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Known Participant
September 13, 2023
Question

Acrobat Prepare Form Help Instructional Text If Left Alone Should NOT Print

  • September 13, 2023
  • 1 reply
  • 1472 views

Good afternoon,

 

I am using the prepare form tool in acrobat.  Obviously I am a beginner,  I want the field text box to display instructional text, however if the user leaves the box untouched, I do NOT want the instructional text to print I want it to be blank.  I want this for two reasons, sometimes we print this form and fill it out by hand so we need the boxes if untouched to NOT print.  However if we enter data into the box, we want it to print.  Can anyone help me with this function?  I have attempted to decipher javascript but I am having difficulty.  If there is a SPECIFIC set of steps I can take to make this program do precisely what I am asking, please let me know where I can find them or if anyone knows what to do and would be willing to provide them, I would be so appreciative I will donate $25 to a charity of your choosing. 

 

I have asked about this function before and I just can't seem to get it right.

 

I appreciate your time, patience and attention to this matter.  I just want to stop being embarassed in the presence of my colleagues and supervisors because this form works at the beginning after I adjust it according to the advice given but then there is an eventual snag and something that used to work doesn't or now something doesn't work if this and that happen and the document becomes unusable, the person trying to use it is frustrated, and that frustration, rightfully so, is redirected at me.  

 

Thank you,

 

J

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1 reply

johnsboxAuthor
Known Participant
September 14, 2023

I have been directed to this post more than once before.  I even read it and attempted implementing it before I ever posted here.  The problem is, these formulas get me the instructional text, but then when you tab out of the box the data entered is no longer displayed on screen and it reverts back to the instructional text.  Or, the instructional text prints if you don't enter anything in the box.  Or the entered text displays on screen but does not print. 

 

I want the entire form, if printed with no information entered to NOT print the instructional text and leave a blank space as if there is no field text box.  However, if text is entered into the field text box, I would like the instructional text to disappear, stay that way, and only the entered text to display on screen as well as when printed.  I never want the instructional text.  I attached pictures of my setup.

johnsboxAuthor
Known Participant
September 14, 2023

***ERROR CORRECTION***

In the last line of the last paragraph it says:

 

"I never want the instructional text."


It should read:

 

"I never want the instructional text to print."

 

Sorry for the error. 😞