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You can distribute a form you created and published in hard copy or electronic format (as a PDF form). Electronic forms can be sent by e-mail or published on a website. You can also select a response method (by e-mail or on the website), with the option to process the results on the server. The Form Distribution Wizard helps you select the right sending options. To start it, click File → Distribute Form… or click Distribute the Form on the Standard toolbar.
1

Choose how to distribute the form

Choose whether to print the form or distribute it electronically. To print, click Print Form…. The wizard prompts you to print the form and then closes. To distribute electronically, provide the sending and receiving options.
2

Select a sending option

For an electronically distributed form, select one of the following:
  • Send to a group of e-mail recipients – Click Finish. A new message opens in your mail program with the PDF form attached. Specify the addressee and the message text, send the message, and return to ABBYY FormDesigner.
  • Save and send later – Specify the folder where the PDF form is saved. By default, the form is saved to My Documents with the form’s name. To choose a different folder and file name, click the browse button () next to this option, and then click Finish.
  • Publish to a network location – Specify the URL where you want to publish the PDF form, for example https://www.example.com/form.pdf. You must have write permissions for that location. Click Finish to publish the form.
3

Select a response method

Select a response method (one, both, or none):
  • Send responses by e-mail – Specify the e-mail address where completed forms are sent.
  • Send responses over the Internet – Specify the URL of the website where completed forms are submitted and processed.
Select Clear form data to delete all data from the form.
Depending on the options you select, a button (or buttons) appears in the top left corner of the first page. Clicking a button sends the form to the specified website or e-mail address. For each button, specify your own text or use the suggested text, and set the position to Top, Bottom, or Top and bottom. If you choose to receive completed forms on a website, you can set up the website to process submitted forms automatically.