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Re: PDF Forms Software - Adobe LiveCycle vs Adobe Experience Manager?

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From: Philip Kiff
Date: Aug 21, 2018 9:01AM

>> Quote: " create the graphics and layout in an old version of InDesign (CS2
>> or 3) "
> Gosh, that's such an outdated program! Can't create an accessible anything
> with it. Encourage your designer to upgrade to the latest version of Adobe
> Creative Suite, CC:2018 at this time.
Yes, I've sent that advice along before. These days especially, using
up-to-date software is critical for creating accessible PDFs. That's
part of why I'm trying to find a replacement for LiveCycle.

Thanks again for the tip about using (the current version of) InDesign.
I can certainly start using that immediately as an option for some forms.

Phil.

On 2018-08-20 8:24 PM, <EMAIL REMOVED> wrote:
> Quote: " create the graphics and layout in an old version of InDesign (CS2
> or 3) "
> Gosh, that's such an outdated program! Can't create an accessible anything
> with it. Encourage your designer to upgrade to the latest version of Adobe
> Creative Suite, CC:2018 at this time.
>
> Quote: " Some of the forms I work with require "dynamic" form properties
> because users are asked to insert additional rows of data and the form
> expands in length to allow for additional rows as needed. I wonder if
> InDesign can accommodate "dynamic" forms as well as "static" ones? "
>
> Not at this time; that kind of programming to make the form dynamic requires
> scripting, which can be done in Acrobat but not in InDesign. I'm hoping we
> can have that capability eventually built into InDesign, but I'm not in
> control of what Adobe does. I can only ask and request features at
> www.InDesign.UserVoice.com
>
> --Bevi
> - - -
> Bevi Chagnon, founder/CEO | <EMAIL REMOVED>
> - - -
> PubCom: Technologists for Accessible Design + Publishing
> consulting . training . development . design . sec. 508 services
> Upcoming classes at www.PubCom.com/classes
> - - -
> Latest blog-newsletter - Accessibility Tips at www.PubCom.com/blog
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: WebAIM-Forum < <EMAIL REMOVED> > On Behalf Of
> Philip Kiff
> Sent: Monday, August 20, 2018 5:41 PM
> To: <EMAIL REMOVED>
> Subject: Re: [WebAIM] PDF Forms Software - Adobe LiveCycle vs Adobe
> Experience Manager?
>
> On 2018-08-20 3:18 PM, <EMAIL REMOVED> wrote:
>> [....] Did you know that Adobe InDesign has decent forms tools?
> No I did not!
>
>> [....] We create forms (and run classes in making accessible forms) and
> most can be exported to a fully accessible PDF that needs little to no
> tweaking afterwards in Acrobat Pro. Real time-saver.
>> It's a decent workflow for most forms, and I believe Adobe is working to
> improve its forms utilities and capabilities.
> That sounds like a much better workflow than the one used by one designer in
> the provincial government here, which is: create the graphics and layout in
> an old version of InDesign (CS2 or 3), export to PDF, then open the PDF in
> LiveCycle 9 (ES2), then save as fillable PDF.
> Which was the actual source of the files I tried to make accessible last
> week!
>
> Some of the forms I work with require "dynamic" form properties because
> users are asked to insert additional rows of data and the form expands in
> length to allow for additional rows as needed. I wonder if InDesign can
> accommodate "dynamic" forms as well as "static" ones?
>
> Phil.
>