One of the most exciting updates (in my opinion of course) to InDesign CS6 is the ability to create interactive PDF forms. You could not create the fields in InDesign before CS6—you used Form Wizard in Adobe Acrobat. Now you create the fields using the new Buttons and Forms panel (formally known as just the Buttons panel). You can see in the image below that this panel contains all the options for a field you would see in Adobe Acrobat.
Image 1: Buttons and Forms Panel
Below is an image of our own registration form opened in InDesign CS6. Our registration form has been through many iterations over the years, but we are excited about the changes the new PDF options in InDesign CS6 allowed us to make to our form. In the image below, one of the fields is currently selected (dotted line around field) and the options for that field are currently open on the Buttons and Forms panel. Creating a field is easy—simply create a rectangle with the rectangle tool, and then select what type of field it will be under Type on the Buttons and Forms panel.
Image 2: Visual Persuasion’s Registration form opened in InDesign CS6
The Sample Buttons and Forms panel (below) is also very helpful in adding different options for check boxes, radial buttons, front and back arrows and other types of buttons and form fields. Simply drag sample buttons and forms into layout. These are just preset options that InDesign provides and you don’t have to use them—you can use your creativity and design your own!
Image 3: Sample Buttons and Forms
To see the final output of our registration form CLICK TO DOWNLOAD FORM HERE. Give us your feedback!
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