How do you uncheck a check box?

[roninrr1]

I have an interactive form downloaded from a bank -- and the form has a lot of Yes & No check-boxes.

I don't know if this is typical, but whenever I click on a box to get it filled in, I cannot figure out how to clear that box.  I can check another box and that works fine, but just can't clear (uncheck) a box I have already checked (other than an undo).

But undo's are not good if you decide later on, while filling out the form, that you want/need to in-check the box.

ron in round rock

[George_Johnson · Accepted solution]

It sounds like they are radio buttons, not check boxes. Radio buttons cannot normally be deselected so that none in the group is selected, and they can be set up to look like a typical check box (square) instead of a typical radio button (circular).

[roninrr1]

George- Thanks for the help.  Yes, they may very well be Radio buttons, since that is the way they seem to operate.  Some places in the form have several choices, but they just want you to select one -- but most of the check boxes are just Yes / No answers.

But the form is complicated (already kicked back once) -- and my problem is, what if I mistakenly click on the wrong check box and I want to take it back (like answer a question on the form, someplace on the form that does not apply - like mistakenly answering a question in the citizenship and Resident Alien section) -- I think you can understand the situation.

Anyway, are you saying there is no way to clear the check box, once it has been checked?

ron in round rock

[George_Johnson]

Yes, it sounds like it wasn't designed well, so you're stuck with what you have. You'll just have to be careful.

[roninrr1]

George-

OK, thanks.  I take it that your "Yes" was not only acknowledging that the form was not well-designed, but also by "Yes", you are also saying there is no way to clear the check box if the Yes/No answers to questions were implemented in the document as Radio buttons.

Radio buttons are great for "must answer" questions, but not so great in a lot of other cases, like the ones I have mentioned.  And my criticism still stands --- sound like a little bit of short-coming in Adobe Acrobat's design not to take this situation into account.

I will mark your first response as "Correct Answer", assuming that there is no fix for this issue (Bad Adobe).

Thanks for the help.

ron in round rock

[try67]

It's possible to clear the value of a radio-button group using a simple script, without clearing the entire form.

And as mentioned, this is by design, it's not a mistake. And you'll see the same thing in any other application/web-site that uses radio-buttons.

[PulseFunk]

Well, what's the point of making it "by design?" To me it seems awfully unconventional. 

[try67]

That's how radio-buttons work, in any applicaiton, even if it's not to your liking.

[TSolari]

I disagree, I have been a form builder for many years. InfoPath for example gave you the option to "clear" selections from radio buttons and to mark one by default. You can have the form loaded with NO option selected and then get prompted when a radio button was left "blank". I agree with the original submitter, this is bad on Adobe's part for not having an option for this.

[TSolari]

I found an option, you exit "Form Editing", then under "Forms" you will see an option the says "Clear Form". This will remove ALL entered options to include Radio Buttons. Hope this helps

[DNCLLC]

FYI - Just in case someone else is having an issue finding "under Forms" as listed above, I had to type "clear form" in the search window on the side of the PDF document. This gave me an option to clear the form that was easy to select and worked.

[William5FAC]

These are not Radio Buttons if they can be left blank, which is the case. You can complete the form without checking either of the boxes, but once you check one you can only change to check another, not uncheck the one. This is clearly a defect and should be addressed.

[Catherine5C2A]

You can add a "Clear Form" button to restore the radio buttons and other fields to an original state as desired. It is an option under the button item. After the button has been added to the page, select the action on the Actions tab of the Button Properties. To customize, select Add... after selecting the Reset a Form action and select/unselect the fields to reset. Don't forget to add a label on the Options tab or your button will be blank.