Adobe 22020807 User Guide - Page 195

USING ACROBAT 9 PRO 189 Forms Note: If you're creating dynamic forms, keep in mind that Reader doesn't support some custom JavaScripts, so the form may not function properly when viewed in Reader unless additional usage rights are added to the PDF. You can use the Acrobat Software Development Kit (SDK) to customize Acrobat. For more information on this SDK, see the Acrobat Developer Center at www.adobe.com/go/learn_acr_devcenter_en (English only). Create form fields In Acrobat, you create a form field by choosing one of the form tools. For each field type, you can set a variety of options through the form field Properties dialog box. Note: In Windows, you can use Designer ES to edit forms that were created in Acrobat. However, Acrobat can't edit form fields that have been opened and saved in Designer ES. More Help topics "Form fields behavior" on page 197 Create a new form field 1 After you convert your document to a PDF form, choose Forms > Add or Edit Fields. 2 Do one of the following: • Click Add New Field, and then select a tool. • Choose Forms > Form Tools, and then select a form tool. • Right-click the page and select a tool. Your cursor becomes a crosshair. 3 On the page, click where you want to add the field to create a field with the default size. To create a field using a custom size, drag a rectangle to define the size of the field. 4 In the Field Name box, type the name of the field and specify if you want the field to be a required field. Choose a name that is relevant and descriptive to make organizing and collecting the data easier. 5 To display the Properties dialog box and modify any other field properties, click Show All Properties. Note: If you have selected the Keep Tool Selected option in the forms toolbar (visible when you select Add New Field > Show Tools On Toolbar), the Field Name box doesn't appear after adding a field. Each time you click the page, a new field is added to the form. To exit this mode, press the Esc key or click the Select Object Tool button . To modify the properties of the field, double-click the field. 6 To test your form, click the Preview button . Previewing a form allows you to view the form the same way the form recipients will and gives you a chance to verify the form. If you are previewing a form, you can click the Edit Layout button to go back to the edit mode. Lay out form fields on a grid You can use grids to help position form fields precisely on a page. You can define the grid spacing, color, and position. You can also choose whether to have the boundaries of a form field snap to grid lines when you're editing the form field. Grid lines don't print. 1 Choose View > Grid. 2 To make form fields snap to the nearest grid lines when you create or move them, choose View > Snap To Grid. Last updated 9/30/2011