Question: How do in-document forms work?
Answer: Docmetrics forms are generated using Flash, the ubiquitous technology used to deliver rich media content online. Flash allows docmetrics to create forms that report responses in real time, as and when readers provide them.
Question: What is the reader-experience with in-document forms?
Answer: When a reader opens one of your docmetrics documents, most of the document’s content will be obscured by a translucent layer. In order to access this “protected” content, the reader will have to submit one or more in-document forms.
By default, the reader will be able to reveal all of the obscured content by completing a single form placed at the beginning of the document. Alternatively, you may choose to distribute forms throughout the content, with each providing access to different pages.
Forms will appear superimposed above the obscuring layer. Once a form has been completed it will disappear, along with the parts of the obscuring layer that it has been set to remove.
Question: Can readers bypass in-document forms?
Answer: Generally speaking, readers can only access your content by submitting your forms. This ensures that you collect lead generation data from all your readers. However, there are three main circumstances in which readers may be able to bypass your forms.
- You can give readers the option of simply skipping forms they do not wish to complete. In fact, by default, docmetrics forms can be skipped. It is easy to change this setting when placing a form in a document.
- By default, if a reader has completed a form on a previous occasion, the form will automatically be skipped. Additionally, individual form fields that the reader has previously completed will be filled in automatically.
- If, for some technical reason, the reader’s computer is unable to render a form properly, the form will be skipped. This may happen, for example, if a reader is using an outdated version of Adobe Reader that does not support Flash.
Question: How do I create a form?
Answer: The docmetrics system provides a range of preset forms and makes it easy to create your own, fully customized forms. To create a customized form, enter the docmetrics Form Builder by clicking on the application’s Forms tab and selecting “add form”.
Forms are created by combining various “form fields”. Docmetrics provides preset fields and also allows you to create your own. Key form field categories include
- text fields (boxes where readers can type in responses)
- multiple-choice fields (check boxes, radio buttons etc)
- non-interactive fields (static text and images)
- hyperlinks (to external web pages)
To create a form, all you have to do is
- select the form fields you want to use (or create new ones)
- arrange these fields in the form by dragging and dropping
It is also possible to edit previously-created customized forms and form fields. While, it is not technically possible to edit preset forms and form fields, you can duplicate (“save as”) presets, in order to use them as templates for new forms and fields.
Question: How do I place a form in a document?
Answer: Normally, you will add forms to your documents at the same time that you transform your standard PDFs into dynamic docmetrics documents. Stage four of the docmetrics application’s Document Enhancement Wizard makes it easy to place forms in your documents, on pages of your choosing.
You can also place forms in documents that have been enhanced at an earlier time. Simply select a document in the Document Manager and click “apply form”. It is important to note that when you apply a new form to an existing document, the form will not appear in copies of the document already in circulation.
When you place a form in a document, you can also determine form behaviors like
- what pages in the document the form will provide access to, once completed
- whether readers will be able to skip the form if they do not wish to complete it
- if the form will be bypassed for readers who have completed it previously
Question: How do I edit and update my forms?
Answer: The docmetrics application makes it easy to edit forms that you have created. To edit a form, enter the docmetrics Form Manager by clicking on application’s Forms tab. Search for the form you want to update, select it and click “edit”. Use the Form Builder to edit the form and then click “save”.
The new version of the form will dynamically replace versions that are already in circulation. This is possible because, whenever a docmetrics document is opened, it will check the docmetrics servers for updated versions of the forms it contains. If possible, docmetrics documents will always display the most up-to-date forms available.
Question: How do I prepare the layout of my documents for in-document forms?
Answer: Because forms appear superimposed over the obscuring layer of docmetrics documents, there is no need to take forms into account when designing a document. You can simply create a PDF document, just as you normally would, then superimpose docmetrics forms over whatever parts of the document you choose.
Question: How do I use forms to get lead generation data?
Answer: The docmetrics system makes it easy to rank and filter form data any way you want. However, the simplest way to get useful lead generation data from your forms is by using the system’s preset Lead Generation Reports.
These reports use preset form fields to identify, segment and score leads. Therefore, to use these reports, you must include certain preset fields in your forms. The most important preset form fields are:
- email address (vital for identifying individual readers)
- organization
By default, the Document Enhancement Wizard will insert a simple registration form on the second page of all your documents. This form contains all of the form fields you must use in order to get benefit from the preset Lead Generation Reports.