Change form fields to auto size text

[kyla_1381]

Prior to the latest update, my form fields would auto resize the text.

I have had these same forms for years.

Now all the fields default to scrolling & when I print the forms the text in the fields is cut off.

How do I change this back to auto size?

Also, cannot find how to change just the one field manually.

If anyone from Adobe is reading these posts, this default change is unacceptable & changing font sizes should be made much simpler

[Amal. · Accepted solution]

Hi there,

Hope you're doing well, and thank you for reaching out.

To set the font size to auto in your PDF form using Adobe Acrobat, please follow the steps below:

1. Open the PDF file in Adobe Acrobat (not Reader).

2. Go to the “Tools” section and select “Prepare Form.”

3. Double-click on the text field you want to modify. This will open the Text Field Properties dialog box.

4. In the “Appearance” tab, locate the Font Size setting.

5. From the dropdown, select “Auto” to allow the font size to adjust automatically based on the amount of text entered.

This setting helps ensure that the entered text fits neatly within the field, especially when the content varies in length.

Let us know how it goes.

[kyla_1381]

Thanks that worked well.

Is there a way to apply to all fields without changing each individually?

[Dave Creamer of IDEAS]

Select like fields and right-click on them to select Properties.

[Dave Creamer of IDEAS]

Are you saying an _existing_ form has changed? Or just the settings for new forms?

If the latter, simply right-click on a field set up exactly how you would like it and select "Use Current Properties as the New Default". This will extend to other files for _new_ fields. 

[kyla_1381]

The settings on an existing form changed

[Dave Creamer of IDEAS]

I've never seen that happen. I just opened an old form on my system and it wasn't affected. Can you check the creation and modification date of your form to see if it matches your expectations?

[kyla_1381]

Creation date is 06/22/2022

Modified 4/15/2025

[Dave Creamer of IDEAS]

What was the changed yesterday? Were you changing the fields or did you close the document and not save?

[kyla_1381]

Used it to output a new document & saved when closing

[Dave Creamer of IDEAS]

Do you have a "clean" copy? Before your update?

[Nuno Andre]

I'm sorry to jump in. I have the opposite problem. I prepared a form and set the same specific size and font for every text box. However, when I test it by filling it out, the font size varies, even though all the text boxes are configured identically.

I would appreciate any assistance in resolving this problem. Thank you.

Using Adobe Acrobat Pro on a MacAir - OS Sequoia 15.4.1 

[Dave Creamer of IDEAS]

Can you upload a sample PDF?

[Nuno Andre]

As previously stated, all text boxes are set to Helvetica, size 8. However, I've noticed that when I test the document in Preview or any PDF reader other than those from Adobe and fill in the text boxes, the text sizes appear inconsistent and different from the customized option defined.
I'm unsure what I'm doing wrong because this is the second time I've encountered this issue. I've tried different approaches:
First, I created text boxes individually and checked the field properties to see if that would solve the problem. On another occasion, I duplicated a text box that was working correctly, but upon testing again, the text sizes were still random.

I'm not sure what to do next, and whenever I look for solutions online, they don't seem to address my specific issue, so thank you in advance for all your trouble and help.

[JR Boulay]

"As previously stated, all text boxes are set to Helvetica, size 8"

No, in your PDF some uses size 8 but most of them uses size 12

[Dave Creamer of IDEAS]

Yes, I noticed that too, but wrote it off as a typo/mistake.

[Nuno Andre]

That is bizarre! I'm attaching a print screen, please check it out, in my computer the sizes are all 8. 

[Dave Creamer of IDEAS]

Why do you think it is an Acrobat problem? Preview is notorious for rending bad PDFs.  I suspect it's the readers not honoring the settings. Can you provide some product names? I tested Preview and it difinitely had a problem. 

[Nuno Andre]

I only use Preview, but I tried it on other computers with different programs (Foxit and Kdan) and had the same issues. I don't know what is happening because, as I said in another post above, the sizes of all text boxes are all Helvetica 8 on my computer.  I think I'm going to try another version or a different computer. All my apps are up-to-date, so I don't know what is going on.

Again, thank you for your help. 

[Dave Creamer of IDEAS]

You have different font sizes in your PDF--some 12 and some 8 pt. Try selecting one field at a time. 

I colored the 8 pt fields in red.

[Nuno Andre]

So weird. On my computer, every single one is size 8 Helvetica. 
I'm reinstalling all the Adobe apps because I'm also having issues with After Effects.  OS is up to date. I will use another computer since I don't know what to do. 
Dave, thank you very much for all your help. So sorry to give you all this trouble. 
Obrigado!

[Dave Creamer of IDEAS]

1. Uninstall with the Creative Cloud app. 
2. Sign out of the CC app.
3. Uninstall the CC app. 
4. Use the Adobe CC Cleaner app to remove any other traces.
   • Edit: Look inside your Library folders to remove any Adobe-related folders. 
5. Download a clean copy of the Creative Cloud app.
6. Install and sign in.
7. Install Acrobat and test again. 

It was no trouble at all. It's what I live for! Kidding aside, it's what we are here for...

[Dave Creamer of IDEAS]

I would not use Preview for anything but raster images, not for PDFs. 

I installed the Foxit reader and it rendered the font sizes correctly based on their actual sizes (12 and 8 pt). 

[JR Boulay]

As its name suggests, Preview is a preview software.
It lets you preview a wide range of file types: PSD, XLSX, DOCX, PPTX, PDF, etc.
But don't expect to find in Preview the same functions as in Photoshop, Excel, Word, Powerpoint or Acrobat...

[Nuno Andre]

I appreciate your input, but I use the same tools I know others use. In this particular case, I knew the form would be used by people who use Preview. Preview works for them, so I do not judge or criticize their choices; I will always try to make it easier for them to work.