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Adobe Acrobat 9 Pro

PDF Forms: Form Field Options

Each type of form field in a PDF form has unique options. These options described in this document can be found on the Options tab of the Properties dialog box. Using these options, the form developer can control what a user sees and does with fields in the form. This document describes the options available for the different types of form fields and how to access them.

return to topAccessing Form Field Options

  1. Open the PDF form

  2. From the Forms menu, select Add or Edit Fields...

  3. Right click the form field » select Properties...
    The [Field] Properties dialog box appears.

  4. Select the Options tab

return to topButton Options

Buttons have a variety of uses; they can be formatted to play movies, open a new link, or submit information. Below you will find descriptions of options to customize the appearance and function of your buttons.

Button Properties dialog box: Options tab

Layout
Allows you to select how the button will appear to a user

Behavior
Allows you to select how the button will appear when a user clicks on it

Icon and Label
Allows you to define an image or text that appears on a button

Locked
Does not allow any changes to the document until it is unlocked, this can prevent accidental changes

return to topCheck Box Options

Check boxes allow you to present the user with a number of choices. The user will be able to select one or more of the options by clicking in the check box.

Check Box Properties dialog box: Options tab

Check Box Style
Allows you to select the type of character that will indicate a user's selection

Export Value
Contains a value that indicates what item is chosen
NOTE: The export value that you choose will be the information that is actually sent to the database. An export value for each item is necessary only if you want the information reported to be different from the name of that item.

Check box is checked by default
Allows you to indicate the option as selected by default
HINT: Use pre-selected options with caution. If you pre-select a response for users, they may not look at the alternative choices.

Locked
Does not allow any changes to the document until it is unlocked, this can prevent accidental changes

return to topCombo Box Options

Combo boxes allow a user to either select an item from a pop-up list, or enter their own data. Below is a description of the options available for combo boxes.

Item
Represents the options users see within the combo box
For more information, see Working with Combo Boxes

Export Value
Contains a value that represents the item chosen
NOTE: The export value that you choose will be the information that is actually sent to the database. An export value for each item is necessary only if you want the information reported to be different from the name of that item.

Item List
Shows the items that will appear in the combo box
NOTE: You can move items up or down, or delete them.

Sort Items
Sorts the options within the combo box numerically or alphabetically

Allow user to enter custom text
Allows users to enter their own text, if their answer is not available

Check Spelling
Spell-checks custom entries in the combo box

Commit selected value immediately
Saves a value as soon as a user selects it

Locked
Does not allow any changes to the document until it is unlocked, this can prevent accidental changes

return to topList Box Options

List boxes contain the list of items for a user to scroll through. Below is information about how to customize the information and functions of your list box.

List Box Properties dialog box: Options tab

Item
Represents the options users see within the list box

Export Value
Contains a value that represents the item chosen
NOTE: The export value that you choose will be the information that is actually sent to the database. An export value for each item is necessary only if you want the information reported to be different from the name of that item.

Item List
Shows the items in the list box
NOTE: You can move items up or down, or delete them.

Sort items
Sorts the options within the list box numerically or alphabetically

Multiple selection
Allows users to select more than one item from the list

Commit selected value immediately
Saves a value as soon as a user selects it

Locked
Does not allow any changes to the document until it is unlocked, this can prevent accidental changes

return to topRadio Button Options

Radio buttons limit a user to only one response from each group. Below is information about modifying the appearance and performance of radio buttons.

Radio Button Properties dialog box: Options tab

Button Style
Allows you to select the look of the radio button that users will click to select an option

Export Value
Contains a value that represents the item chosen
NOTE: The export value that you choose will be the information that is actually sent to the database.

Button is checked by default
Allows you to indicate the option as selected by default
HINT: Use pre-selected options with caution. If you pre-select a response for users, they may not look at the alternative choices.

Buttons with the same name and value are selected in unison
Allows you to cause all buttons with the same name and export value to be selected when the user selects any one of them
NOTE: For more explanation of name and export values, refer to Working with Radio Buttons.

Locked
Does not allow any changes to the document until it is unlocked, this can prevent accidental changes

return to topText Field Options

Text fields allow a user to enter their own information. Below is information about modifying your text fields.

Text Field Properties dialog box: Optons tab

Alignment
Sets the alignment of the text that the user will type

Default Value
Allows you to enter text that will appear in the text field when the user first opens the form
HINT: This can be used to suggest the format you would like (e.g., Last name, First name).

Multi-line
As the text the user is typing reaches the end of the text box, it automatically continues on the next line down

Scroll long text
Scrolls text forward when the user's entry reaches the limit of the visible area of the text box

Allow Rich Text Formatting
Allows users to add basic formatting (e.g., bold text)

Limit of __ characters
Allows you to limit user entries to the number of characters specified

Password
Masks a user's entry with ****
NOTE: Choosing this option excludes all other options except limiting the number of characters.

Field is used for file selection
Opens a file selection dialog box, allowing the user to select a file to submit with the form
NOTE: Selecting this option excludes all other options.

Check Spelling
Spell-checks entries made by the user in the text box

Comb of __ characters
Evenly distributes the text across a text field, the value you enter defines the maximum number of characters allowed
NOTE: This option is not available when any other option is selected.

Locked
Does not allow any changes to the document until it is unlocked, this can prevent accidental changes

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