Show Default Value in Text Field Until User Inputs Data

Finally got it. I was trying to use the scripts I've seen for the entire form. I didn't know you had to set actions for the form fields.

I'm going to break it down for the new users (like myself).

- Add a text field to your form

- View the text field's properties

- Under the Options tab, enter the default text that you want to be displayed

- Under the actions tab, select trigger On Focus, select action Run a JavaScript, click Add...

- Paste the following:

if(event.target.value==event.target.defaultValue)event.target.value="";

- Same steps but now under On Blur instead of On Focus, select action Run a JavaScript, click Add...

- Paste the following:

if(event.target.value=="")event.target.value=event.target.defaultValue;

Is it possible to have this script work on a text box with the "multiple lines" option selected? Mine doesn't work if it is a large text field with multiple lines option.

Can i use a hex code for the color instead of "color.red" or "color.ltgray"? What would the code be?

This did not work for me. I have Build: 19.21.20061.361316

I added both of these lines in the actions menu and when I click on the box nothing changes, the default value shows and has to be deleted before I can enter text. 

Any ideas?

It almost works!

There appears one problem:

When opening the file the default text is shown. Clicking into the text field deletes the defualt text and allows me to type in my own text. Leaving the field with the mouse cursor results in showing my own text in the text field. Everything fine so far.

BUT: When clicking into the field again, my previous individual/ own text will be deleted! What means: If I click again into the filled field and decide that i don't want to change anything - my previously entered text it gone, deleted. How can I fix it?

Best wishes

Remove that script from wherever you placed it and use the following custom Format script:

// Custom Format script for text field

if (!event.value) {

    event.value = "Your text goes here";

    event.target.display = display.noPrint;

} else {

    event.target.display = display.visible;

}

Not an answer, but a similar question:

Per the Acrobat User Guide, and in previous versions of Acrobat, the Text Field Default Value could be defined in Properties: Options: Default Value. However, it is not working for me. I only get a Default Value of "0". I want my Default Value to be something like: "Enter Name" that goes away when the user clicks in the field.

I tried a script similar to that posted by OP.

Tooltip works fine.

Acrobat Pro DC on Windows 10.

Text Fields

Text fields accept user input, which can be alphabetic characters, numbers, or both.

     Default Value

Specifies the text that appears until the user overwrites it by typing in the field. Enter the default value by typing in this option.