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Buttons With The Same Name And Value Are Selected In Unison
Allows single-click selection of multiple related
radio buttons. For example, if the user selects a radio button that has the same field name and export value as another,
both radio buttons are selected.
Text Fields
Text fields accept user input, which can be alphabetic characters, numbers, or both.
Alignment
Aligns the text left, right, or center within the field.
Default Value
Specifies the text that appears until the user overwrites it by typing in the field. Enter the default value
by typing in this option.
Multi-line
Allows more than a single-line entry in the text field.
Scroll Long Text
Compensates for text that extends beyond the boundaries of the text field.
Allow Rich Text Formatting
Allows users to apply styling information to the text, such as bold or italic. This might
be useful in certain text fields where such styling information is important to the meaning of the text, such as an
essay.
Limit Of Characters
Allows entries of up to the number of characters you specify.
Note:
If you entered a default value, that value is clipped to this limit.
Password
Displays the user-entered text as a series of asterisks (*). This option is available only if Check Spelling is
deselected.
Field Is Used For File Selection
Allows the user to enter a file path as the field’s value when a file is submitted along
with the form. This option is available only when Scroll Long Text is the only selected option in the Options tab.
Check Spelling
Checks the spelling of user-entered text.
Comb Of Characters
Spreads the user-entered text evenly across the width of the text field. If a border color is
specified in the Appearance tab, each character entered in the field is separated by lines of that color. This option is
available only when no other check box is selected.
A
B
Text fields with and without the Comb property
A.
Four text fields with a border color, using the Comb property B.
Text field without the Comb property
Actions tab for form field properties
Actions properties specify any actions that you want to associate with the form field, such as jumping to a specific
page or playing a media clip. The Actions tab appears for all types of form fields and includes the following options:
Select Trigger
Specifies the user action that initiates an action: Mouse Up, Mouse Down, Mouse Enter, Mouse Exit,
On Focus, or On Blur.
Select Action
Specifies the event that occurs when the user triggers the action: Execute A Menu Item, Go To A 3D
View, Go To A Page View; Import Form Data, Open A File, Open A Web Link, Play A Sound, Play Media (Acrobat
5 Compatible), Play Media (Acrobat 6 And Later Compatible), Read An Article, Reset A Form, Run A JavaScript, Set
Layer Visibility, Show/Hide A Field, and Submit A Form.
Add
Opens a Browse-for-file window.
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Actions
Displays the list of triggers and actions that you’ve defined.
Up and down arrows
Change the order in which the selected action appears listed under the trigger. (Available only
when you have defined multiple actions for the same trigger.)
Edit
Opens a dialog box with specific options for the selected action.
Delete
Removes the selected action or trigger-action pair.
Calculate tab for form field properties
The Calculate tab appears in the Properties dialog boxes for only text boxes and combo boxes. Use these options to
perform mathematical operations on existing form field entries and display the result.
Value Is Not Calculated
Select this if you want the user to type.
Value Is The
Select this to make further options available:
•
Pop-up Menu
Lists the mathematical functions to apply to the selected fields. Choose Sum to add the values
entered in the selected fields, Product to multiply them, Average, Minimum, or Maximum.
•
Pick
Opens a dialog box with a list of the available fields in the form that you select to add or deselect to remove
from the calculation.
Simplified Field Notation
Uses JavaScript with field names and simple arithmetic signs. The Edit button opens a
dialog box in which you can write, edit, and add scripts.
Custom Calculation Script
Displays any custom scripts you have added for calculations. The Edit button opens a
dialog box in which you can write and add new JavaScripts.
Set the calculation order of form fields
When you define two or more calculations in a form, the order in which they are carried out is the order in which
you defined the calculations. In some cases, you may need to modify the calculation order to obtain correct results.
For example, if you wanted to use the result obtained from calculating two form fields to calculate the value of a third
form field, the first two form fields must be calculated together first to obtain the correct final results.
1 Choose Forms > Edit Fields > Set Field Calculation Order.
The Calculate Fields dialog box displays all calculable fields in your form and the order in which the calculations are
performed.
