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A
AJLangtry
Participant
March 31, 2020
Answered

Creating flowing text in interactive pdf

  • March 31, 2020
  • 2 replies
  • 2639 views

Hi guys,

I'm wondering how to create flowing text in an interactive pdf. I want to be able to hit return to go to the next box wether that be a check box, radio button or a text field as I am creating a document to fill in online that contains all 3 styles. Can anyone tell me how best to do this? 🙂 thanks in advance.

This topic has been closed for replies.
Correct answer Bevi Chagnon - PubCom.com

Hi AJLangtry,

You're describing a PDF form's "Tab Order," where the user can tab from field to field in the correct, logical order.

This is a requirement for accessible PDF forms so that people who use assistive technologies (such as screen reader software by those who are blind) can navigate from field to field, but Tab Order also helps all users.

 

Control this in Acrobat's Form Editor tool by sequencing the form fields in the correct order in the form tree (the right-hand panel). On the right side, drag and drop the form fields into the correct tab order.

 

Learn more about how to do this while making accessible PDF forms in Adobe's free online seminar series at https://adobe.lookbookhq.com/acrobataccessibility 

It's an excellent series hosted by Adobe's Rob Haverty who is part of Adobe's accessibililty team.

 

2 replies

JonathanArias
JonathanArias
Legend
March 31, 2020

a floating text as in a popup?

A
AJLangtryAuthor
Participant
March 31, 2020

Hi Jonathan,

 

No, not a pop up. Essentially its for the end user to fill in a form with say for example

 

First Name:
Surname:
Date of birth:

 

And imagine beside each of these fields there is a text box they can fill in on a pdf. Once they input their first name, I want them to be able to hit enter/return, or whatever you want to call it, and go to the next text field, in this case their Surname and so on.

Dave Creamer of IDEAS
Community Expert
Dave Creamer of IDEASCommunity Expert
Community Expert
March 31, 2020

Tab is the standard keyboard input for this.

David Creamer: Community Expert (ACI and ACE 1995-2023)
    Dave Creamer of IDEAS
    Community Expert
    Dave Creamer of IDEASCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    March 31, 2020

    Can you clarify?

    >...how to create flowing text in an interactive pdf. I want to be able to hit return to go to the next box...

    To me, flowing text is a self-expanding text box; moving from box to box is an accessibility issue.

    Which one are you looking for?

     

    Also, this reads like an Acrobat issue, not InDesign.

    David Creamer: Community Expert (ACI and ACE 1995-2023)
    A
    AJLangtryAuthor
    Participant
    March 31, 2020

    Hi, 

     

    Thank you for replying. Maybe flowing text box isn't the right term. Bascially I want the user to be able to hit return to go to the next input field, is that something I have control over?

    JonathanArias
    JonathanArias
    Legend
    March 31, 2020

    that does exist, you use tab

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