Create a text field

Text Field allows recipients to enter their own information that can be alpha text or numeric values. You can assign actions, define the text format, validate data, and perform text field calculations on text fields. In addition, since Date Field is just an extension of Text Field, this guide will not elaborate on it.

Among all field creation tools Right PDF provides, only Combo Box and Text Box can perform text field values calculation. For more information, see Calculate field data.

To add a text field

1. Open a PDF and choose Form > Form > Text Field .

2. On the page, drag a rectangle where you want the field to appear.

3. To call out the Text Field Properties dialog box, do either of the following:

• • The dialog box appears automatically right after the field is created.

  • On the Sidebar Navigation pane or choose Basic > Basic Tools, click Select and use it to double-click the field.

4. In General, name the field and set its text field attributes. To make it a required item, check Required at the bottom. You can then use Highlight Fields to outline the required item to draw more attention to it. See Form preferences.

5. In Options, edit the following settings:

• • In Alignment, select one text alignment item among Left, Center, and

  • In Default Value, enter text that will appear in the text field when the user first opens the file. You can use this to suggest the format you want (e.g., Last name, First name, SSN) and then set the default text attributes through the options beneath the Default Value

    • Multi-line. Move the text down to the next line when it reaches the end of the text box.

Multi-line deselected. (Left)  Multi-line and Scroll long text selected. (Right)

• • • Scroll long text. Allow scrolling text if the entry exceeds the visible area of the text field.

    • Limit of __ characters. Enter the number of characters to limit the length of entries.

    • Password. Make all user-entered text a series of asterisks (*). This option is not available when Multi-line is selected.

    • Comb of ___ characters. Evenly spread all user-entered text across the width of the text field. For example, if you enter 5, the field is evenly divided into 5 boxes with only one character allowed to be entered into each box. This option is available only when no other checkbox is selected.

Two text fields with comb of 4 characters of each (Left) A text field without the comb property (Right)

6. In Format, None is set as default so the input does not require any specific formatting. To constrain input formatting, choose an option from the list of formats. See Form field properties.

7. Click the Validate Restrict entries to specified ranges, characters, or values.

• • Validate field value. Check to turn on validation.

  • Field value is From ____ To _____. Set a numeric range for form fields. This option is available only when you select Number in Format

  • Run custom validation script. Validate using the JavaScript you create or provide. Click Edit… to create and edit JavaScript.

8. In Calculate, select a calculation method from the drop-down menu. Use the selected calculation method to perform mathematical operations on the existing form field entries and display the result.