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ben_daf_qld
Participant
April 1, 2025
Question

Fields Properties Unavailable Service Request# 5480399

  • April 1, 2025
  • 2 replies
  • 468 views

Hi Team, 


I am trying to edit fields in a PDF form using the Prepare Form function:

 

  1. The PDF form is a minimum 2-page/maximum 7-page document. I am trying to access the Properties of all of these fields to update the Options:

     

  2. I can successfully edit reqdept1 and reqdept2#1 accessing their Properties (right-click, Properties).
  3. I cannot edit reqdept3, reqdept4, reqdept5, reqdept6 – if I right-click these fields, no menu appears – which seems to be because looking at only 2 pages, the fields are hidden therefore the Properties can’t be accessed.
  4. reqdept3, reqdept4, reqdept5, reqdept6 will only display for editing if I 'click here to purchase another item':

     

  5. The form has the capability to purchase a minimum of 1 item up to a maximum of 6 items on 1 PDF form (pages 1-6 inclusive), with page 7 reserved for Requestor details and Financial Approval.
  6. As the form by default needs to be limited to the original/minimum 2 pages, I do not want to display the other 5 pages in order to edit the fields, otherwise the form will remain expanded (too many pages) and display information that isn’t required from the Requestor.
  7. I have tried adding the additional 5 pages, editing the fields, then deleting the additional pages, but if I do, the ‘Click here to purchase another item’ button disappears from the entire PDF (and prevents more than 1 purchase being requested).
    Does anyone have any suggestions?

2 replies

Thom Parker
Community Expert
Thom ParkerCommunity Expert
Community Expert
April 1, 2025

Another possibility is that the form fields are connected to an OCG (layer). If this is true, then turning the layer off disconnects the field widge from the AcroForm structure. This has the same effect as corrupting the field. 

If you post the form we could determine the specific issue. 

 

Thom Parker - Software Developer at PDFScriptingUse the Acrobat JavaScript Reference early and often
P
preethy_0189
Participant
April 1, 2025

Hi Tom,

These fields seem to be part of hidden pages in the attached form. I was able to access the field properties by manually enabling the pages through the 'Organize Pages' feature under 'More' > 'Page Templates.' Is this the correct approach for updating the fields? After modifying the field properties, I unchecked the template pages to keep them hidden. This method allows me to update the field properties, but I wanted to confirm if it's the right approach.

Thom Parker
Community Expert
Thom ParkerCommunity Expert
Community Expert
April 2, 2025

So you found the 3rd possibility, fields on hidden page template.  

And you have the correct method for changing them.  Unhide page, modify fields, hide page. 

 If the developer created a really complex form with scripts that do something when a page is made visible, then You have to be carful with making changes to the fields on the hidden pages, such as turning off JS before unhiding the pages.  

 

Thom Parker - Software Developer at PDFScriptingUse the Acrobat JavaScript Reference early and often
Thom Parker
Community Expert
Thom ParkerCommunity Expert
Community Expert
April 1, 2025

It sounds like the form field may be corrupted. Can you post the form for verification?

You may be able to access the fields though the "Select Object" tool. Use the tool search to find it.

Here's an article that will help:

http://pdfscripting.com/public/Editing-Fields-Properties.cfm#SelObj

If this tool does allow you to access the Properties dialog, then change the name of one of the fields. This may get Acrobat to fix the corrupted field. 

 

Thom Parker - Software Developer at PDFScriptingUse the Acrobat JavaScript Reference early and often
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