FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions

 Questions regarding installation and availability of AnyForm

1. What are the minimum system requirements for AnyForm?
   PC Pentium, 16MB RAM, Windows-supported printer plus a TWAIN compatible scanning device, if you want to scan original paper forms and define them as AnyForm Templates. Alternatively you can also import the following graphic file formats directly into AnyForm: GIF, BMP, PNG and JPG.
    

2. In which languages is Anyform available?
   To date AnyForm is available in English, Spanish and German.
    

3. Do we need in any case a scanner in order to work with AnyForm?
   No, AnyForm enables you also to fill out original paper forms quickly and comfortably just based on AnyForm Templates which we have created in advance for your ready use. Some of these predefined AnyForm Templates can be just downloaded from the download area of our homepages www.smartform.com There you will find more than 100 pre-defined AnyForm Templates covering tax forms, employer’s forms, export forms, visa forms etc. for immediate filling and saving. Please note that unlike with Acrobat Reader you will be able to save filled in AnyForm Templates together with all your records!

4. How can I convert a PDF / MS Word form into a ready-fillable and saveable AnyForm Template?                                                                                                                       First, convert the PDF file into graphic file format, like GIF, JPEG, BMP or PNG with   docu Printer Pro 5.5, a printer driver that can be used to create PDF, EPS, PostScript, TEXT, JPEG, TIFF, PNG, PCX and BMP files from any Windows application  http://neevia.com/download/product/?prodid=DP55LT.The price for a single-user license of docuPrinter is USD 49.--. If you have a MS Word form, then you have to convert it first into a PDF file. We recommend to choose a resolution between 100 and max. 200 dpi! Second, import the graphical file into AnyForm form software (File New Command -> Page -> Load Image.Third, print the entire AnyForm Template out, i.e. with the and compare it with the size of the original PDF file. Make sure that width and height of the AnyForm Template are identical with the original PDF file. If not, resize the graphical file accordingly with Irfan View 4.10  http://www.tucows.com/preview/194967 one of Windows' most popular graphic viewer,   which others supports BMP-, JPEG-, GIF-, PNG-format. It's a freeware! Finally, start to define the necessary field structure and characteristics of the AnyForm Template  (Field Command -> Attributes and or -> Font).                                       

5. What, if you would like to fill out an original form with AnyForm for which our homepages www.smartform.com do not offer a corresponding AnyForm Template for download? 
   There we can offer you a “Template on demand”-service at little cost for you. This means we define AnyForm Templates for you based on every original paper form of which you send us the respective original either physically or as electronic copy, i.e. in a GIF-, JPEG-, PNG-, TGA- or BMP-format to the following address: 
   
   SmartForm GmbH
   Industriestrasse 44
   CH-8304 Wallisellen
   Switzerland / EUROPE
   
   Phone +4144262 36 00
   Fax +4144262 44 39
   Mail info@smartform.com
   www.smartform.com
   
   For each tailor-made AnyForm Template which we create according to your personal instructions regarding number, attributes of fields, binding of fields, fonts, calculations etc. 
   we will charge you a lump sum fee of USD 99.--.
    

6. How can I use AnyForm on a Client-Server network?
   Install AnyForm on each PC (Client) of your network separately and store all AnyForm files (Templates und Forms) only on your server (Host). By this you can access and administer all AnyForm files from each Client of your network easily. 
    

7.  Which databases does AnyForm support?
   AnyForm supports all databases, which do have an ODBC-interface, like 
   MS Excel, MS Access, Oracle, Informix, Sybase etc.

 Questions regarding the most important functions of AnyForm

1. What is the difference between an AnyForm Template (*.aft) and an AnyForm Form (*.aff)?
   
   AnyForm Template, marked by a red icon on the upper left corner of the screen, is a variable template, which can be altered any time by adjusting for instance the size, the attributes (text, number or date) and the fonts of the respective fields or by altering the underlying arithmetic function according to your personal needs.
   
   AnyForm Form, marked by a green icon on the upper left corner of the screen, is an unvariable template, which cannot be altered and in which you can fill the data content of the form by jumping with the tab-key from field to field. Each AnyForm Form is based on a corresponding AnyForm Template. Therefore in an AnyForm Form you can only alter the content of a field, but not the field with its attributes as such. By this it is guaranteed that the structure of the form is not being overwritten or deleted when you fill out the AnyForm Form with data. 
    

