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Participant
March 6, 2025
Question

Button and forms option - interactive PDF

  • March 6, 2025
  • 3 replies
  • 516 views

Hello: 

I created a basic interactive element within InDesign using the "button and form" option. Essentially, I created 3 buttons with the idea the user would click a button and a popup window would appear and when they select X the popup dissapears. Once created I tested it using the EPUB interactivity preview and it worked however, when downloaded as an interactive PDF, it no longer works. Did I do something wrong? 

 

Thank you! 

3 replies

Dave Creamer of IDEAS
Community Expert
Community Expert
March 8, 2025

Here is an example of a button that shows a hidden, read-only text field (popup) and a checkbox. Clicking the checkbox hides itself and the popup. It would require the free Acrobat reader; will not work in Preview or most browsers. It did work in Chrome with Acrobat extension.

 

 

David Creamer: Community Expert (ACI and ACE 1995-2023)
Frans v.d. Geest
Community Expert
Community Expert
March 6, 2025

>I tested it using the EPUB interactivity preview

 

it says it all: 'EPUB preview', it is not called 'PDF preview'. Buttons, States etc. do NOT work in PDF.

Export it to Publish online instead maybe.

Participant
March 6, 2025

Thank you Frans:

The client I work for wants a PDF. If anyone has any work arounds, that would be great! 

Frans v.d. Geest
Community Expert
Community Expert
March 8, 2025

Educate your client.

James Gifford—NitroPress
Legend
March 6, 2025

What platform/reader did you use to test it? With few exceptions, interactive PDF features work on desktop Acrobat and nowhere else. Functionality on browser and mobile readers is minimal.

Participant
March 6, 2025

Hi James: 

 

Thanks for the reply. I used Adobe Desktop to test it and its not working 😕😕