AGENDAWhat is an interactive PDF?

How to create an interactive PDF?Using interactive PDF to mark student work

Converting your own worksheet into an interactive PDF

WHAT IS AN INTERACTIVE PDF?

PDF offers a compact, cross-platform file format to securely deliver ideas, concepts, and designs to your clients (students, staff, community members) in an electronic distribution.

Uses:- Worksheets for students which can be

emailed and marked- Forms for staff to fill in- Proformas for writing - Application forms

HOW TO CREATE AN INTERACTIVE PDF FROM A

WORD DOCUMENT

Firstly, prepare your worksheet or form in Microsoft Word…

After saving the document, click on the tab that says ‘Acrobat’.

Click on the icon ‘Create PDF’

The following pop-up box will appear…

Click ‘Yes’

After a few seconds of loading and converting…

A page that looks like this will appear…

File name that you saved the document as will appear at the top

Click on ‘Forms’ and a drop down menu will appear.

Click on ‘Start Form Wizard’ – this will automatically detect areas that may be turned into interactive elements

The following pop-up box will appear…

Click ‘Yes’

A page like this will appear…

On the left is a box that shows all the fields that the Wizard has detected.

These appear highlighted black on the document.

Right-click on one of the black boxes and a drop down menu will appear.

Click on ‘Properties’ to change the features of this text box.

This pop-up box will appear on the screen.

Several tabs on the top of the box can be clicked to change the properties of that field.

Examples: - Click on the ‘Appearance’ tab will allow you change the colour, font and borders for that field.

- Click on ‘Options’ and you can change the amount of writing that can go in one field and the alignment of the text.

By clicking ‘Preview’ you will be able to see what the PDF will look like when it is done. You can also check out if you like all the settings you have chosen.

You may also like to create other fields by clicking on ‘Add New Field’.

A drop down menu will appear and several different fields will appear such as text field, check box, radio button, etc

To return back to the PDF click on ‘Close Form Editing’

You can also add other types of fields (other than text fields) by clicking on ‘Forms’. Once the drop down menu appears, click on ‘Add or Edit Fields’

Example – I forgot to put an area for the students to write their name. I can do this now by selecting ‘Text Field’. I can put the name box anywhere I choose.

If I click the checkbox ‘Required Field’ I can make sure that any person that uses this file MUST have their name on it.

A variety of multimedia can also be added to the document by clicking on the Multimedia box from which a drop down menu will appear.

USING AN INTERACTIVE PDF TO CORRECT STUDENT WORK

Click on ‘Tools’ and then select ‘Comment & Markup’. A range of options can be selected. Sticky notes allow the teacher to leave feedback on a student’s work.

A variety of other tools can be selected from the previous drop down menu including

- Highlight Text Tool- Underline Text Tool - Cross Out Text Tool- Record Audio Comment

http://www.thedesigncubicle.com/2008/12/how-to-create-interactive-pdf-forms-to-impress-your-clients/

Use the Help option in Adobe Acrobat 9 Pro

More advanced ideas:http://www.adobe.com/devnet/fireworks/articles/interactive_pdf.html#articlecontentAdobe_numberedheader_1

Useful resources