2. What has to be done, when you open an AnyForm Form and the warning: „Template *.aft could not be opened, images are not available“ appears?
   Go to File Menu -> Options -> General. There you see a dialog-box, where you have to type in the exact directory, in which you have stored your AnyForm Templates, e.g. c:\Program Files\AnyForm\Templates. If you leave this dialog-box blank, AnyForm does not know where to search the required AnyForm Template on your PC!
    

3. Suppose you get ########## when filling in a field of an AnyForm Form?
    There are different reasons for ######## possible:
    

   1.  The attributes of the data (number, text, date) do not coincide with the default attribute in the AnyForm Template for the respective field (e.g. when you type a text instead of numbers only into a number field – June 11 02 instead of 06.11.02).
      Solution: Select the respective field in the AnyForm Template, go to Field Menu -> attributes -> tick the desired field attribute (e.g „text“) and confirm with OK.
       

   2. The format of the date typed in the date field does not match with the default date of the respective field in the AnyForm Template (e.g. default date format: „21.03.97“ , typed in date format: „March 21, 1997”). 
      solution: Either type in the date according to the default format or change the date format of the respective date field in the AnyForm Template. 
       

   3. The amount of data is too big to fit into the defined field in the AnyForm Template.
      Solution: Select the said field in the AnyForm Template and enlarge it accordingly. 
         

4. What, if always the current date appears when filling out an AnyForm Form?
   Select the respective date field in the AnyForm Template and go to Field Menu -> Attributes -> Date Type -> Date and de-activate the option „current date“ double-clicking the box there.
     

5. Which arithmetic and logical functions does AnyForm support?
   With the macroeditor function in the Field Menu the following arithmetic operations can be done:
   

   1. the basic arithmetic operations (+,-,*,/).
      

   2. the rounding up and down of numbers (by using “if clauses”, for more details see the help file)
      

   3. the alternative selection of individual fields as the case may require, i.e. depending on whether the concrete result of the arithmetic function is >, = or < 0 (by using “if clauses”, for more details see the help file)
      

   4. the staggered calculating of amounts (e.g. 20% taxes up to 100’000, 25% taxes between 100’000 and 200’000 and 30% taxes for amounts > 200’000, for more details see the help file) 
      
         

6. What, if you would like to print out the filled in data together with the background of the form on a blank paper? 
   Go to File Menu -> Options -> Printing and just activate the function „print images“ by double-clicking the box there.
      

7. Is it possible to convert a form in a PDF-format (Acrobat-Reader) or in a MS Word-
   format into a graphic format, like BMP or JPEG, which then can be imported with AnyForm in order to create a new AnyForm Template (*.aft=AnyForm Template) ?
   Yes, with docu Printer Pro 5.5, a printer driver that can be used to create PDF, EPS, PostScript, TEXT, JPEG, TIFF, PNG, PCX and BMP files from any Windows application http://neevia.com/download/product/?prodid=DP55LT . The price for a single-user license of docuPrinter is USD 49.--.                                
       

8. Is it possible to convert an AnyForm Form file (*.aff=AnyForm Form) into a PDF-format (Acrobat Reader) and by this to share AnyForm files also with persons which do not have AnyForm form software installed on their PCs ?
   Yes, also with docu Printer Pro 5.5 you will convert a filled out AnyForm Form in no time at all into a high quality PDF-Format, which can be viewed, printed out and stored by persons, which do not need to have AnyForm form software installed on their PCs.
   
      

9. Where do I find more valuable information for an effective working with AnyForm?
   In any case in the AnyForm User’s Manual, which you can download for free as PDF-file. The AnyForm User's Manual  informs you in detail on the most important questions regarding the working with AnyForm. Download user's manual AnyForm® now
   
   The AnyForm help file informs you in detail about each function of AnyForm and the most frequent error messages and warnings in connection with the use of AnyForm.
   With AnyForm Quicktour you get a quick overview of the installation procedure and of the most important features of AnyForm.
   Should you have any further questions please contact us under support@smartform.com  and we promise you to offer you quick, competent and free assistance for all your problems with AnyForm.