I can complete the form online, but I can’t save it.  Why?

You do not have the necessary Adobe Acrobat software to save PDF documents.  This software may be purchased through www.adobe.com. 

What is Adobe Reader?

Adobe Reader software will allow you to read PDF documents but it will not save the document nor allow you to edit the document.   You will need to complete the form, print it, scan the document back into electronic format, and upload it to your application.

What is PDF/A?

PDF/A is a viewing mode which is an ISO standard for PDFs.  Documents you scan to PDF are PDF/A-compliant.  You can change this view mode which will allow the forms to be fillable.  Forms are not able to be completed online if they are opened in the PDF/A view mode.

To change the view mode and enter text:

1. Choose Edit>Preferences
2.  Select “Documents” under “Categories”
3. Change the option for “View Documents in PDF/A” to never.

How do I complete the downloaded form?

• Click in the first field on the form and begin typing, or if a checkbox, click to check the box and advance to the next line by pressing the keyboard “Tab” key.
• Press the return key after the last entry on the form.
• Click the links provided for ease in navigating through longer forms—if you do not need the additional page for entries, do not upload it. 
• Save the PDF form on your system to be uploaded/attached to the application.

How do I convert a document to Portable Document Format (PDF)?

There are various ways to convert a document to PDF.  Depending upon the software on your system, two suggestions are:

If you have Adobe Acrobat software, convert the document to PDF directly from your system:

• Open the document.
• Select File, Print from the menu (a Print dialog box will appear).
• Click on the drop-down list arrow for the printer Name files (to view your list of available printers).
• The document automatically converts to PDF.  In the Save PDF File As dialog box, type in a name for the PDF file (file name should have no extraneous characters, e.g., no brackets, hypens, underscores, commas, quotes, etc.) and verify the location to which the document will be saved, click Save (the document will be saved as a PDF file).  
• Close the file and upload it to your application. 
  
  

Convert a document to PDF through other sources:

• To create PDFs from word processing documents, you may also use PDF generator software (many are free or can be purchased at a nominal cost).  For a list of PDF generators visit:  http://www.neh.gov/grants/grantsgov/pdf.html.
• Some printer/copier machines and digital senders are equipped with PDF conversion software.  These systems will scan the document and save it as a PDF file to your system.  Check with your IT professionals to see if your office has this capability.
• You may also visit www.adobe.com to purchase the Adobe Acrobat software for ease in future conversions.

After I convert the document to PDF, then what?

Once you have converted your application form to a PDF file, the next step is to upload/attach the file to your online application.