1. What options do I have to save completed (filled out) forms?

To save completed PDF forms, you'll need either the paid Adobe Acrobat product, or a low-cost alternatives like CutePDF Form Filler or CutePDF Professional. The Free Adobe Reader does not allow you to save forms.

Once you have one of these paid products, you can save completed forms. A good approach is to fill out your basic company information and save this as your "template" or "starting point"... so you only need to fill out customer or specific project information, saving time.

2. Can I trim a form file down to just the pages/forms I need, for a specific customer?

If you have Adobe Acrobat or CutePDF Professional (but not CutePDF FormFiller), and you'd like to delete pages from saved forms (e.g., delete all but the pages that are applicable to a specific project), you'll need the password we've used to secure/lock the PDF file.

• Call us at (818) 887-7828 with information about when and how you purchased your copy of California Construction Forms and Contracts Version 3 (online or in our Canoga Park store), and we'll provide the password.
• Have your store receipt or online invoice handy.
• Once you have the password we'll provide, you'll need to remove the password security on the PDF document: refer to your Adobe Acrobat or CutePDF Professional help and documentation for information how to do this.
• And after you've trimmed the form down to size by deleting pages before and after the pages you want to keep, you'll want to put security back on your document.

3. Can I add my logo to the PDF version?

No. For that level of customization, you should instead use your word processor and the RTF version that's included on the Version 3 CD-ROM.

• First Things First
• Basics of Using the Forms
• Keeping Forms Organized / Keeping Track of Forms
• For More Help

The following is adapted from the PDF Version User Guide, which is included on the CD-ROM.

Click here to download the Guide (PDF Format) (30 Kb)

IMPORTANT

The forms, text and design of California Construction Forms and Contracts are © 2006 by Builder’s Book, Inc. All rights reserved. With your purchase of this product, you are entitled to a non-exclusive limited license to use these files to produce printed forms for use in your contracting business; all other uses are prohibited. The files may not be sold, distributed, or otherwise transferred to any third party without advance written permission from Builder's Book, Inc., the publisher.

CAUTION: California law requires specific language and sometimes even specific formatting or type sizes for legal documents used by licensed contractors. As much as possible, we have tried to meet these requirements in presenting these forms. For that reason, we would discourage you from making more than minor changes in the design, wording or presentation of these forms.

These forms are provided to you "as is", without warranty or guarantee of any kind. You should always consult a knowledgeable legal professional before using any contract or form in your business; the sample language provided in the California Construction Forms and Contracts may or may not be appropriate for your use, and they may or may not provide you with all of the legal protections you or your clients may need or desire. The contract language and forms in California Construction Forms and Contracts are provided only as a starting-point.

The PDF version of California Construction Forms and Contracts is designed to work with recent, standard configurations of the free Adobe Reader or the paid Adobe Acrobat (Standard and Professional). Because of the wide variety of hardware/software combinations that are possible, we cannot guarantee that these files will work on outdated or unusual personal computer setups.

BEYOND THESE INSTRUCTIONS, WE CANNOT PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR HOW TO USE ADOBE READER, ADOBE ACROBAT, CutePDF FormFiller, or any other software. Always refer to your software's Help and Documentation for the most comprehensive and appropriate help and instructions.

1. Copy the 2 PDF files from the CD-ROM onto your personal computer’s hard disk drive. This will improve performance.
2. Remove the California Construction Forms and Contracts disc from your CD-ROM drive, and place it in a safe place. From here on, you will be working with the file saved in # 1 above.

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The files you have saved in #1 above are a special type of Adobe Acrobat file, known as "forms." Their filenames and extensions are just the same as other Acrobat files; only their internal information and the way it works is different.

• Forms include checkboxes and text entry areas that you can fill in.
  
  
• Much of a form's text and layout are "secured"; they cannot be changed unless you have the appropriate software and password(s) to "unlock" the form.
  
  We do not provide these capabilities with the PDF forms; if you are looking for greater flexibility, we suggest you explore the RTF forms that are also included on the disc. Many of the RTF forms allow you to insert your own logo, for example; the PDF forms do not.
  
  
• Recent versions of Adobe Reader and Adobe Acrobat (versions 6 and above, in most cases) allow you to turn highlighting for form fields "on" and "off," to make them easier to find when you are filling in the form. (After you have opened a form, you will see a checkbox for "Highlight form fields" in the upper right-hand portion of the Adobe Reader or Adobe Acrobat screen. Check or uncheck this box to turn highlighting on or off.)
  
  
• In order to save completed forms, you will need either the paid Adobe Acrobat software (www.adobe.com) or a low-cost add-in to the free Adobe Reader (such as the CutePDF Form Filler, available from www.cutepdf.com). Once you have either of these set up, you can save completed forms.
  
  
  • This means you can save individual forms that you fill in for specific projects or customers.
    
    
  • This also means that you can partially fill in a form with your company information, and save it as a "master." Then, when you need to complete a form for a specific project or customer, open your customized master and save time.
    
    
• NAVIGATING THE FORMS: It is always best to use the TAB key to move from field to field. Depending on the kind of field your cursor is in, the Enter key may or may not operate like a TAB key. For consistent results, just use the TAB key.
  
  
• TAB ORDER/CALCULATIONS: As much as possible we have tried to set the field tabbing order and the operation of calculations that most people would expect and want.
  
  In some cases, fields are completed in groups (e.g., name, address and phone for one party to the contract) before moving on to the next group.
  
  To change tab order or the calculations performed by a form, you will need the paid Adobe Acrobat software (CutePDF FormFiller will not work) and the security password we have used to lock the forms. Call us for the password if you are interested in doing this.
  
  
• LIST OF PROJECTS: Print out and refer to the "List of Projects" provided at the beginning of each PDF file for a complete list of all the forms included in that version. It gives you some hints on printing, who should receive copies of the completed forms, etc.
  
  
• ADDITIONAL FILES: In addition to the PDF forms provided, you may also want to try the Microsoft Excel (.xls) files provided on the disc.

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One of the extras on the disc is a file named "LOG Contract Form Journal.xls" This is a Microsoft® Excel® spreadsheet file designed to help you keep track of the forms and contracts you create.

If you have Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Works, or a compatible program, give this file a try.

TIP...

• If you have either the paid Adobe Acrobat or a low-cost add-in like CutePDF Form Filler, make a "master" version of each form you want to use, that already has your basic company information filled out.
  
  
• Save this master, and make a backup copy somewhere it will be safe.
  
  
• If you ever accidentally overwrite or delete your working "master," you'll be able to quickly retrieve your backup "master."

TIP...

• Again, if you have the paid Adobe Acrobat software product, or CutePDF Form Filler, save filled-in forms using customer or project names (ABC_Building.rtf or Johnson_David_Spa.rtf), dates (2006_Jan_15.rtf), or a combination of the two (Johnson_Spa_2006_Jan_15.rtf).
  
  
• This will automatically organize your completed forms, and make them easier to find.

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If you have questions or concerns not addressed here,
please call Builder's Book during our regular store hours...

(818) 887-7828

Monday - Friday 8 am - 6 pm
Saturday 9 am - 5 pm
Closed Sundays and Holidays