forms in that and make an editable pdf that wouldn't get mashed??

Survey related software also seems one other area that might have something suitable.

ricky9

Why not try nitro pdf pro it is fully editable
Also has a free trail https://www.nitropdf.com/index.asp

Owain_Moneysaver

teabelly wrote: »

If you use word to create forms it ends up looking like a right dog's dinner if you only have OpenOffice to fill it in with. For some reason it just ends up ghastly! I ended up losing a job opportunity because I'd use Open Office. It looked ok when I viewed it but apparently when they looked at in word it was a mess. ...

Openoffice will export as pdf

I always return completed application forms in PDF format, that way I don't get confused between work--in-progress and done forms.

Not had any probs with OOo though, apart from the fact that most people designing such forms lack clue.