2 Tochangethefieldcalculationorder,selectthefieldfromthelist,and thenclicktheUporDownbuttonas needed.
Acrobat automatically performs all assigned field calculations when you are creating and testing your form fields.
For convenience while you work, you can turn off automatic calculation in the forms preferences.
Signed tab for form field properties
The Signed tab is available only in the Digital Signature Properties dialog box. Selections made here determine what
happens when the user applies a digital signature to the form.
Nothing Happens When Signed
This is the default.
Mark As Read-Only Prevents further changes to the digitally signed form, according to the selection in the pop-up menu:
•
All Fields
Prevents any changes to any form field.
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•
All Fields Except These
Allows changes only to the form fields you select by clicking the Pick button and selecting
check boxes for the fields that you want the user to be able to edit after signing.
•
Just These Fields
Prevents changes in only the form fields you pick.
This Script Executes When Field Is Signed
Activates a custom JavaScript when the user digitally signs the form. Use
the Edit button to change or create a new JavaScript action.
See also
“Adding JavaScript to forms” on page 214
Format tab for form field properties
The Format tab appears in the Properties dialog box for only text form fields or combo box form fields. The options
that are available depend on your selection in the Select Format Category pop-up menu.
None
No additional options are available. The input in a text or combo box with this property does not require any specific
formatting.
Number
Automatically imposes the selected formatting options on numeric data entries.
Decimal Places
Sets the number of digits that appear to the right of the decimal point.
Separator Style
Sets the placement of commas and periods.
Currency Symbol
Sets the type of currency, such as Euros, Dollars, or Yen.
Negative Number Style
Sets how negative numbers are displayed. You can choose Show Parentheses, Use Red Text,
neither, or both.
Percentage
Automatically imposes the selected formatting options on numeric data expressed as a percentage.
Decimal Places
Sets the number of digits that appear to the right of the decimal point
Separator Style
Sets the placement of commas and periods.
Date
List includes one-, two-, and four-digit variations where d stands for the day, m stands for month, and y stands for year.
Time
List includes display variations where h stands for the hour on a 12-hour clock, H stands for the hour on a 24-hour
clock, MM stands for minutes, ss stands for the seconds, and tt stands for AM or PM.
Special
Zip Code
For a five-digit U.S. postal code.
Zip Code + 4
For a nine-digit U.S. postal code.
Phone Number
For a ten-digit telephone number.
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Social Security Number
For a nine-digit U.S. Social Security Number. Hyphens are inserted automatically after the
third and fifth digits.
Arbitrary Mask
Changes the format category to Custom and makes another text box available, in which you can type
a custom format. Use this option to specify which types of characters the user can enter in any given position, and
how the data displays in the field.
•
A
Accepts only letters (A–Z, a–z).
•
X
Accepts spaces and most printable characters, including all characters available on a standard keyboard and
ANSI characters in the ranges of 32–126 and 128–255.
•
O
The letter “O” accepts alphanumeric characters (A–Z, a–z, and 0–9).
•
9
Accepts only numeric characters (0–9).
For example, a mask setting of AAA--p#999 accepts the input BOE--p#767. A mask setting of OOOOO@XXX
accepts the input vad12@3Up.
Example of an Arbitrary Mask entry
Custom
Makes additional options available to form designers who want to write their own JavaScripts for formatting and
keystrokes. For example, a custom script could define a new currency format or limit the user entry to specific
keystroke characters.
Custom Format Script
Displays any custom scripts you have added for formats. The Edit button opens a dialog box
in which you can write and add new scripts.
Custom Keystroke Script
Displays any custom scripts you have added to validate keystrokes. The Edit button opens
a dialog box in which you can write and add new scripts.
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To get the JavaScript for Acrobat API Reference, go to the JavaScript support page (English only) of the Adobe website.
Validation tab for form field properties
The Validation tab appears only in the Text Field Properties and Combo Box Properties dialog boxes. Validation
properties restrict entries to specified ranges, values, or characters, ensuring that users enter the appropriate data for
a specified form field.
Field Value Is Not Validated
Turns off validation.
Field Value Is In Range
Sets a numeric range for form fields using values you enter in either as a number or a
percentage.
Run Custom Validation Script
Validates by a JavaScript that you create or provide.
