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This tool will automatically add form fields to your document and your PDF will be open in Form Editing Mode. One thing to keep in mind is that the tool will only create text box form fields. If you only use form fields for typing in text, that is okay, but if you need to create check boxes, or dates, or other complex form fields, you will need to make those manually. Field Names and Tooltips are also added automatically, but you may want to edit them.
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Section 7.5: Editing and Swapping Form Fields
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Double click on your form field.
In the Text Field Properties box, go to the General Tab. Type in your Tooltip in the Tooltip box.
Marking Fields as Required
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Double Click on your form field.
In the Text Field Properties box, go to the General tab and check the Required Box.
When you click on the Close button, your form field will turn red. That means it is required. However, people who are color blind or have low vision may miss this queue.
If all fields in the form are required, you should note this in the instructions at the top of the PDF. If certain fields are required, mark them with an asterisk or the word (Required) in parenthesis within the visible field label. Also, include a note in the instructions like “All fields with an asterisk are required.” Then for screen reader users, you should include the word (Required) in the tooltip.
Text Field
Text fields allow users to type in text like addresses, phone number, and names.
In our example, we will use the “If yes, please explain” form field. When you create the form fields automatically, the name will be automatically generated.
When you open the Text Field Properties box, you will see that the name and tooltip have the same text. Sometimes it is accurate, but they should be checked. Change the tooltip to, “If you have been convicted of a felony, please explain.”
Check Boxes and Radio Buttons
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Delete the form field you want replaced.
Go to the Prepare a Form Pane on the left side of the screen and click on the Dropdown List button.
Click and drag your dropdown menu form field to create the form field in its location.
Double click the field to open the Dropdown Properties box. Include a name and tooltip.
Next, go to the Options Tab. In the Item box, type in your item and click on the Add button to add it to your item list. In our example, the options will be Please select an option, Concierge, Front Desk, and Housekeeping. Make sure that Please select an option is at the top of the Item List section so it will be read first by a screen reader. After you have your items listed, close the dialog box.
You can also go to the Appearance Tab and change the font used in the form field. In the example, the font is changed to Times New Roman, Size 14.
Test your dropdown menu by clicking the Preview button and clicking on your dropdown menu.
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Go to the Prepare a Form pane on the left side of the screen and click the Button Tool.
Click and drag to create the button on your line. In this case, the clear form line.
Double click on the form field to open the Button Properties box. In the General Tab, give the button a name and a tooltip.
Go to the Appearance Tab and set the font size to 14 and the font to Times New Roman.
Go to the Options Tab. Change Behavior to Push. Then set the Label to Clear Form.
Go to the Actions Tab and in the Select Trigger dropdown menu and choose Mouse Up. In the Select Action Dropdown menu, choose Run a JavaScript. Click Add Button.
Copy and Paste the JavaScript below and click OK.
Test your new button. You should get a warning asking you to proceed. This means your script works.
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Double click on the Social Security Number field to open the Properties box.
Go to the Format Tab. In the Select Format Category dropdown menu, click Special. In the Special Options List, click on Social Security Number.
Go to the Validate Tab, and check Run Custom Validation Script, then click the Edit Button.
In the JavaScript Editor, type in your JavaScript.
Section 7.6: Tab Order
Now that all of your form fields have been completed, you need to test the tab order of your PDF. A user may not be able to use the mouse to click from one form field to another. A good alternative to access the form fields is by using the Tab Key. To test your PDF, click the Preview Button and hit the Tab Key several times. What should happen is that the first form field at the top of the PDF should be highlighted first. Then by clicking the Tab Key again, the form next to or underneath the first form field will be highlighted. If a form field is skipped, that means the Tab Order is out of order. To fix the Tab Order,
Go into to the All Tools pane, click on the Prepare a Form Tool Edit Mode.
On the right side of the screen, go to the Fields Section.
The Fields Section contains all of your form fields and gives you the ability to rearrange the order of the form fields. To move the form field order, click and drag the field you want into a new position.
Go back to Preview Mode and press the Tab Key to test the new location of your form fields.
Keep tweaking the Fields Section until everything is in order.
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