Using Adobe Fill & Sign to Complete Forms

This article was created, in part, using an excerpt from community.adobe.com.

Overview and Purpose

Adobe Fill & Sign is a handy way to complete, sign, initial or mark up forms and digital documents. It saves time, money and paper. 

Environment

These instructions work for Adobe Fill Sign desktop or mobile. 

Important Notes:

• Instructions for computers do not require you to sign in to Adobe. However, if you do, you have access to additional features and a history of completed forms.
• Do not use Adobe Fill & Sign for documents that contain confidential information like credit card or Social Security numbers.
• If you complete a form that has sensitive information, be sure to return it to the sender using Outlook email encryption or MSU File Depot Internal.
• Forms without sensitive or confidential information can be sent via regular email.

Quick Links for this article:

#Filling and signing from a computer

#Filling and signing from a mobile device

Filling and Signing forms from a Computer

Obtain and Open the Digital Form

• If the form is not a PDF, (Portable Document Format), most programs, including Outlook and other Microsoft Office apps, will let you print to or create as a PDF by selecting that print option (instead of designating a printer).
• You can also take a picture of a form, send it to yourself and print it to PDF.
• Save the PDF somewhere on your computer, laptop or device. Remain mindful of the file's contents as you copy or move it. 
• Open the PDF in the Adobe Acrobat Reader DC (Adobe Acrobat Pro instructions may vary slightly). 

Sign and Initial forms:

If needed, click Tools (A) then Fill & Sign (B) tool, or you can select the eSign (C) tab if it is visible. 

Choose from the tools to change and use the ways you can mark up the document. 

You can select text (arrow), add a comment (comment bubble), highlight, (highlighter icon), draw freehand (scribble icon), insert text (A within a square) or sign your document (pen tip icon).

If you need to sign, select the icon then choose Add Signature. 

Note: You can also add initials this way. 

The Signature panel starts off in "Type" mode, where you can use your keyboard to sign using custom signature fonts.  You can also use your mouse, touch pad, or touch screen to sign in "Draw" mode.  If you have an existing image of your Signature you can Import the image using "Image".  You can take pictures of your signature (and initials) with a mobile device and send them to yourself via email so you can save and use the image file. Clicking the icons at the top toggle between Type, Draw and Image:

In "Type" mode simply use your keyboard to initial or sign and choose your preferred font from the "Change Style" menu:

In Draw mode, using your mouse or a good touch device, you can sign with, or create, your own digital signature. Note there is a Clear button in case you need a few attempts:

Once satisfied with your signature, click the "Apply" button.

Now click on the page where you want to place it.

In Image mode you can upload a supported image (or PDF) of your signature.

Repeat these steps, as needed, to create and place initials.

Moving and re-sizing fields:

There is auto-placement logic for the field placement (up/down) and for the size, it should locate the closest field in the form and place the text just above the baseline as shown above.

If the field was not placed where you want the text, you can move the field:

• Use the keyboard arrow keys to "nudge" the fields to change the placement in relation to the baseline /field. 
• Or click and drag to move or resize using the image handles on the left edge of the field.

Page Navigation and Zoom controls:

Along the right side of the form is a panel that includes page and zoom controls, use these controls to zoom the page in or out so you can read it more easily, and to navigate through the pages or go directly to a page:

Saving and Sending your Forms:

• After placing any text, signature or initials as desired, select Menu > Save As.
• Navigate to where you want to save it. Give your completed form a name and save it to your device, the share drive or to your Microsoft OneDrive in the cloud.
• Send the form as an attachment via email to the intended recipient.
   

Filling and Signing from a Mobile Device

Note: These instructions were created using the app for iPhone and may vary slightly for the Droid app.

First, download the PDF that you would like to fill out and save it to your phone. 

If you have a paper copy, you can download and install the Adobe Scan app to take a picture and save it to PDF. 

Then, get or download and install the Adobe Acrobat Reader app from your device's application store.

aunch the application.

Sign in with an Adobe ID or use your Apple, Facebook or Google account or Adobe Account.
Note: If you don't have an Adobe ID, you can select Sign in with Adobe, then Create an account. 

Follow the prompts to enter your username and password.

Tap continue, if prompted.

Note: If you are asked to purchase a subscription or start a free trial, do not select any of the options, instead just use the X in the upper corner to close out of that screen and start using the free version.

Where the app asks "What would you like to do?", select Fill & Sign.

Select a location where your file is saved. Then select the file. For example, if you saved it to your phone, select that option and navigate to where you saved the file. 

Tap to  Select a form to fill out.

Follow the prompts to select and open the form.

Your form opens. Use your fingers on the touch screen to Zoom in on your form as needed.

If needed, select Fill & Sign along the bottom of the screen.

Otherwise, select from the tools at the bottom. 

• Use the A in a square to insert text in fillable fields or anywhere on the document. 
• Use the check mark, X or dot tool to make a mark in a box on a form. 
• Use the line to draw a line through anything. 
• Use the rectangle to draw a rectangle around something. 
• Finally use the pen tip icon to create and insert your signature. 
  • Select Add signature.
    
    
     
  • Select from the Draw, Image or Camera tabs.
     
  • Then draw your signature or upload and image or picture of it. 
    
     
  • Drag and drop the signature into place on the form.
    
  • You have now signed your form. 
     

After completing the form, tap the Share icon (paper with upward arrow)

Select from the many ways your device lets you send or share documents (e.g., text, email, etc.)