See also
“Adding JavaScript to forms” on page 214
Value tab for form field properties
The Value tab appears for barcode form fields only.
Encode Using
Activates these options:
•
XML
Encodes the data into the barcode in standard XFDF format. JavaScript script is automatically generated.
•
Tab Delimited
Encodes the fields into the barcode as tab-delimited values. JavaScript script is automatically
generated. If the form is configured to output the data in individual XFDF or XDP files, the data must be in a tab-
delimited format with the field names in the first line. This option is also useful if you want to fit more data into a
barcode or if you intend to copy the data into database or spreadsheet tables.
•
Pick
Opens a dialog box in which you select which user data fields will be encoded in the barcode for you to
retrieve.
•
Include Field Names
(Available only when Tab Delimited encoding is selected.) Encodes field names as the first
line of the barcode contents. The values are encoded under them.
Custom Calculation Script
Displays the default script. Click the Edit button to open the JavaScript Editor dialog box,
in which you can write custom calculation scripts for your barcode.
Reference To published Form
Shows the path to the PDF form. You can edit this by typing in the URL to the
published form. Later, you can re-create a digital version of the completed form by merging the form template with
an instance of user-supplied data. You can also maintain the relationship between a specific form template and its
related barcode data files. When you encode a barcode using XML values, the URL reference is encoded into the
barcode and is displayed on the form, below the barcode.
http://www.adobe.com/formscatalog/thisform.pdf
A type of barcode, with the URL reference below
Manage custom barcode settings
You can save, reuse, and share a set of custom settings for barcode parameters, to apply them when you create new
barcode form fields. You can make further adjustments to your custom parameter sets after you define them.
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All of these processes begin by opening the barcode form field properties dialog box, which you can do by using the
Select Object tool (Tools > Advanced Editing > Select Object Tool) to select a barcode form field, and then choosing
Forms > Show Field Properties.
See also
“Create, test, and edit barcode fields” on page 219
“Design tips for barcodes” on page 210
Create a new barcode parameters set
1 In the Barcode Field Properties dialog box, click the Options tab, and then click Manage Barcode Parameters.
2 Select the existing parameter set that you want to use as the basis of the new set, and click New.
3 Type a name in the Name box and a description in the Description box.
4 Select options for Barcode Type, X Dimension, Y/X Ratio, and Error Correction Level, and then click OK.
The newly defined parameter set appears in the list in the Manage Barcode Parameters dialog box, and all the buttons
on the right side of the dialog box become available. The new definition also appears in the Decode Condition menu
in the Options tab of the Barcode Field Properties dialog box.
Edit or delete a set of custom barcode parameters
1 In the Barcode Field Properties dialog box, click the Options tab, and then click Manage Barcode Parameters.
2 Select a custom parameter set from the list.
3 Choose the appropriate action:
• Click Edit and make the changes to the settings; then click OK.
• Click Delete. Confirm the deletion in the message that appears by clicking OK.
Export or import a set of custom barcode parameters
1 In the Barcode Field Properties dialog box, click the Options tab, and then click Manage Barcode Parameters.
2 Choose the appropriate action:
• Select a barcode parameter set from the list and click Export. Select a location and file name for the file that has
the file name extension .bps.
• Click Import, and navigate to and select the BPS file that you want to import.
Redefine form field property defaults
After you change properties for a specific type of form field, you can set those properties as the default set for that
type. For example, you can create a check box, change its properties, and then save the properties as the default
values. This would not affect the default properties of other types of form fields, such as text boxes or radio buttons.
1 If necessary, do one of the following to go to form-editing mode and to activate the Select Object tool:
• Choose Forms > Edit Form In Acrobat so that a check mark appears next to that command in the Forms menu.
• Choose Tools > Advanced Editing > Select Object Tool.
2 Right-click/Control-click the form field for which you have already changed properties, and choose Use Current
Properties As New Defaults.
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Note:
Changing the default properties does not change the settings for existing form fields of that type. The new defaults
apply only to new fields that you create.
