I can complete the interactive PDF form, but I can’t save it.

You do not have the necessary software to save PDF documents.  Adobe Reader software will only allow you to read PDF documents, it will not save the document.  You will need to complete the form, print it, scan the document, and upload it to your application as a PDF file.

What is Adobe Reader?

Adobe Reader software will only allow you to read PDF documents, it will not save the document.   You will need to complete the form, print it, scan the document, and upload it to your application as a PDF file.

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:

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

I downloaded the interactive PDF version of a form.  How do I complete it?

• 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.
• Save the PDF form on your system to be uploaded/attached to the application.

I downloaded the MS Word version of a form.  How do I convert the completed document to Portable Document Format (PDF)

There are various ways to convert a document to PDF.  These can change depending upon the software on your system. Two suggestions are:

With 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 field (to view your list of available printers).
• Choose "Adobe PDF" as the printer.
• Click the "Print" button.
• 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, hyphens, 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
  
  

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 the document to a PDF file, the next step is to upload/attach the file to your online application.

Can I use a WORD version of the form?

Yes, if you are unable to complete the PDF forms, you may use the MS Word version of the form.  The document will lose some of its formatting in the process which might require editing.  You are responsible for correcting any changes to MS Word forms resulting from input of data.  Once the document is finalized, convert it to a PDF file (see Convert a document to PDF above) and upload the PDF file to your application.  BWF will only accept documents as PDF files.