Where did the "Highlight Existing Fields" button go (Acrobat DC)?

[sandys3333]

Where did the "Highlight Existing Fields" button go (Acrobat DC)?

[George_Johnson · Accepted solution]

Adobe removed the forms message bar, which is where the field highlighting toggle button was. It turns out that the following user preference works as a toggle as well despite the confusing description:

Edit > Preferences > Forms > Highlight Color > Show border hover color for fields

You can also toggle it with the following JavaScript:

app.runtimeHighlight = !app.runtimeHighlight;

You can add this to a custom menu item or toolbar button to provide an easier means to toggle it.

[sandys3333]

Thank you for your quick response. That's a bummer. I would like my customers to be able to easily see which fields they can fill, then toggle the highlight off so they can see what it looks like without it.

[George_Johnson]

You can add a button (or link, bookmark) to the form that runs the JavaScript code I posted earlier. You can also add a custom toolbar button to the form that does the same.

[sandys3333]

I will look into that. Thank you!

[michaelk56810153]

The form Javascript does work (highlights fields), but the folder-level/toolbar/menu option does not trigger after opening a document until clicking on a field (which is the reason for highlighting)

[barbara_a]

You can add a JavaScript that will highlight the form fields when your customers open your PDF, no matter what your customers preference settings happen to be.

Create a Document JavaScript as follows (the variable 'var' can be named anything you like):

var vh = app.runtimeHighlight ;
app.runtimeHighlight = true ;

[jay fresno]

Bad interface decision on Adobe's part.

[andrewc74267665]

I'm replying to this from 9 years into the future. 

1) you are absolutely right. 2) you should see what all they've done since!

[paul_inkit]

Right click on toolbar

select Customize Quick Tools...

under the Prepare Form dropdown, select More Form Options

click located to the right to add it to your custom menu

hit save

Now in your custom menu bar, click on the briefcase icon, and you can toggle Highlight Existing Fields

[tarekahf]

Edit 1: to add more details after verification.

Edit 2: correction...

Please check this form:

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/pdf/kits/forms/IMM5257E.pdf

Why the button "Highlight Existing Fields" is shown? How to make did they make it visible?

When I create a form using Adobe LiveCycle Designer, that button won't show? Why? but the highlight will work just fine?

So, the main question here is how to show that button on Adobe LiveCycle Forms which are Reader Enabled and rendered from the server?

Appreciate your help to clarify.

Tarek

[raeben1]

This is a serious accessibility issue.  If I can't see what field has focus I can click around with my mouse but Keyboard only users can't see where the form fields are even when they are "in focus".  They should not have to go to Preferences to turn this on and we should not have to add a Javascript to accomplish this --which some may consider a security risk and not allow!  What ARE you thinking Adobe?