How do I type on a PDF form?

    A "text field" is where you can enter text.   Move the mouse over the PDF form that is on the screen.  The hand will turn into an I-beam when it is over a text field.  Click the mouse and the I-beam will turn into a blinking vertical line.  When you see the blinking vertical line, you can start typing.

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How do I get to the next place on the form where I need to type?

You can do this two different ways:

1. To go to the next text field, hit the tab key.  When you see a blinking vertical line, you can type.  This will work to progress you to each new field on a form.  If you download the form to your computer (see download instructions) you can progressively tab to each new page on the form provided the next form page has a field to type into.

2. Move the hand to a text field.  You will know you are at a text field when the hand changes to an I-beam.  Click the text field.  When the I-beam changes to a blinking vertical line, you can type.

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What if I make a mistake in a text field?

    Move the hand over to what you want to change and click on it.  It will be highlighted, and you can type in that field again.

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How do I check a checkbox?

    Move the hand over to a checkbox.  The hand will turn into an arrow or hand with a pointing finger.  Click the mouse and you will check that box.  If you prefer, you can also key the space bar on your keyboard to check the box, provided you have downloaded the form to your hard drive.

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How do I uncheck a checkbox?

    Move the hand over the checkbox you want to uncheck.   It will turn into an arrow or hand with a pointing finger.  Click the mouse to remove the check. 

NOTE:

    If the question is asking for either a yes, no, or not applicable answer, you will have to check one of the other options to uncheck your first option.  One option must be checked in these categories as they are required data.  You can click the "Reset" button at the bottom of the page if you want to totally reset your selections.

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How do I print out a completed form?

    Select "File" and then "Print" from the Adobe Reader menus. Select the appropriate pages you wish to print. You do not have to print the entire form, only those forms which need to be submitted need to be printed. At the bottom of each page, there are page numbers indicating what page you are on. You can select (as shown below) which pages you wish to print.

Indicates what page you are on of total pages.

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What I typed last did not print on the form.

    Hit the "Enter" key to enter the last text field into the computer.  Your input goes into the computer when you leave a text field.   If you are on the last text field and cannot tab to the next field because there are no more text fields, then hit the enter key.  If the form has more pages and you want to go to the next page, you CAN tab to the next field on the next page, provided there is a field on that page, and you have downloaded the form. 

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How do I know what version of Adobe Reader I have?

    The PDF forms you type on use a type of scripting language called JavaScript.  Using this language in the creation of PDF forms allows for much more form functionality (a current date stamp for instance on some of the forms or the save technique described above).   However, versions of the Adobe Reader older than 5.0 do not support this language.   Therefore, you must have version 5.0 or higher to view the forms.  If you are using an older version, some of the forms functionality will be lost and you may experience problems viewing and printing the forms.

    To find out what version of the Reader you are using, open the Reader, and click the "Help" menu at the top of the screen.  Next, click "About Acrobat Reader."  A window should pop on screen which tells you what version of the Reader you are running.  The example below is the Adobe Reader 5.0 version window. 

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How do I save a PDF or other files to my hard drive?

Right click on the PDF link and select "Save Target As" from the menu options (if you have Internet Explorer) or "Save Link As" (if you have Netscape).

 

Netscape Menu

Explorer Menu

You should next be prompted with a window asking where you want to save the file.  Select the Desktop as the location you wish to save the file.

Netscape and Explorer save window

Finally, click the Save button, and the file will start downloading to your computer.  When finished, you should see an icon for the file on your desktop.

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