How do I create a PDF document?

nobile

I have got to complete an online application for an organisation, but rather click 'submit' at the end, it is asking me to do this:-

"NOTE TO APPLICANTS: PLEASE TYPE ANSWERS IN THE BLANK SPACES PROVIDED AND THEN PRINT OFF THE FORM SO THAT THE RELEVANT PERSONS CAN SIGN THE FORM AT THE APPLICABLE PLACES AND THEN EMAIL A PDF TO THE TRUST AS PER THE INSTRUCTIONS ON THE WEBSITE"

The instructions are:-

"Once you have completed the form please scan them and submit them to us in .pdf format by email"

I can print off the completed form. I can scan it using a scanner but I don't understand how I make the application form into a PDF.

Anyone advise me? Many thanks

Armorica

Maybe it's part of the test

When you scan it, it may be saved as a .pdf or a .tif. If necessary, you might need to find something that can convert between file types. But first step is to work out how your scanner works/whether it can do it for you.

Nodding_Donkey

Most scanners have the option to 'Save As' a pdf file.

Strider590

Armorica wrote: »

Maybe it's part of the test

No, it's just stupidity.

I had the same thing with updating my details with the local council (council tax), had to print off a PDF, fill it in, scan it, convert to PDF and email it back to them.

Well.... I don't have a scanner and I don't have a printer anymore (my last one died after 2 years not being used AT ALL).
I refused to do this, so I phoned them and told them so, the young lady at the other end changed my details in about 3 mins, and said the system was put in place by someone who no longer works there and that it was "not very good".

It's just utterly idiotic, clearly a bodge thought up by someone who hasn't a clue what they're doing. Someone of the fax machine generation, who no doubt works in an office and is used to having all this equipment around them, when actually there are much more modern and efficient ways to do things.

For example.....
They could allow sections of the PDF to be editable, so that it does not need to be printed at all.
They could have an online form to fill in.

If it's for a job application, i'd strongly consider not applying, a company that has that level of bureaucracy combined with idiocracy, would probably be hellish to work for.

bod1467

What about the signature?

Most public libraries will likely have a scanner, and they'll probably also be able to print the form out for you too if you take a pendrive along.

Gloomendoom

If you have a smartphone with a camera, you could print the form off, fill it in, photograph it, convert the photo to pdf and send them that.

The job's yours.

Strider590

bod1467 wrote: »

What about the signature?

Most public libraries will likely have a scanner, and they'll probably also be able to print the form out for you too if you take a pendrive along.

Why? Why does it require a signature?

You can do things online, you can do things over the phone, things which are far more important than this and yet require no signature.....

in truth somebody designed a form and either added sections without thinking OR had some space left and decided a signature section would look good there.

Example of this is our previous business manager who designed car parking passes that had just the company logo and the registration of your car, to be stuck to the inside of your windscreen (ha yeah right).
Now think about this a minute........ The company logo is available online and the registration of the car is printed in bloody great big letters on the front and rear of your vehicle!!! So not only was the contained information pointless, but the passes were so easy to copy/reproduce that they themselves were pointless too.
On mine I tipex'd out the reg and wrote "for reg, see front and rear of vehicle", in protest to the stupidity of it.

adonis

Can you not just sign it electronically, see here
The bonus for you is some applicants wont bother applying if they can't do it.

Big_Graeme

Strider590 wrote: »

Why? Why does it require a signature?

At a guess they want confirmation that you agree to something contained on the form or that the information supplied is correct, pretty standard stuff.

eddddy

Big_Graeme wrote: »

At a guess they want confirmation that you agree to something contained on the form or that the information supplied is correct, pretty standard stuff.

You must have seen websites where you check a box (or click a button) to agree that you accept terms and conditions, or confirm that the info given is correct. No signature is required.

......


As other have said, the organisation in question is less technologically sophisticated than some others.

But the task of setting up online forms and databases to gather sensitive personal information (like job applications), should not be taken lightly. There are serious data protection issues.

I would not discount an organisation that avoided that can of worms by asking for email pdf attachments.

shopbot

Nodding_Donkey wrote: »

Most scanners have the option to 'Save As' a pdf file.

Isn't it as simple as this reply? If you can't save as PDF from the scanner then you can do it in other programs. There is free software that you can download that will do this. If you have Photoshop Elements on your computer that will also do it.

SB