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

Flowing table form troubles

Pbutche
Registered: Dec 10 2007
Posts: 3
Answered

I've been asked to create a form that will expand as needed, to document a collection of data. I've researched both the HELP contents, online forums, tutorials, etc. I've tried to utilize the available instructions to reproduce the affect I want. It seems that I've done everything correctly - but it isn't working. I'm hoping someone can see a blatant newbie mistake and point me in the right direction. Thank you!

My heirarchy looks like this:
form1
Master pages
Page 1
Untitled content Area
Table [i](OJBECT | SUBFORM Properties set to FLOWED | TOP TO BOTTOM)[/i]
Table 1
Header Row [i](TYPE = HEADER ROW, BINDING = Repeat Row for each data, by 1)[/i]
T+ (text) Cell1
..... repeat thru to Cell 7
Row1 [i](TYPE = BODY ROW, BINDING = Repeat row for each data, by 1)[/i]
DropDownlist 1
DropDownlist 2
Text 1.... (repeat thru text 7)
untitled subform (page1)

On the page, I have a table. 7 columns, two "rows". One row is the header row, the other is the body row. (so technically, there's only one "row" for data)

I've inserted two drop down menus and left the rest as text fields.

By everything I have read, I should be able to open this form and populate the row with data. But I cannot seem to get past the first row. I've been stuck with just one row and it never seems to expand. Should the table automatically "grow" or do I have to add a button to command it to insert a blank row? (if so, how?)

I would attach a copy of this form for review if I could.

Does anyone see anything blatantly wrong that I've missed?
OR, is there a form out there that I can download and review to reverse engineer the process and discover where I went wrong?
Or, is there a tutorial that will show me (very plainly) how to create a table -from scratch - and have it flow?

Thanks a bunch!

My Product Information:
LiveCycle Designer, Windows
suewhitehead
Registered: Jun 3 2008
Posts: 232
Here is my list of steps for setting up a dynamic form. You can check thru it to see if you missed anything, such as saving the form in the correct format.

These setup items are necessary to make a flowed (dynamic) form in LiveCycle Designer 8, which ships in Acrobat Professional 9.

1. Make the first (main) subform (re-named to P1) Flowed
 Go to Subform > Content > set to Flowed.
 Set to Flow Direction: Top to Bottom
 The other settings can stay in the default settings.

2. Save the form as “Adobe Dynamic XML Form(*.pdf)

3. All subforms will be Positioned, EXCEPT the one(s) you are making Dynamic.

4. The dynamic subform(s) should be set as Flowed, with Western Text to make the fields go across the page, or Top to Bottom to line up the fields vertically.

5. Turn on Repeat Subform on Binding tab.
 Put a check in the box by Repeat Subform for Each Data Item and set a minimum count based on how many fields you want to always show on the form and at opening of the form.

6. To make the scripting path easier, you can put all the subforms directly under P1.
 To make a subform, rt-click P1 on the Hierarchy view and go to Insert Subform. It will be placed as the bottom subform directly under P1.
 To move a subform to be directly under P1 in the Hierarchy view, drag the subform to P1 and drop it when P1 is highlighted. It will be placed as the bottom subform under P1.
 To reorder the subforms under P1 in the Hierarchy view, drag and drop until they are in the order you want.

You can also watch Thom Parker's video about making a dynamic form. It really helped me.
https://admin.adobe.acrobat.com/_a200985228/p87746471/

Also in the Forms Gallery I have a Purchase Order form that is dynamic that you can download for an example.
Pbutche
Registered: Dec 10 2007
Posts: 3
thank you. Giving me a copy to look at really helped me understand what I was doing wrong. I was operating under a misconception. Now I'm experimenting with a better understanding. :)