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beckyt11764922
beckyt11764922
Participant
November 30, 2017
Answered

Can't edit fillable fields

  • November 30, 2017
  • 2 replies
  • 53062 views

Good Afternoon,

I am trying to edit a PDF document that was converted to a fillable form but when I click on Edit PDF, it does not allow me to edit the boxes in blue below.  Does anyone else have this problem?  It only allows the bounding boxes on the left to be edited.  It does not open up the right.

Thank you, I am not an expert in adobe and any help will be much appreciated. 

Correct answer Thom Parker

Are you filling in form fields, trying to modify a fillable form field, or editing page text?  

It sounds like you are trying to modify a form field. In this case you need to go to Form Preparation mode.  Select Prepare Form from the the main Tools listing.

2 replies

J
JayHague
Participant
November 26, 2021

How did this fix let you change the font size of something you already typed into a "form field"?  This did absolutely nothing for me. How do you change the size of the font you are actually typing into the field?

Thom Parker
Community Expert
Thom ParkerCommunity Expert
Community Expert
November 27, 2021

For a plain text field, changing the text size from either JS or the "Prepare Form" UI will change the text size. But if the field is setup for Rich Text, then the size can only be changed from the "Text Properties" dialog or in JS through the "Spans" object. 

 

Thom Parker - Software Developer at PDFScriptingUse the Acrobat JavaScript Reference early and often
Thom Parker
Community Expert
Thom ParkerCommunity Expert
Community Expert
December 1, 2017

Do not use "Edit a PDF" to fill forms.

When you select "Edit PDF" tools in Acrobat Pro it puts acrobat into content editing mode. This is for modifying the text and graphics on the page, not the form fields. 

Put Acrobat back into normal mode, i.e. where the hand is the main cursor.  Then when the hand passes over a fillable field it changes to an i-beam or arrow cursor.  Then you can click on the field to enter data.

Thom Parker - Software Developer at PDFScriptingUse the Acrobat JavaScript Reference early and often
    Thom Parker
    Community Expert
    Thom ParkerCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
    Community Expert
    December 2, 2017

    Are you filling in form fields, trying to modify a fillable form field, or editing page text?  

    It sounds like you are trying to modify a form field. In this case you need to go to Form Preparation mode.  Select Prepare Form from the the main Tools listing.

    Thom Parker - Software Developer at PDFScriptingUse the Acrobat JavaScript Reference early and often
    cricket1001-2
    cricket1001-2
    Known Participant
    August 31, 2020

    Can you post a screenshot of the Security tab of the file, under File - Properties?


    I'm sorry it's been so long since I am replying to your trying to help me with this.

    Today while I was looking for that form inwhich to "post a screenshot of the Security tab of the file" I saw a form log which had the person's name who first created the form.  It was our D/C who is in the same office as me.  So I asked him about the form.  He created the form in Word 5 years ago and saved as a pdf so nobody could edit it.  But he was able to edit the form in Word and re-save it as a pdf.  So the problem is taken care of.  Thanks for your help!!!!

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