How do I make the same properties edits to 150 text fields across 60 pages?

[Dreamfarm01]

Hi all,

I've searched here but not come up with an answer. I have exported an editable pdf with 60 pages and 150 text fields from InDesign. I need to make the same property edits to all of the boxes.

The changes are:

1. Have the default value as '?'
2. Change text colour.
3. Change text alignment to centre.
4. Change text to a portable font like Calibri.

Doing this for every page isn't an option as it's too time consuming. Is there a way to make this happen either straight out of InDesign (the fields are on the master pages) or make a single edit to all of the boxes in acrobat? Scripting is out of my depth if that is the answer.

Thanks in advance.

[Bevi Chagnon - PubCom.com]

<< Is there a way to make this happen either straight out of InDesign >>

Not at this time but possibly in the future. But I'd give it a try anyway because sometimes I'm surprised at what carries over into the PDF from InDesign forms.

<< make a single edit to all of the boxes in acrobat? >>

Open the forms editing mode in Acrobat and select all the form fields from the lower right list. Then open the Properties panel and make the changes.

This method works best when the selected fields are all the same kind, such as text fields.

[George_Johnson]

If you think you might be doing this type of thing with any frequency, it would be a good thing to consider using JavaScript to automate the process of customizing field properties and even actions (e.g., formats, validations, calculations, etc.) It will make the process much easier and reliable, and I'd say it's necessary if you're going to create the fields in InDesign. There are a number of previous discussions here that would be helpful, but if you have any questions about this approach, post again.

[try67 · Accepted solution]

There are a a couple of ways of doing it in Acrobat:

- Select all the fields you want to edit (either on the page or via the Field panel), right-click one of them, go to Properties and apply the changes.

- Use a script to set the fields' properties to the desired values.

I've developed a set of (paid-for) tools that use the latter approach, but don't require you to write any code yourself.

You simply select the fields from a list (or based on their page number, name, etc.), then select the properties you want to change, or the actions you want to set, and it processes all of them at once. You can find these tools here:

Custom-made Adobe Scripts: Acrobat -- Mass Edit Fields Properties

Custom-made Adobe Scripts: Acrobat -- Mass Edit Fields Actions

Custom-made Adobe Scripts: Acrobat -- Apply Format to Multiple Text Fields

However, I would recommend that if you're going to edit the fields in Acrobat that you don't create them in InDesign. I have noticed issues many times in the past with fields that were created in ID and could not be properly edited later on in Acrobat, due to some incompatibilities between the two applications.