Fix Adobe Acrobat Pro 2017 Missing Create New Form Option
Question details
The user is trying to create a new PDF form from scratch but cannot find the 'Create New' option in the Prepare Form menu.
- Product
- Adobe Acrobat Pro 2017
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Preparing a new PDF form from a blank state.
- Observed behavior
- The 'Create New' option is completely missing under the Prepare Form tool, displaying only options to scan a document or select an existing file.
Verify your exact Adobe Acrobat version by navigating to Help > About Adobe Acrobat. Knowing your specific version is crucial because feature availability, like form creation from scratch, varies significantly between Acrobat 2017 and Acrobat DC.
Create a Form Using a Blank Document Workaround
Since Acrobat Pro 2017 lacks a direct 'Create New' button in the Prepare Form interface, you can bypass this limitation by generating a blank PDF first.
The 'Create New' option in the Prepare Form tool was introduced exclusively for Adobe Acrobat DC users. For Acrobat Pro 2017, you must start with an existing document or manually generate a blank page before adding your form fields.
Open Adobe Acrobat Pro 2017 and go to File > Create > Blank Page to generate a new empty document.
Navigate to the Tools menu and select Prepare Form.
When prompted to choose a starting point, click 'Select a file' and choose the blank PDF you just created.
Use the form editing toolbar at the top of the screen to manually insert text fields, checkboxes, radio buttons, and dropdown lists.
Use WPS PDF to Create and Fill Forms
If you are restricted by older software versions like Acrobat 2017, WPS PDF offers a modern, comprehensive suite of tools to view, edit, fill, and sign PDF forms seamlessly. It is highly compatible with all standard PDF formats and user-friendly.
- 1. Launch WPS PDF: Download and launch WPS Office, then open the WPS PDF module from the home screen.
- 2. Start a new PDF: Click on 'Create PDF' to start a blank document, or open an existing file you wish to turn into a form.
- 3. Access form tools: Navigate to the 'Form' tab on the top ribbon to view all interactive form elements.
- 4. Insert form fields: Select the desired form fields (such as Text Field, Check Box, or Radio Button) and drag them onto your document.
- 5. Save and share: Click the Save icon to finalize your newly created fillable PDF form.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I upgrade Adobe Acrobat 2017 to Acrobat DC to get the Create New feature?
Yes, upgrading to Adobe Acrobat DC will give you access to the 'Create New' option in the Prepare Form tool. However, Acrobat DC requires a recurring subscription, unlike the standalone perpetual license of the 2017 version.
How do I add a submit button to my PDF form in Acrobat 2017?
In the Prepare Form mode, select the 'Button' tool from the toolbar, click on your document to place it, open the button's properties, navigate to the Actions tab, and set the action to 'Submit a form'.
Does WPS Office support interactive PDF form fields?
Yes, WPS PDF fully supports filling, creating, and interacting with standard PDF form fields, including text boxes, dropdown lists, checkboxes, and digital signatures.
Why does Acrobat 2017 only let me scan or select a file for forms?
Adobe designed the 2017 perpetual license version without the built-in blank form generator feature, assuming users would convert existing scanned paper documents or digital files (like Word documents) into forms.
