Is there an alternative to clicking the right mouse button?

[scotwllm]

I have to add "Master." to the beginning of a whole bunch of form field names. To change a form field name, you have to activate the Prepare Form tool, right click on the form field name to be renamed, choose Rename, press Home to move the cursor to the beginning of the form field name, Ctrl-V to past in "Master." and then Tab to highlight the next form field.

At this point I have to take my right hand off the keyboard, grab the mouse and right click to get to the Rename option, then move my hand back to the keyboard, re-orient my fingers and start over. If there were only a few it wouldn't be a big deal, but I've got a whole lot of them and I'm really lazy.

I tried Shft-F10, and that doesn't work.

Any ideas?

[try67]

No, there's no easier way of renaming fields in a PDF file, unfortunately.

That is why I've developed several paid-for tools (some stand-alone, others scripts that run within Acrobat) that do it for you.

You can find them here: Custom-made Adobe Scripts: Easily Rename PDF Fields

Note, though, that the script version causes some information loss (such as actions associated with the fields, events, etc.).

[scotwllm]

Which of them could simply prepend "Master." (Master + period) to the form field names? For example, change a form field named "Foo" to "Master.Foo".

That's all I need to do.

[try67]

All of them can do it. Contact me privately [try6767 at gmail.com] to discuss it further, please.

[Test Screen Name]

25 years ago, Microsoft added a button to the keyboard, which to this day 99% of people don't understand, just as few people these days even use keyboard shortcuts like Ctrl+V. The menu button, next to the right Ctrl key, is a substitute for right click. You don't have to touch the mouse to rename a whole bunch of fields at all.

[scotwllm]

Thank you. That button doesn't work though when in Prepare Form mode.

[Test Screen Name]

The button works for me (Acrobat DC, Windows 10) and I was able to rename several field with keyboard only.

[scotwllm]

I think it might be because my mouse, although it is Windows 10 compatible, is not Windows 10 supported. I did not previously realize there is a distinction. I found out when I tried to download and install the Macro Editor in the Microsoft Mouse and Keyboard Center and couldn't find my mouse or keyboard on the Microsoft-supported lists. I ordered a new Microsoft-supported keyboard and mouse, so I'll know for sure tomorrow.

[try67]

I doubt it. This function has nothing to do with the actual physical mouse.

[Test Screen Name]

You can check whether your menu button works in other apps. It should.

[scotwllm]

I tried doing this another way. I selected the actual form field on the page, and when I do that the menu button works (thanks, Test Screen Name!), and I can select Rename and make the change to the form field name.

But then I'm stuck with the All Properties dialog box open and I can't move to the next form field.

Arrrrgggghhhh...

[try67]

Does it not work for you in the Fields List panel? For me it works just fine. I click the first field, then the Right-Click key, then Rename (or just R), enter new name, Enter, then Arrow Down, and repeat.

[scotwllm]

It works fine that way, but I don’t want to take my hand off of the keyboard because reaching for the mouse, clicking, and re-orienting my hand on the keyboard slows me down. I’ve got hundreds of field names to change. And ADHD. And I’m extremely lazy.

Get Outlook for iOS

[try67]

By "Right-Click Key" I meant the one on the keyboard (see: https://i.stack.imgur.com/uRuVk.jpg , for example), not the mouse key. Sorry if that wasn't clear.

[Test Screen Name]

We are not reaching for the mouse. Except for clicking on the first field in the list, I do not touch the mouse. As try67 says "Right-Click key, then Rename (or just R), enter new name, Enter, then Arrow Down, and repeat." At what point are you needing to touch the mouse?

[scotwllm · Accepted solution]

Many thanks to Test Screen Name and try67, whose combined contributions solved my problem. Here is how it is resolved:

PART 1 -- SETUP:

Open form in Acrobat

Activate Prepare Form

Right-click first item in Fields List Panel

R(ename)

Home (function Home/left arrow on my keyboard)

Type in text to add to the beginning of field name

Copy to clipboard

Enter

PART 2 -- REPEAT FOLLOWING UNTIL JOB COMPLETED:

Press Keyboard context menu key / aka "Right-Click Key" (on my keyboard, FN-Ctrl)

R(ename)

Home

Paste (Ctrl-V)

Enter

My new Windows-supported keyboard and mouse just arrived. After they are installed I will create a Windows macro to turn PART 2 into a single stroke macro.

[scotwllm]

I want to give Test Screen Name and try67 the credit for the correct answer. The forum won't let me do that, so I am marking my last post as the correct answer just so someone looking for the answer to the question will find it quickly.