Form Text Box

PDF Studio is capable of creating text fields. Text fields are used when creating documents that will have sections that need to be filled out by typing in information. To create text fields follow the steps below.

Creating Text Fields

Start the Form Editing Mode by going to the Forms Tab
Click on the Text Field button located on the tool bar. The cursor will then change to show a preview of the field
Using the mouse move to the location you want to place the field and then click to place the field or click and drag to create a custom field size.
Repeat steps 1-3 to create as many fields as you need
To finish placing text fields press Esc or click on the button on the toolbar

Text Field Properties

To access the Text Field properties right click (Mac: Ctrl + Click) on the field and choose Properties in the mouse menu or click on the edit button on the Mini Toolbar. The Text Field contains the following property settings.

Appearance

Name - The name of the field

Tooltip - The tip that is shown when the mouse is hovered over the field

Style

Font - Sets the font of the text

Size - Sets the font size of the text

Text Color - Sets the text color

Border Color - Sets the color of the border

Line Width - Sets the width of the border line

Fill Color - Sets the fill color

Style - Sets the style for the border line (i.e. dotted, dashed, cloud, etc...)

Save as default - When checked this will make the selected style settings the default for any new Text Fields going forward

Properties

Rotation - Sets the field rotation in 90 degree increments

Required - When checked will display a red outline on the field letting them know the field is required

Visibility - Sets one of four visibility options for the field

1. - Show: the default setting makes the field visible
  - Hide: hides the field from being displayed when viewing the document
  - Show/Do not print: shows the field but will not print the field or it's values
  - Hide/Print: hides the field but the field and its value will be printed

Read Only - Makes the field uneditable and will just display the value currently set in the field

Locked - When checked prevents the following on the field: being moved or resized, editing appearance properties, & deleting the annotation.

Options

Alignment - The alignment of the text that will be typed in the field

Default - The default value of the field. This is the value that will be displayed if the field is empty or when Resetting Form Fields

Multiline - Allows users to type using multiple lines

Scroll Long Text - When checked will scroll if the text being entered is longer than the field. Unchecking this will limit the text to the length of the field

Password - When checked will hide the text and display dots •••• instead of the text typed into the field

Spell Check - When checked enables the "Spell Check" property of the field. When the Spell Check property is set, if the PDF viewer/editor supports spell checking it will be enabled only on fields with this property set.

Comb - Sets the number of vertical lines between each typed character. Useful when adding fields to forms that have a separate box for each character

Character Limit - Limits the number of characters that can be entered in the field

Allow Rich Text - Allows special formatted characters to be entered in the field (i.e. Bold, Italic, Underline, etc...)

Format

Sets the formatting rules for the field based on the option and settings selected. When a format is selected the formatting will be enforced using JavaScript and the user will not be able to enter any other value other then what is set in the rules. See Field Formatting for additional details.

None - Default value, sets no formatting rules and any text can be entered into the field

Number - Sets the field to only accept numbers based on the settings selected

Percentage - Sets the field to display a percentage based on the settings selected

Date - Sets the field to only accept date, time, or date-time values based on the settings selected.

Note: When a date or date-time setting is selected when viewing the document PDF Studio will display a calendar button on the field. This button will allow users to select a date using a calendar picker instead of typing in the field if they wish.

Time - Sets the field to only accept time values based on the settings.

Special - Allows you to select from a list of common predefined field formatting rules

Custom JavaScript - Allows you to create your own custom formatting rules using the supported PDF Form JavaScript

Calculate

Sets the calculation rules for the field based on the option and settings selected. When a calculate is set it will be enforced using JavaScript. See Form Field Calculations for additional details

No Calculation for this field - Default value, sets no calculation rules and any text can be entered into the field

Field value has simple calculation - When selected allows you to set a single math calculation on either all or a selection of fields.

This field has a custom calculation - When selected you will need to use Form JavaScript to create custom calculations

Simple Field Notation - When checked this allows you to use simple calculation commands (+ - / *) instead of JavaScript. See Form Field Calculations for additional details

Validate

Sets validation rules for the field based on the option selected. Validation is different from format in that validation restricts what values are allowed to be entered into the field

No validation for this field - Default value, sets no validation rules and any value can be entered into the field

Field value has a range - Only available when Format is set to a Number or Percentage.

This field has custom validation - When selected you will need to use Form JavaScript to create custom validations

Actions

The Action Panel displays a list of the current actions associated with the field. Actions can be added, edited, or deleted using the buttons below the actions list.

Add - Adds a custom Form Field Actions from a list of available actions.

Edit - Edits the currently selected action from the list

Remove - Removes the currently selected action from the list