Reader Extend PDFs: Enable Forms, Barcodes & Automation

Reader Extend PDFs: Enable Forms, Barcodes & Automation

Published April 13, 2023

Do you or your customers need additional functionality for PDF forms without having to download additional software? The Adobe Experience Reader Extensions tool is your answer. 

Adobe Experience Reader Extensions (AERE) unlocks a unique set of additional features and options in Adobe Acrobat Reader not otherwise available.  

How does AERE work? By creating “Reader-Enabled PDFs.” Reader Enablement is a process that sets up PDF documents so users can open them in the free Adobe Reader tool and have permission to edit that PDF document.  

With PDF documents enabled for use in Adobe Reader, users can open a PDF, complete the fields, sign the document, save it, and then send it back to you. Reader Enablement also makes it possible to work with a barcode on a PDF form document. When a user completes and saves a PDF form, the Adobe Reader software can automatically add the values that the user entered on the form to a barcode attached to that document. The sender can scan the barcode and read the data found in the form removing the need to re-enter the information. 

For example, a bank customer fills out a digital credit card application, signs it, and submits it online to the bank. The bank is able to add an assigned barcode to the completed application to help automate its internal processing of the application. AERE reduces errors, processing time and cost for your documents while increasing security, accuracy and compliance. 

Having trouble opening PDFs? Could be an issue with your Reader Extension certificate. Read Help! Errors Opening PDFs in Adobe Acrobat Reader to see how it can be fixed.
 

Applied directly to your specific PDF documents, AERE lets you choose which functionalities you want to enable on those documents. This includes: 

  • Filling out, saving and submitting forms 
  • Creating barcodes 
  • Embedding file attachments 
  • Importing & exporting data from a PDF document 
  • Adding, changing or deleting field properties 
  • Creating templates 
  • Annotating 


The benefits of AERE are that you and your customers can simply use the Adobe Acrobat Reader you already have, without needing to install any extra software, tools, add-ons or host or manage complex cloud APIs. 

Want to learn more about reader extending PDFs? Watch our video, "Reader Extending PDFs with Adobe Experience Reader Extensions."

Contact Datalogics to learn how to Reader-Enable your PDFs today.