Adding check boxes to large PDF form

[john_2712]

Hi there, 

Im trying to automatically add check boxes to this form ive attached under the area it says pass using adobe acrobat pro, using prepare a form.

This is a form i use for work, and as of right now im expected to print this out and check off the pass line, then scan them and throw them away. Except i have 95 buildings, and that would be thousands of pages of wasted paper.

Im able to manually add check boxes, but adding 950+ check boxes is a monumental task, especially when i have almost 100 buildings to do this too.

Im trying to digitize this form so i can use it on my ipad and just check them off as i go along and send it to whoever needs it.

Is there an easier way to do this faster, or am i stuck doing it manually?

[PDF Automation Station]

You can write a script to add fields but it would probably be quicker to add the fields manually than to write, check, and run the script.  There are shorcuts.  The main shortcut is to create the first check box in the top position of each page, the right-click the field and select Create multiple copies.  This article, with video, demonstrates how to do this a part of what the article is about.

[john_2712]

unfortunately, theres over 900 check boxes to add, and across maybe 75-80 different building documents.

I have been able to add them using the create multiple copies function built into Adobe and theyre all unique names and all work individually on the first page, but when i try to duplicate them across all pages, it links them all together  but they still have unique names, and i cant get them to unlink.

[PDF Automation Station]

I'm not sure what you mean by "i try to duplicate them across all pages, it links them all together  but they still have unique names, and i cant get them to unlink".  Can you provide an example of what you mean by "links them all together" and what you like to see different?

[try67]

They probably used the Duplicate Across Pages command which creates exact copies of the field, including the field names, so they can't have unique values. The solution is to either create the fields using a script, or to rename them after the fact (again using a script, which needs to re-create them, as it can't directly rename them).

[PDF Automation Station]

I can write you an automation script for a fee.  If you are interested please contact me via private message.

[PDF Automation Station]

Thanks to @try67 I now understand what you did and what you mean.  If you have the document with the fields duplicated across all pages and you tell me the names of the fields on page 1 (example:  Checkbox.0 through Checkbox.35) I will provide a script here that you can run in the console and rename* all the fields so they function independently.  *Recreate new and delete old.

[JR Boulay]

You can use a script, but writing it is not an easy task.

[try67]

Since the locations of the check-boxes seem to be the same for each page, this can probably be achieved using a custom-made script that will add the check-boxes for you, using unique field names (so they are not copies of one another).

If you're interested in hiring a professional to create it for you, feel free to contact me privately by clicking my user-name and then on the blue "Message" button.