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How to pull data from a spreadsheet to create drop down list that then auto populates a text field

New Here ,
Jul 01, 2025 Jul 01, 2025

Hey, I have seen similar questions, but none seem to help me out here.
I have a spreadsheet with a column that I need to become a drop-down list, and then a second column that should populate when the corresponding item is selected.
I know how to do this in Sheets/excel, and the functions set up in a second sheet in the workbook would look something like this:
"=Sheet1!A1:A75" setting the array for the drop-down menu in A1

"=LOOKUP(A1,Sheet1!A:B)"  in A2 to display the second column of data corresponding to the item selected in the drop-down menu.
I just need this to be a PDF if possible. Thank you!

TOPICS
How to , JavaScript , PDF , PDF forms
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Community Expert ,
Jul 01, 2025 Jul 01, 2025

You can do it very easily using this (paid-for) tool I've developed:

https://www.try67.com/tool/acrobat-import-items-from-a-text-file-to-a-combo-box-or-list-field

To populate the selected value in another field is done using a simple calculation script, like this:

event.value = this.getField("DropdownFieldName").value;

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Community Expert ,
Jul 01, 2025 Jul 01, 2025
LATEST

Column A should be the display values of the dropdown and column B should be the export values of the dropdown.  Then you simply reference the value of the dropdown in the text field you want to populate.  If you want to save time on manual data entry, I developed a (paid-for) tool where simply copy and paste the Excel columns into a window and it fills the dropdown:

https://www.pdfautomationstation.com/products/item16.cfm

 

 

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