Setting action buttons in Acrobat
About buttons
Buttons are most commonly associated with forms, but you can add them to any document. Buttons can open a file,
play a sound or movie clip, submit data to a web server, and much more. When deciding on how to initiate an action,
remember that buttons offer the following capabilities that links and bookmarks do not:
• A button can activate a single action or a series of actions.
• A button can change appearance in response to mouse actions.
• A button can be easily copied across many pages.
• Mouse actions can activate different button actions. For example, Mouse Down (a click), Mouse Up (releasing
after a click), Mouse Enter (moving the pointer over the button), and Mouse Exit (moving the pointer away from
the button) can all start a different action for the same button.
Buttons are an easy, intuitive way to let users initiate an action in PDF documents. Buttons can have a combination
of labelsandicons tolead usersthrough aseries of actions or events by changing as the mouse ismoved. Forexample,
you can create buttons with “Play,” “Pause,” and “Stop” labels and appropriate icons. Then you can set actions for
these buttons to play, pause, and stop a movie clip. You can select any combination of mouse behaviors for a button
and specify any combination of actions for a mouse behavior.
Add a button to an Acrobat PDF form
1 In Acrobat, choose Tools > Forms > Button Tool.
2 Drag the cross hair to create the button area.
3 Click the General tab, and then specify a name, tool tip text, and other common properties.
4 ClicktheAppearancetab,andthenspecifyoptions todeterminehowthebuttonwilllookonthe page.Remember,
if you select a background color, you won’t be able to see through to any images behind the button. The text options
affect the label you specify in the Options tab, not the button name in the General tab.
Note:
If Enable Right-To-Left Language Options is selected in the International panel of the Preferences dialog box, the
Appearance tab includes options for changing the digit style and text direction for buttons.
5 Click the Options tab, and select options to determine how labels and icons appear on the button.
6 Click the Actions tab, and then specify options to determine what happens when the button is clicked, such as
jumping to a different page or playing a media clip.
7 Click Close.
2
Making buttons change appearance
A button can have a label, an icon, or both. You can change how the button appears in each mouse state (Up, Down,
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Kahili
Kahili
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
Button layouts
A.
Label only B.
Icon only C.
Icon top, label bottom D.
Label top, icon bottom E.
Icon left, label right F.
Label left, icon right G.
Label over
icon
You can make button icons from any file format that Acrobat can display, including PDF, JPEG, GIF, and other image
formats. For whichever format you select, the entire page is used, so if you want to use only a portion of a page as an
icon, you need to crop the image or page before carrying out this procedure. The smallest allowable PDF page size
is 1-by-1 inch (2.54-by-2.54 cm). If you want the icon to appear smaller than 1-by-1 inch, scale it to fit the size of the
box drawn with the button tool. Clicking Advanced in the Options tab of the Button Properties dialog box lets you
determine how a button icon is scaled to fit inside a button.
Edit a button in Acrobat
❖
Select the Button tool
, and then do any of the following:
• To edit the button’s properties, double-click the button.
• To change the button’s appearance, click the button, and then specify options using the Properties toolbar. You can
also change these appearance options in the Appearance tab of the Properties dialog box.
• To align, center, or distribute the button with other form fields, or to resize or duplicate the button, right-click
(Windows) or Control-click (Mac OS) the button, and then choose an option from the context menu.
See also
“Scale and position buttons in Acrobat” on page 235
Specify Acrobat button display properties
1 Select the Button tool
or the Select Object tool
.
2 Double-click an existing button, and then click the Options tab in the Button Properties dialog box.
3 For Layout, choose the type of label display you want. (For information on scaling button icons, see the next
procedure.)
4 For Behavior, specify the display of the button when clicked.
5 To define the label or icon that appears on the button, do the following:
• If a label option is selected from the Layout menu, type the text in the Label box.
• If an icon option is selected from the Layout menu, click Choose Icon, and then click Browse. Select the file type
from the Objects of Type (Windows) or Show (Mac OS) menu, double-click the file name, and then click OK.
(Click Clear to remove the selected icon.)
6 Click Close to accept these display properties.
Button Behavior options
None
Keeps the appearance of the button the same.
Push
Specifies appearances for the Up, Down, and Rollover states of the mouse. Select an option under State, and
then specify a label or icon option:
Documents you may be interested
Documents you may be interested
