Adobe acrobat 7.0.5 sdk User Manual

You can use the Acrobat SDK to extend the functionality of Acrobat Forms and XML forms 
created in Adobe Designer. This chapter presents basic concepts about forms and discusses 
how you can use the technologies of the Acrobat SDK to manipulate forms.

This chapter covers the following topics:

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In previous versions of Acrobat, PDF forms were generally Acrobat forms. You could create 
and manipulate Acrobat forms and retrieve form data using Acrobat JavaScript or, using the 
Forms API, from plug-ins and external applications.

In Acrobat 7.0, there is increased support for XML Forms, which are based on the XML 
Forms Architecture (XFA) specification. It is strongly recommended that new forms 
development be done using XML forms rather than Acrobat forms. 

A form is derived from a form design that you create using Adobe LiveCycle Designer. The 
form design specifies a set of layout, presentation rules, and data capture rules, including 
calculating values based on user input. The rules are applied whenever a form is filled with 
data. How the form is filled with data depends on the type of form. For information about 
creating forms, see the Adobe LiveCycle Designer documentation.

Using Adobe LiveCycle Designer, you can create the following types of forms:

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Interactive - An interactive form design produces a form that can be filled in online. 
Users can open the form in a browser or Adobe Reader and enter information into the 
form’s fields. An interactive form can include buttons or commands for common tasks,