Personally, I'm the only one who uses my computers, so I'm a big fan of the settings being stored in the program install directory. I try to keep my installed programs and my extracted programs separate. Installed programs go into D:\ProgNew and extracted programs go into D:\ProgNoInst. If I format my C drive all my programs in my D:\ProgNoInst folder still work after reinstalling windows. Also, if I want to move a program from one computer to another (or put it onto a flash drive) I can just copy them out of ProgNoInst, it's VERY convenient!

In situations where multiple users might use the same program it gets a lot more complicated. If user A changes the toolbar layout it should not be changed for user B. Storing the settings in the user folders could be helpful here, but requires switching users in Windows, which is an annoyance. A better solution IMO would be to have users choose a profile to use when the program starts. User A selects "John's Profile" and user B selects "Jane's Profile". If the content of the program is sensitive in some way (e-mail, passwords, whatever) then also have a password for each profile.

In fact, I could see a single user wanting multiple profiles. For example, maybe User A would want a "retouching" profile in Photoshop when he wants to edit an existing photo and a "creation" profile when he's creating a new image. Maybe a "combo" profile as well that gives easy access to all the tools. Switching users would not be a viable option to have access to all these profiles.

Also, having everything in a single directory eases uninstallation; just delete the folder! No registry crap left behind, no "quick start" programs still starting with the computer using up RAM, nothing. Also, there's no worry about gaining rights to other user's folders.

To me, it sounds like he would like to print a form a bunch of times, then come back later and fill the form in, using his printer, like you might do with a typewriter.

So, the actual piece of paper would be run through a printer twice, the first time it would print the PDF, the second time it would print the filled-in parts (name, date, whatever). The second run would be a lot faster.

What for the3seashells? (if you don't mind me asking...)

Also, just in case you don't already know; there are programs that will let you do what tomos is saying: superimpose additional writing on a PDF which will let you print the original form and the filled-in parts all at once.