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My question is an extension of this one.
Is there any way to create a PDF that contains a fillable, saveable form using open-source software? Any development effort or library to this end gets points. Any software other than Acrobat gets points too.
Update as of February 2013
According to this answer Adobe Reader XI allows saving any kind of PDF forms. I tested it myself and it worked.
My old answer:
If you want to generate PDF forms that can be filled out and saved using Adobe Acrobat Reader, then you are out of luck. This kind of PDF files contain an encrypted digital certificate that only Adobe Acrobat can generate. Adobe Acrobat Reader verifies the presence of this certificate on PDF forms before enabling the possibility to save the modifications.
Your choices are then to use Adobe Acrobat to generate the forms, or to use alternative ways of getting your PDF files with the filled data inside. One common approach is to include a submit button on your PDF file that posts the values of your fields to a web server, then you can fill out your PDF file there using a library of your choice.
Here is an example that uses this approach with the commercial library Amyuni PDF Creator.
Editing PDF Forms (AcroForms) within a Silverlight Application (Usual disclaimer applies)
You can create documents and Export to PDF, fillable or not, using OpenOffice. I've done it and it's pretty easy. The not so easy part is setting up the submission of the filled out data.
OpenOffice and LibreOffice since version 3.2 have the ability to create fillable PDF forms. The only thing I can't get working properly in them is calculations. But for everything else these free open source office suites are great, including combo boxes with choices!
You can even set up a submit to email button very simply, no coding required! Wow. OpenOffice and LibreOffice are fantastice for creating fillable PDF forms that work!
Give it a shot. You have nothing to lose and it won't cost you a cent.
I think this should work. Try PDF Form Designer -- its an opensource application. See here
My 'goto' open source .NET PDF library is ITextSharp. Not sure if it supports fillable forms though, I've never needed to do that. Worth a look anyway.
With the latest version of Adobe Reader, Adobe Reader XI, it seems that you can save the form.
From their webpage: Type your responses right on the PDF form, or click through and fill in the form fields. Then save and submit
