WebAIM - Web Accessibility In Mind

E-mail List Archives

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

for

From: L Snider
Date: Aug 21, 2018 8:29PM


I totally agree with Bevi, the current version of InDesign is awesome, once
you know everything to do. I used to dislike it and wouldn't use for a
while, but now it is top notch for most things. Glad you are looking at the
current version.

In my experience forms work quite well overall.

Cheers

Lisa

On Tue, Aug 21, 2018 at 10:01 AM, Philip Kiff < <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 Gosh, that's such an outdated program!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.
>>
> 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 Gosh, that's such an outdated program!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.
>>
>> > > > >