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Adobe Acrobat 7.0

PDF Forms: Modifying Form Fields

Acrobat allows you to resize and align multiple form fields so you can enhance the look of your form. This document explains how to modify form field size and align multiple form fields. For more information on how to change the appearance of the form field, refer to Working with Check Boxes, Working with Radio Buttons, Working with List Boxes, or Working with Combo Boxes.

Return to topModifying Form Field Appearance

By default, form fields appear as flat boxes with a black border. You may change the color and width of the border, change the color and style of the area inside the form field, and change the color and size of the character which appears in the form field.

NOTE: Different form fields will have different options available.

  1. From the Tools menu, select Advanced Editing » Show Forms Toolbar
    The Forms toolbar appears.
    Forms toolbar

  2. On the Forms toolbar, click the type of form field that you want to modify

  3. In your form, double click the form field you want to change
    OR
    Right click the form field » select Properties...
    The Form Field Properties dialog box appears.

  4. Select the Appearance tab
    Combo Box Appearance Options

  5. Under Borders and Colors, from the Border Color palette, select a color for the border of the form field

  6. From the Line Thickness pull-down list, select the line thickness for the form field

  7. From the Fill Color palette, select the color to fill the form field

  8. From the Line Style pull-down list, select the style for the line around the form field

  9. Under Text, from the Font Size pull-down list, select a font size

  10. From the Text Color palette, select the desired color

  11. From the Font pull-down list, select a font for the text in the form field

  12. Click CLOSE

Return to topModifying Form Field Size

If the size of the form field you have created is not what you want, you can resize it.

  1. From the Tools menu, select Advanced Editing » Show Forms Toolbar
    The Forms toolbar appears.
    Forms toolbar

  2. On the Forms toolbar, click the type of form field that you want to resize.

  3. Position your cursor over a resizing handle
    The cursor changes to bi-directional arrows, indicating the directions you can move.

  4. Click and drag the border until the form field is the desired size
    HINT: Holding [Shift] while dragging a corner handle will maintain height/width proportions.

  5. Release the mouse button
    The form field is resized.

Return to topAligning Form Fields

You can align multiple form fields in relation to each other vertically or horizontally, or use a combination of alignments to improve the look of your form.

  1. Open the PDF file that you will use for the form

  2. From the Tools menu, select Advanced Editing » Show Forms Toolbar
    The Forms toolbar appears.
    Forms toolbar

  3. On the Forms toolbar, click the type of form field that you want to align

  4. Select the form fields to align
    NOTES:
    You must select more than one form field
    Form fields will align in relation to the first form field selected
    To select additional form fields, press and hold [Shift] while selecting the additional fields

  5. Right click a form field, select Align » the desired alignment 

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