Creating text

Creating text fields

The most common field type on PDF forms is the text field. Text fields permit respondents to add alpha text and/or numeric values. You can format text fields in a number of different ways to insure fields are completed properly. You can add custom format scripts, validate data, assign actions, and perform calculations on text fields.

To create a text field:

1. Select the Text Field tool from the Nitro PDF Professional toolbar.
2. Drag open a rectangle where you want the Text field to appear.
3. Name the field and assign appearance settings.
4. Select Options. Click Alignment and select from drop down menu items text alignment for left, center, or right.
5. Add text in the Default Text box if you want text to appear as a default for the field. Something like a zip code or country might be used where most of your respondents are likely to come from the area you add for the default text.
6. Check Multiple Line if you want the text to appear on multiple lines and check Scroll long text to have the text scroll in a box.
7. Click Limit of characters and enter the number of characters you want to limit a response to. Something like a zip code would work here.
8. Check Password to password secure a field.
9. Check Combo of Characters to create a comb field. Comb fields are designed for characters to be added in individual boxes. The number of boxes are defined in the text box that appears after you check the Combo of Characters box.
10. Format. If you want a format other than text, such as a date or custom format, then choose an option from the Select format category drop down menu.
11. Validation. If you want the field data to be validated, you need to know JavaScript. Check Run custom validation script and type the JavaScript code to validate the field data.
12. Calculate. If the field is to be calculated, check an option for calculating data.