Pull down menu contained in an individual fillable form field

[L1011driver]

Thank you for any help.

I want to create a way to allow the user to select choices inside an individual form field in a fillable pdf.

For example:

The form field entry requires either an apple, an orange or a pear.

Is it possible to create a form field such that I can offer the user a choice of those three items rather than entering the choice on the keyboard?

I am thinking of something similar to a pull down menu with a list of choices but I can't seem to find a way to do that inside an individual form field using any onine resources.

Thank you for any ideas.

L1011driver@hotmail.com

[Nesa Nurani · Accepted solution]

Did you try dropdown field?

[L1011driver]

Thank you for this.

I took your suggestion and yes, it worked!

Thank you for helping a novice out.  Take care and stay safe.

[L1011driver]

Ms. Nurani,

Perhaps you might be able to help me do something else.

In my form I have a drop down list of inspector's names.  With each inspector there is a corresponding designation number that is to be entered in a separate form field.

Is there any way to "autopopulate" the designation number form field based on the inspector's name?

For example, Inspector Joe's designation number is 123.  Inspector Bill's designation number is 456.  Is there a way I can populate the designation number field based on the inspector's name chosen in the inspector's name drop-down menu?

Thank you for any kind assistance.

Sincerely,

Mark Barnard

[Nesa Nurani]

Add number as export value of dropdown choices (look at the photo)

Then let's say your text field is named "Designation Number" (change name to your actual text field name), go to dropdown field properties and click on 'Calculate' tab, now select 'Custom calculation script' and paste this inside:

this.getField("Designation Number").value = event.value;

[L1011driver]

Ms. Nurani,

Thank you for this.  It's not working for me.  Doubtless I'm doing something incorrectly.  Here are the steps I've taken:

1. My drop down field with the names is labeled "Inspector".  In this field I entered the inspector name and placed the inspector number in the "Export Value" box exactly as you describe in your picture above.  I checked "Commit selected value immediately".

2. My field that I want to auto populate with the corresponding inspector number is labeled "PEL Number".  I made this form field a drop down box as well and entered the syntax you provided in the "Calculate" tab just as you described.  I was careful to enter the correct form field name referencing the inspector names in the parentheses present in your formula.

Changing the inspector name using the pull-down menu did not result in the inspector number appearing in the form field.

I tried adding the inspector number to the pull-down tab and that had no result.

Perhaps the "PEL Number" tab should be a text field rather than a pull-down field? 

Thank you for any help you may be.

Sincerely,

Mark Barnard

[Nesa Nurani]

Don't use dropdown field for "PEL Number", use text field instead.

[L1011driver]

Dear Ms. Nurani,

Still no luck.

My "PEL Number" field is now a text field.  I entered the syntax from above in the "Calculate" tab of this field as you described.  No other values were entered into any tab on this field except the formula you provided. 

I did check my "Inspector" tab, and the Export Value changed when I changed inspector names and is correct.  "Commit selected value immediately" is checked in this field.

For some reason the Export Value isn't getting to the "PEL Number" text field.

Thank you for any suggestions you may have.  I appreciate your patience.

Sincerely,

Mark Barnard

[Bernd Alheit]

Use the script at Validate at the dropdown field.

[Nesa Nurani]

Did you put this in dropdown field as custom calculation script:
this.getField("PEL Number").value = event.value;

Can you share your file?

[L1011driver]

Dear Ms. Nurani,

I'm doing something wrong.

I'd be delighted to attach the file and allow you to look it over.  It's a long form used to evaluate simulator flight tests for pilots.

The first "Inspector" field is near the bottom of page 1 at the Name of Examiner ASIPEL or DCP item.

The second "Inspector" field and the "PEL Number" field are on page 5.  It was my intent for the "Inspector" field on page 5 to duplicate the "Inspector" field on page 1.

The fillable document does everything I want it to do except auto-fill the inspector number in the "PEL Number" field based on the inspector name chosen.

Thank you for any help you're willing to provide.

Sincerely,

Mark Barnard

[Nesa Nurani]

That's because you used dropdown field name instead of text field name in the script,

this.getField("Inspector").value = event.value;
you need to replace "Inspector" with "PEL Number", as I posted in my previous message.

[L1011driver]

Dear Ms. Nurami,

This worked perfectly.  Thank you ever so much!

If I may ask you a question?  How did you learn how to do this?  I am a retired airline pilot and I'm always looking for something new to learn.  It seems to me that yours is a very powerful skill to have.  Did you learn Javascript language through a course or a school, or did you learn through Adobe?  It can sure make Adobe forms a quite versatile and useful tool.  I'm amazed what Javascript can allow a fillable form to do.

Take care and stay safe.  Thank you again for all your help and your patience.

Sincerely,

Mark Barnard