Frequently Asked Questions
In its simplest terms, a static PDF form is essentially a read-only form whereas a dynamic PDF form denotes a fillable, interactive PDF form consisting of a number of form fields for entering data using a PDF application like Adobe Acrobat or the free Adobe Reader.
In simplest terms, an eForm (electronic form) is a computer program version of a paper form designed to capture, validate, and submit data in forms processing. For those unfamiliar, a PDF form is essentially an eForm.
An EasyPDF™ form refers to an electronic PDF form designed and developed in Acrobat complete with form fields, Javascript properties, methods, and scripts added to a former static PDF form including all/any modifications made thereto to accommodate the addition of form fields, Javascript properties, methods, and scripts for the expressed purpose of creating a fillable interactive PDF form to be completed in record time using the free Adobe Reader on a desktop, laptop, or tablet. The PDF form also includes an electronic signature provision if/when required for adding a digital signature to the document/form acceptable in a court of law whereby it should be noted that adding a digital signature can be made to render an EasyPDF form read-only thereby preventing anyone from making further changes to the form if and when the need should arise before sending the document to a recipient in an email file attachment.
While the answer to this question should be obvious to most anyone who has ever used a properly designed/developed interactive PDF form, for those unfamiliar, the single biggest advantage to be gained using a fillable interactive PDF form is a dramatic increase in productivity to help improve work flow. It also stands to reason that any time you can finish a work related task in less time than anticipated without sacrificing quality, you can then tend to other important personal/business tasks sooner than usual.
In short, No. To begin, what's least understood is that not all interactive PDF forms are easily viewed and filled in on a mobile device due to reasons known to result in a poor UX in attempting to view and complete a fillable form in record time on a mobile device. In reality, forms specifically designed and intended for mobile devices need to be short, brief, easy to view and navigate with a minimum of scrolling and jumping from display to display to prevent taking forever to fill-in and complete. Suffice it to say that EasyPDF™ Forms are designed/intended for forms better viewed on a desktop/laptop computer to begin with. Moreover, EasyPDF™ form features are only supported/functional on a Windows 10 desktop/laptop or comparable Mac computer running Adobe Reader version X or higher. It should also be stated that Adobe Reader for mobile devices doesn't support Javascript form features provided by EasyPDF™ Forms as this requires Adobe Reader version X or higher running on a Windows 10 platform or MAC computer as already cited herein.
In brief, electronic or eSignatures represent a broad category of methods for signing a document. According to Wikipedia, an electronic or e-signature refers to data in electronic form logically associated with other data in electronic form used by the signatory to sign a document/form that provides the same legal standing as a handwritten signature as long as it adheres to the requirements of the specific regulation under which it was created. According to pandadoc.com, electronic or eSignatures are virtual representations of a wet-signature, one a signer would create with a pen and paper. Similar to the wet-signature, eSignatures are used to identify signers and signify that they agree to the terms outlined above the signature line (Also see 'What is a digital signature').
To once again quote panddoc.com, a digital signature is a type of electronic signature with an algorithm that encrypts the signature to generate a unique digital certificate containing invisible digital codes that make tampering and duplication practically impossible for hackers. Moreover, according to consensus, electronic signatures are more secure than their handwritten predecessors.
Whether designed from scratch or converted to an EasyPDF™ form, if/when a signature is required, a signature field will be provided for your convenience. To create/add a digital signature to an EasyPDF™ form using Adobe Reader, simply click the signature field provided to open and display a window that allows you to choose/configure a new digital ID. If you don't already have a digital ID, select 'Configure New Digital ID' then follow the prompts to create and add a digital signature to the form otherwise select your digital ID from that shown in the window and click continue to follow the prompts for adding your digital signature to the form. (Note: Once assigned, a digital signature renders an EasyPDF™ form read-only in which event only the person who added the digital ID can clear it from the form using the computer in which it was applied for restoring the form to its previous editable state).
Yes, electronic signatures are valid in all U.S. states and are granted the same legal status as handwritten signatures under state laws. ... Only three states (New York, Illinois and Washington) maintain their own independently developed laws, but all of them are consistent with Uniform Electronic Transactions Act (UETA).
In short, convenience, expediency and security. Convenience and expediency simply because a digital signature added to a computer generated document/form typically takes less than a minute to complete as opposed to having to print a hard copy to accommodate a handwritten signature and then scan the document back into its original electronic format to send in an email file attachment, a facsimile, or USPS. Security given that electronic signatures—as stated in a previous FAQ—are considered to be more secure than their handwritten predecessors.
Form fields include check boxes, text fields, button fields, list boxes, drop-down lists, etc. as provided in the Javascript™ for Acrobat API Reference whereby number and type of form fields vary depending on the design, graphics, layout, and purpose for which the form is intended. This being the case each and every EasyPDF™ form is unique and as such designed/developed on an individual basis to determine the number and type of form fields that work best to create an expedient, convenient, and reliable eform for use in the Free Adobe Reader.
Apart from a main Javascript driven popup menu containing a number of menu items generic to an EasyPDF™ form, any other Javascript form feature enhancements provided serve to satisfy a specific need unfulfilled by the popup menu. Once again the number and type of scripts can vary considerably whereby each and every EasyPDF™ form is designed and developed on an individual basis to determine scripts deemed necessary that work best to allow one to complete the form in record time using the free Adobe Reader without experiencing any issues.
Regardless of format, the document/form submitted needs to be legible and provide equal, squared-off, and parallel margins. Moreover, all/any modifications to the original design, layout, text and graphics as may be required to accommodate conversion to an EasyPDF™ form may/may not be able to be provided without the original document or form and/or software application in which the form was created.
Regarding 'Can PDFs contain viruses', the answer is a resounding 'Yes'. However, according to general consensus a PDF that contains a virus normally needs to be opened in an application like Adobe Reader/Acrobat with Javascript enabled—normally recommended to prevent reduced functionality in using an interactive PDF form—in order for a virus to take hold and replicate. To prevent this from happening, a PDF should first and foremost be checked for potential viruses/malware using an anti-virus software application like Windows Defender along with a reliable anti-malware program like Malwarebytes once the PDF has been downloaded and saved to your computer.
In reality, the most common reasons for a website address link failure are: 1) the website address has been spelled incorrectly, 2) the website address is not preceded by https:// or www., 3) the password field has been left blank, duh?, or 4) the website address no longer exists which usually results in the browser displaying a 404 error.
Given inherent form design limitations/restrictions posed by the code, we needed to rely on the built-in context menu along with select all, cut, and paste to accomplish the update in 10-15 seconds max. The exact steps are as follows: 1) open the old version of the PDF form and click the 'backup data' menu item to backup data entered to date in EasyPDF Password Manager, next 2) click the 'Show/Hide Backup Data' menu item to open/view the hidden backup data field located at the bottom of the form, next 3) scroll down to and click inside the data field then right-click the mouse to display the context menu, once open 4) click 'Select All' then 'Copy', next 5) open the new/updated form of EasyPDF Password Manager and repeat steps 1-3. However, this time instead of clicking 'select all' in the context menu in step 4, select paste to paste the data you copied from your old form to the new one. Once done select/click 'Restore Data' on the new form and you should be good to go.