These forums are now Read Only. If you have an Acrobat question, ask questions and get help from one of our experts.

Creating Editable Text Field

rivergirl43
Registered: Dec 4 2008
Posts: 1

Wondering if anyone has a good solution to this:

I've created a graphic 'shell' for a client, an 11x17 doc that they run through their in-house laser with custom text for each client.

They'd now like to do the same thing (custom text on the shell for each client), but using a pdf that I've created in Acrobat 8.

I tried using Forms to create an editable text field, but am having trouble formatting the text. The copy is centered, not aligned at the top. I was able to make one line bold, but I have no idea how I made that dialogue box pop-up and I stupidly closed it before I was finished.

I thought I saw something about using Layers in InDesign (original doc was done in ID/CS3) and Acrobat being able to read that... but am not sure about that.

Anyone have some pointers here? Thanks very much!

dbaker
Expert
Registered: Feb 10 2006
Posts: 413
Hi there --

There are a few ways you could approach this. If your client plans to upgrade to InDesign CS4, they can generate a really slick mail merge from InDesign output directly to PDF.

Failing that, let's take a look at what you have so far. You have the form field in place already.

* Size the form field for an estimated amount of text your users will enter, and place it where you want the text to start at the top of the page.

* Double-click the field to open its properties dialog box.

* On the Appearance tab, check the settings for the font, etc. You should be able to define what you need there, although you can't assign a bold appearance--you'll need the bold font face, of course. Also, be sure to select a font size as the form field automatically adjusts text size otherwise.

* Click the Options tab. Choose a horizontal alignment. In order to have the space you need, click Multi-line and Scroll long text to accommodate the characters.

* Click Close.

Your field should now work as you intended.

donna.

A prolific author and writer of many Acrobat books, as well as books on graphic and Web design software.
Donna lives on a lakeshore in central Canada, where all manner of wildlife from muskrats to coyotes come to call.