Fillable Forms Tips

Save the form to your computer before completing it

We suggest that you first download the PDF form to your computer or network drive, and then open it with Adobe Reader and fill it. You can either type information directly into each field, or copy and paste text. The font is preselected and cannot be changed.

You can save your data and re-open the file later to modify or enter additional information.

Use the latest version of Adobe Reader

To open and complete the PDF application forms, you will need Adobe Reader (the latest version is recommended). If you do not have it installed on your computer, you may download the latest version free of charge from https://get.adobe.com/reader/otherversions.

Print only when your cursor is not in a form field

Use your mouse to select an area of the form that is not inside a form field or hit the tab key after completing the entry of your last box before printing your form. If a form field is active (e.g. contains the blinking bar) the contents of that block will not print.

Print from Acrobat, not the browser

If the fillable form is displayed within your web browser’s window be sure to use the printer button on the Acrobat toolbar menu to print the form instead of your web browser’s print function.

Save the file

If you experience problems printing PDF forms once you have filled them in, save the data file containing your information to your local drive.

Downloading and Saving the Form

Save the form to your computer before attempting to complete it

Fillable PDF forms may be completed and saved using Adobe Acrobat Reader (this software must be loaded on your computer). To accomplish this you must first save the empty form on your own computer:

1. Position your cursor on the form link and click with your right mouse button (do not activate the link and open the form)
2. From the menu that pops up, select the Save target as… option in Internet Explorer or the Save link as… or similar option in another browser
3. You should then be prompted to choose a location to save the file
4. Select the location on your own computer or network and click on the Save button
5. Once saved, navigate to the file

Completing fillable forms

Fill out the form and save it using Adobe Acrobat Reader:

1. Use the Adobe Acrobat Reader to open the empty PDF form that you saved on your own computer or network
2. Complete the form
3. On the Reader menu, go to File > Save As
4. Choose either the PDF (recommended) or Text format
5. You should then be prompted to choose a location to save the file
6. Select the location on your own computer or network and click Save

Troubleshooting

A .pdf file does not open

You clicked the link for a .pdf file and the file did not open. Adobe Reader, or equivalent software, may not be installed on your computer. Install the software and try to open the .pdf file again.

Unable to view or download a .pdf file using Adobe Reader

You cannot view, print, or download a .pdf file in Adobe Reader. To resolve this, modify your Reader PDF viewer preferences:

1. Close the browser
2. Open Adobe Reader
3. On the menu bar, go to Edit > Preferences > Internet
4. Under Options, make sure that Display PDF in Browser is not selected
   The next time you click on a link to a .pdf form or publication, it will open in a separate browser window.

A .pdf does not print correctly or does not print at all

You can try to resolve the problem by printing the PDF as an image.

1. Click on the print icon
2. In the Print dialog box, click Advanced
3. Check the Print As Image checkbox
4. Click OK to close the Advanced Print Setup dialog box
5. Click OK or Print in the Print dialog box