Add an interactive text box with instructions to be overwritten

Forum|Forum|5 years ago
February 10, 2020
5 replies
15496 views

I am creating an interactive PDF form in InDesign and would like the text box to have instructions that are then overwritten. The text box should read [Instert Name of Training/Requirement]. Then when the user fills out the form this text will be overwritten with the correct information. I have a text box, with this text in it. It is set to a text button with the basic defaults. When I export to PDF the text box is blanc. I don't want to have these instructions remain on the form, and I don't want them to only appear on roll over or click.

Is there a way this can be done?

Latest version of InDesign.

Thanks

Correct answer JR Boulay

You cannot do it with InDesign but it's easy to do with Acrobat Pro, you just have to copy-paste 2x2 lines of JavaScript.

See this topic: https://community.adobe.com/t5/acrobat/show-default-value-in-text-field-until-user-inputs-data/m-p/10003538?page=1#M111304

JR Boulay

Adobe Expert

You can download the PDF here: https://documentcloud.adobe.com/link/track?uri=urn:aaid:scds:US:c01afee1-edb2-4e40-8778-51905941627c

Acrobate du PDF, InDesigner et Photoshopographe

paulc32409537

New Participant

I've just been making the interactive boxes and then adding the text to be overwritten to the PDF.

JR BoulayCorrect answer

Adobe Expert

You cannot do it with InDesign but it's easy to do with Acrobat Pro, you just have to copy-paste 2x2 lines of JavaScript.

See this topic: https://community.adobe.com/t5/acrobat/show-default-value-in-text-field-until-user-inputs-data/m-p/10003538?page=1#M111304

Acrobate du PDF, InDesigner et Photoshopographe

TᴀW

Brainiac

As Steve says, it cannot be done natively in InDesign.

However, with FormMaker (https://www.id-extras.com/products/formmaker/) you can add default text, and add a little script to make it disappear when the user types, all in InDesign.

For short forms, the free edition of FormMaker could work.

F

Foxi55

New Participant

Thanks for the hint. I'll give it a try and have a look if it works for my purposes.
But to be honest: This function is one of the most standard one when talking about forms - and InDesign doesn't have this feature? How long claims InDesign himself as market leader? Can't believe this.. or better: I don't won't to believe that Indesign is that kind of oldschool... but seems like this..