To keep a form size manageable I allow the scrolling text option. However, when the form is submitted and approved with a digital signature I lock the fields as read-only (what use is a signed form that can be altered?). However, setting a field as read-only disables the scroll function, so the full content cannot actually be read any more.
In the absence of any other obvious place to grumble about this design, I'll do it here!
Feedback: Form usage with scrolling text
2007-12-18 04:39:10
2008-01-14 16:45:16
#2
Let me see if I can add a bit more to this thread.
You only have one choice to open up the list box and see the text that scrolls below the text frame. You must keep these fields unlocked when a form filler signs a form. You lock out all fields on your form and eliminate the List Boxes from the locked fields list. If you choose to lock all fields, you won't be able to see the scrolled text. It simply doesn't work.
Now, here's a bit of a kludgy way you can get around the problem if you don't want the form fillers to scroll the field contents but you want an administrator to be able to unlock the field.
Create a button in an official use only section of your form. When the form is signed you exclude the button from being locked. Add a JavaScript to the button to unlock the field by using a password. A script like the following will open a response dialog box prompting a user to enter a password. If the password is properly added to the response dialog box, the field is changed to unlock the Read Only switch. (note the password in the script below is password).
var f = this.getField("textField");
var cResponse = app.response({
cQuestion: "A password is required to change the contributions total. Please enter the access password",
cTitle: "Password to unlock fields"});
if (cResponse == "password") {
f.readonly = false;
}
else {
app.alert("You cannot edit this field.");
}
Of course you'd have to secure the file so form fillers couldn't edit the field properties.
Hope this helps,
ted
You only have one choice to open up the list box and see the text that scrolls below the text frame. You must keep these fields unlocked when a form filler signs a form. You lock out all fields on your form and eliminate the List Boxes from the locked fields list. If you choose to lock all fields, you won't be able to see the scrolled text. It simply doesn't work.
Now, here's a bit of a kludgy way you can get around the problem if you don't want the form fillers to scroll the field contents but you want an administrator to be able to unlock the field.
Create a button in an official use only section of your form. When the form is signed you exclude the button from being locked. Add a JavaScript to the button to unlock the field by using a password. A script like the following will open a response dialog box prompting a user to enter a password. If the password is properly added to the response dialog box, the field is changed to unlock the Read Only switch. (note the password in the script below is password).
var f = this.getField("textField");
var cResponse = app.response({
cQuestion: "A password is required to change the contributions total. Please enter the access password",
cTitle: "Password to unlock fields"});
if (cResponse == "password") {
f.readonly = false;
}
else {
app.alert("You cannot edit this field.");
}
Of course you'd have to secure the file so form fillers couldn't edit the field properties.
Hope this helps,
ted
2008-02-04 05:32:28
#3
Thanks for the responses guys.
I started with multi-line, but very occasionally folk need to add a real long list to a particular field, and even at half a page it would end up as 6-point or something crazy.
In my case I think Designer is the only way forward: The signature is by an Approver, not the submitter, so the document must not change after addition of provisos / approval, but needs to be read by anyone, not just admins.
I've just bought J.P.Terry's book on dynamic form design, so hopefully we'll soon be in business!
I started with multi-line, but very occasionally folk need to add a real long list to a particular field, and even at half a page it would end up as 6-point or something crazy.
In my case I think Designer is the only way forward: The signature is by an Approver, not the submitter, so the document must not change after addition of provisos / approval, but needs to be read by anyone, not just admins.
I've just bought J.P.Terry's book on dynamic form design, so hopefully we'll soon be in business!
2008-02-04 08:33:04
#4
CRIKEY!!
One of my form users has just blown all this out of the water.
Locked form fields CAN still be scrolled so long as the Select tool is active rather than the Hand tool. (before the fields are locked, the hand tool automatically changes to a Select I-bar when in form fields).
This only applies to v8. In v7 the Select tool doesn't allow scroll!
Not very user-friendly, but more logical than not working at all.
One of my form users has just blown all this out of the water.
Locked form fields CAN still be scrolled so long as the Select tool is active rather than the Hand tool. (before the fields are locked, the hand tool automatically changes to a Select I-bar when in form fields).
This only applies to v8. In v7 the Select tool doesn't allow scroll!
Not very user-friendly, but more logical than not working at all.
But here's what I do in Acrobat:
I create a text box that I estimate/or decide that should be big enough for a reasonable answer.
Then, I set the properties to Multi-line, but not scrolling. Works perfectly.
Most people are not going to write that much, anyway.
Hope that helps...
Acrobat is probably the program I use most often and I'm learning more every day.