Optimizing performance for objects

Images require additional processing time when the form is rendered. If you choose to use images, use compact file formats and the smallest possible image dimensions to minimize the file size. Size the images to the intended dimensions before adding them to the form. Avoid resizing images after adding them to the form.

Ensure that corners are square and lines are exactly horizontal and vertical to optimize performance when the form is rendered. Lines that appear to be exactly vertical or horizontal may have a slight slope.

You can check the slope of horizontal and vertical lines in the Layout palette. The Height option represents the slope of a horizontal line and the Width option represents the slope of a vertical line. In the following example, a vertical line has a small slope of approximately 0.5 millimeters. A width of 0mm makes the line exactly vertical.

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Several objects provide discrete option choices: check boxes, list boxes, and radio buttons. List boxes and check boxes are rendered more quickly than radio buttons.

Designer distinguishes boilerplate or static objects, such as text, lines, and images, from objects that contain variable content, such as text fields and image fields.

For example, interactive forms can include text labels that provide information to the user and text field objects that capture information from the user.

A subform is a type of object that contains content. Subforms are often grouped based on the structure of the data that is bound to each subform. The ability to bind repeating, optional, and conditional data groups to subforms reduces the risk of design errors that may occur if you use scripts to achieve the same results.

For example, you can create a subform that includes objects for repeating data groups. When rendering the form, Forms creates as many instances of the subform as necessary to represent all the data groups.

When using subforms, keep the following in mind for optimal performance:

• Repeating and nested subforms require additional processing to render the form. Avoid using them unless they offer better performance than alternative options. For example, a repeating subform may eliminate the need for a number of repeating objects.

• Allowing page breaks in subforms causes additional processing, even if Forms does not apply page breaks. For example, the location, size, or content of a subform may prevent a page break. To optimize performance, turn off page breaks in subforms. By default, page breaks are allowed.

By default, entries in text field objects are formatted as plain text. You can change this option to allow rich text formatting.

However, for plain text entries, the font, style, and size used at design time are applied to user input. The form can be rendered more efficiently by using the text properties used in the form design.

For rich text entries, users can customize the font style and size for text entered in the object. Although rich text entries may be useful in some situations, such as for narrative information, the extra attributes decrease performance.

Objects on master pages require additional processing time when Forms renders the form. If possible, place objects on pages.

The file size of a form is affected by the number of objects on the form. Consider these general tips to minimize the number of objects on forms:

• When creating a box, use a single rectangle object instead of joining four individual lines.

• When creating a border for a field or subform object, use the object’s border attributes instead of creating a separate box.

• When creating backgrounds for objects, use a background fill instead of creating a separate shaded box object.

• For captions, use an object’s caption property instead of using a separate text object.

• Combine multiple text objects into a single text object. This strategy is particularly useful after importing forms into Designer.

The file size of a form is affected by the complexity of the objects on the form. Simple objects can be processed more efficiently than complex objects. Consider these general tips to minimize the complexity of objects:

• Keep the number of fonts, styles, and sizes to a minimum to take advantage of cached font information.

• Use fixed objects instead of dynamic objects that shrink and grow, if possible.

• Avoid building objects on top of each other, especially more than three layers deep.