Importing PDF documents as artwork

If you have a PDF document that was created in Acrobat or some other application, which you would like to use as the basis for creating a new PDF form in Designer, you can use the Create an Interactive Form with Fixed Pages option in the New Form Assistant to import the content of a PDF document like this as the background artwork for a new form.

If the PDF document was created in Acrobat and contains form fields, Designer converts those fields to the corresponding library objects. After you import a PDF as artwork, you can place additional library objects on top of the artwork to augment the new form design.

If you want to change the background artwork at any point, you can use the Replace Artwork command in the Edit menu to import a substitute PDF document.

Keep in mind the following factors when importing a PDF document as artwork:

You can only import PDF documents as artwork if the document was created in Acrobat or some other application capable of generating PDF documents. If the PDF document was created using Designer, you cannot import the contents as artwork; you can only import the contents as editable form objects.
After you import a PDF document as artwork, you must save the resulting form as an Adobe Static PDF Form. You cannot save the form as an Adobe Dynamic XML Form or Adobe XML Form. The default file type for new forms that contain PDF artwork is Adobe Static PDF Form (*.pdf).
You can import unstructured or structured PDF documents that contain tags and have a defined tabbing and reading order for keyboard access and screen readers. For more information, see About importing structured PDF documents as artwork.
The following library objects are unavailable in the Standard and Custom groups when importing a PDF document as artwork: circle, content area, image, line, rectangle, subform, table, text, masked field, masked field - partial, page n of m, sheet n of m, signature - print and sign, and survey question.
Buttons that are labeled with icon images in the imported PDF document are not supported.
If you open a PDF document that contains background art in an earlier version of Designer than the version used to create the document, the image data in the document may not be displayed correctly.
Document, page, and field-level JavaScript script (in the PDF document imported as artwork) is converted into event scripts that are commented out. You must verify and update the scripts to match the Designer model. You can no longer edit this script in Acrobat.

After importing a PDF document as artwork, you can work with the resulting document the same as with any static PDF form.

To import a PDF file as artwork in the stand-alone version of Designer

Select File > New.
In the Getting Started panel of the New Form Assistant, select Import a PDF Document and click Next.
In the Setup: Import a PDF panel, browse to and select the PDF file you want to import, click Open, and then click Next.
In the Document Setup: Import Options panel, select Create an Interactive Form with Fixed Pages. When you import a PDF file as background artwork, Designer preserves the appearance of the original document and retains existing interactive fields.
Click Next.
[Optional] In the Form Return Setup: Adding Buttons panel, select how the form is distributed and how the form data is returned.
Click Finish.

To use File > New to import a PDF file as artwork with Designer and Workbench

When you use File > New to import a PDF file, you can specify a name for the form. The form will be saved in the Applications view in Workbench.

Select File > New. The New Form dialog box opens in Workbench.
Follow the onscreen instructions until the New Form Assistant > Getting Started panel opens in Designer.
Select the Import A PDF Document option, and then click Next.
In the Document Setup: Import a PDF panel, browse to and select the PDF file you want to import, click Open, and then click Next.
In the Document Setup: Import Options panel, select Create an Interactive Form with Fixed Pages. When you import a PDF file as background artwork, Designer preserves the appearance of the original document and retains existing interactive fields.
Click Next.
Click Finish.

To use File > Open to import a PDF file as artwork with Designer and Workbench

When you use File > Open to import a PDF file, you specify the LiveCycle application where you want to save the form.

Select File > Open.
Navigate to the PDF file to import, select the file, and click Open.
In the Document Setup: Import Options panel, select Create an Interactive Form with Fixed Pages. When you import a PDF file as background artwork, Designer preserves the appearance of the original document and retains existing interactive fields.
Click Finish.
Select File > Save As.
Navigate to the Workbench folder on your local system:
- If you are using Windows XP, the Workbench folder is located in \Documents and Settings\<user name>.
- If you are using Windows Vista, the Workbench folder is located in \Desktop\<user name>.
Select the application folder where you want to save the form.
Type a name for the form, and then click Save.

To replace PDF artwork

You can replace the background artwork in a PDF form by using the Replace Artwork command in the Edit menu. Designer replaces the current background artwork with the new background artwork, while preserving any field objects that were placed on top of the previous background artwork. Any Acrobat form fields in the replacement PDF artwork are ignored and removed.

Keep in mind that replacing the PDF artwork affects the PDF structure. For more information, see About importing structured PDF documents as artwork.

Important: You cannot undo replacing artwork. As a result, it is recommended that you save your PDF form before replacing the artwork.

Select Edit > Replace Artwork.
Select File > Save and save the form in one of the file formats in the Save As Type list.

About importing structured PDF documents as artwork