Skip to main content
Participant
May 1, 2025
Answered

Calculation fields not allowing selection of any fields or javascript

  • May 1, 2025
  • 2 replies
  • 835 views

Hi,

 

When I try to set up a calculation field in Acrobat, it will not let me do anything. Fields can be selected, but when you click "OK" and the dialogue boxes close, no fields are retained as selected.

 

The same happens when trying to fill in simple or full Javascript. When you click "OK," the field returns to being empty, and in these cases, the "simplified field notation" option is unselected and switched to "value is not calculated."

 

I have tried multiple PDFs exported from InDesign as both Interactive and Print PDFs. I also made a PDF directly in Acrobat as a test.

 

All failed.

 

Is this a known bug? Is anyone else having this? I saw one other post from a few weeks ago, but the solution suggested was to use Windows troubleshooter to maximise compatibility (I tried it, but it doesn't work).

 

Windows 11. 24H2 26100.3775
Acrobat Pro 2025.001.20435

Correct answer PDF Automation Station

Select the field properties from the field itself, NOT from the field panel.

2 replies

ls_rbls
Community Expert
Community Expert
May 1, 2025

Is this happening on both macOS and Microsoft Windows computers?

 

If you are on Micrososft Windows, what happens if you repair the installation?

 

If on macOS, what happens if you uninstall/reinstall Acrobat?

PDF Automation Station
Community Expert
Community Expert
May 1, 2025

Select the field properties from the field itself, NOT from the field panel.

try67
Community Expert
Community Expert
May 1, 2025

It should work either way. Is this an issue with the new UI? Wouldn't surprise me...

PDF Automation Station
Community Expert
Community Expert
May 1, 2025

I've seen this question come up on here multiple times over the past few months with no solution.  @Nesa Nurani solved it in a post a few weeks ago but I can't find the post to link to.  When I saw her solution I tested it with the old UI and it wouldn't hold any calculations or scripts when accessing the properties from the field panel, only from the field directly.  It never happened to me because I never access the properties from the panel so I don't know if this is a new issue or if it has always been that way.