The Benefits of Interactive PDFs
Why and how should you use Interactive PDFs
PDFs are probably now the most popular format of documents delivered on the internet. And it is essential that any web design understands their importance and how to make them. The PDF or Portable Document Format is an open standard that was developed by Adobe systems in 1993. The technology has evolved with different variations where it is now possible to handle almost any form of electronic media distribution.
PDF is compact and can deliver files across any available platforms. One of the benefits of having interactive PDFs, allows you to take advantage of the combination of the tremendous popularity of the format, while allowing readers to respond, without the need for additional resources. You can use an interactive PDFs to demonstrate how a website or application works, without having or needing any sever capability, as everything is processed within the document.
Creating interactive PDFs is as simple as creating an interactive HTML click-through. The interactive elements of the document can be created using slices or hotspots or a combination of the two. The click-throughs are normally added to the documents as hyperlinks. Using Adobe Acrobat Professional, you can turn your previously designed, standard PDF files into an interactive form, with which readers can interact, easily fill out, print and return by email. All that is needed the free Adobe Acrobat Reader to view any interactive PDF example.
With the use of the free and ubiquitous Adobe Reader, readers can interact or respond or place comments directly in the document. The PDF file then can be delivered by e-mail or hard media such as on a disc, but readers are still able to enjoy an interactive experience, even without being connected to the internet.
Before the introduction of interactive PDFs, it was necessary to be online in order to interact with HTML documents or pages.but it is now possible to interact with documents while being almost any and everywhere.
There are so many advantages of using PDFs over publishing on the internet. Since the PDFs are cross functional and can be viewed with any browser, there are no compatibility concerns. Everyone sees the same thing. There are no concerns about the replication of fonts and graphics remain true. All of this remains possible without being connected to the internet for reading or printing.
PDF documents are secure and can improve printing functionality, to ensure that your documents are printed exactly as they look in other applications such as in Fireworks or Acrobat Pro. Adding interactivity is as simple as dragging and dropping boxes on the PDF document, where you would like your readers to enter their information.
Customers and readers now feel the need to become engaged, and be fully more interactive while being on the internet. The popularity of blogs and social networks can attest to the growing need to be interactive. As an establishment or enterprise you may have a newsletter to periodically disseminate information to your readership. Having your information delivered as interactive PDFs accomplishes the task of disseminating your information, while giving your readers the ability to respond without internet connection.
Presentations are no longer one-way, and the learning curve in designing interactive PDFs is relatively simple. Your readers will be impressed at range of capabilities that can be presented in the portable document format.