EasyPDF ™ Forms

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.

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 interested and 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 business matters or tasks at hand sooner than usual.

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 and 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 a dynamic PDF 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.

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.

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.

While EasyPDF ™ forms can include any number and type of form fields including check boxes, text fields, button fields, list boxes, drop-down lists, etc. available in Acrobat, this can vary considerably depending on the initial design, graphics, layout, and purpose of the form for which there is no one size shoe fits all. This being the case whether designing and developing an EasyPDF ™ form from scratch or converting an existing static or paper form into a fillable interactive EasyPDF ™ form, each and every form is considered unique and as such assessed on an individual basis to determine what form fields works best.

Apart from a Javascript driven popup menu containing a number of menu items generic to an EasyPDF ™ form, any other Javascript 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 complete the form in record time without experiencing any issues.