The Reader Experience Using Docmetrics

Like standard PDFs, docmetrics documents are fully viewable in the free, ubiquitous Adobe Reader application. Docmetrics documents also feature interactive elements created using Flash technology. Because different versions of Reader deal with Flash differently, the reader experience will vary slightly between versions.

Lean more about viewing docmetrics documents in Adobe Reader

Unlike standard PDFs, docmetrics documents dynamically report form responses in real time from readers who are connected to the Internet. In most cases, when a reader opens a docmetrics document while offline, form response data are stored and then sent to docmetrics at a later time.

Learn more about offline access to docmetrics documents

Accessing content in a docmetrics document

Wherever possible, docmetrics documents behave just like standard PDFs. However, before readers are able to gain full access to a document’s content, they may have to

  • view and submit one or more in-document forms
  • agree to a short, preset Privacy Note

A reader who opens a docmetrics document for the first time will find that the majority of the content is obscured by a translucent layer. What the reader will have to do in order to access this “protected” content will depend on the settings that the content provider has applied to the document when enhancing it with docmetrics.

Docmetrics users can control most of the conditions that readers must meet to remove the obscuring layer. In addition, users can customize the layer’s color and opacity, which helps content providers to avoid any negative impact on the reader experience, by maintaining a look and feel consistent with the rest of their materials.

In-document forms

Readers may be asked to complete one or more embedded forms before being granted access to a document’s full content. Forms are included at the discretion the content provider (although the Privacy Note, described below, is compulsory). Additionally, forms, form fields and form behaviors are fully customizable.

By default, readers will have to complete an in-document registration form placed on the second page of the document, in order to remove the obscuring layer and access the full content. Alternatively, the content provider may chose to distribute multiple forms throughout the document, with each providing access to different pages.

Content providers who wish to maintain a totally seamless reader experience can

  • allow readers to simply skip forms they do not wish to complete
  • auto-fill form fields that readers have completed in previous documents
  • automatically skip forms that readers have completed in previous documents

Privacy Note and Privacy Statement

Before a document can transmit data to docmetrics, readers must agree to a short, preset Privacy Note. The Privacy Note will inform readers that the document is going to communicate data to an external server and that, by submitting a docmetrics form, they are agreeing to this communication.

To protect both content providers and their readers

  • the Privacy Note is automatically included in all docmetrics forms
  • inclusion of the Privacy Note is compulsory and cannot be bypassed
  • the Privacy Note’s text cannot be edited

If the content provider is not including any forms in the document but still wishes to collect data on reader engagement, the Privacy Note will be inserted as a form at the start of the document. To read the document, readers will simply submit the form, without having to provide any personal data or survey responses.

The Privacy Note includes an internal link to a more detailed Privacy Statement. The docmetrics system provides a preset version of the detailed Privacy Statement. However, docmetrics users are able to create their own Privacy Statements, to meet their specific needs and those of their readers.