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Kore_Group
Known Participant
February 18, 2017
Question

Can't check multiple checkboxes in ID form

  • February 18, 2017
  • 9 replies
  • 9540 views

I'm trying to create a ID form with 6 checkboxes. Problem is, when I export an interactive pdf, the checkboxes act like radio buttons ie, I can't check more than one box. I did the obvious and made sure each box has a unique name - they do - but I still have an issue. The form also has radio buttons, and those act as expected.

I thought a simple workaround would be to open the pdf in Acrobat DC and just add the checkboxes there. Here's the weird thing, it happens in that program too. Even with different names, the boxes act like radio buttons in Acrobat.

Anyone have a clue what's going on?

    This topic has been closed for replies.

    9 replies

    E
    Edwardsmithcreative
    New Participant
    May 10, 2023

    Did you ever get this resolved?

     

      L
      Laubender
      Adobe Expert
      February 22, 2022

      Hi defaultptpwf5iwnfr3 and joep94083698,

      this thread began in Febuary 17, 2017.

       

      Now, five years later, what issue do you still see with the current versions of InDesign 2022 and Acrobat Pro DC?

       

      We need sample documents to discuss the problems.

       

      Thanks,
      Uwe Laubender

      ( ACP )

        D
        defaultptpwf5iwnfr3
        New Participant
        February 2, 2022

        This video takes you through the solution!!

        There needs to be a non button box behind the checkbox, and they all need to be set to 'on click'

         

        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=joJfbUC1gdI 

        J
        joep94083698
        Participating Frequently
        February 22, 2022

        Negative.  This does not resolve the problem at all.  This may be an issue with Acrobat. 

        Barb Binder
        Barb Binder
        Adobe Expert
        February 20, 2017

        I'm thinking you should ask this question over on the PDF Forms forum. It would be awesome if you can come back and let us know what you discover. I used/taught Acrobat forms forever and I've sure never seen it.

        K
        Kore_GroupAuthor
        Known Participant
        February 20, 2017

        It does seem to be an Acrobat issue, not InDesign. I posted the question in the Acrobat forum so we'll see what happens. I've already spent an hour with tech support and they don't know what's going on.

        Barb Binder
        Barb Binder
        Adobe Expert
        February 20, 2017

        Yours work correctly.

        K
        Kore_GroupAuthor
        Known Participant
        February 20, 2017

        Arg. What's happening on my end then?

        I'm running Acrobat Pro 2015.023.20056 and InDesign 2017.0. The only difference I see from BarbBinder is I'm on a PC.

        I might have to contact Adobe support to straighten this out.

        L
        Laubender
        Adobe Expert
        February 20, 2017

        Hi Kore_Group,

        hm. Downloaded and tested your sample on OSX 10.10.5 and it is working as expected.

        Just like Barb…

        Adobe Reader DC 2015.23.20056.

        Acrobat Pro DC 2015.23.20056.

        CC subscription model.

        Not the perpetual one.

        Regards,
        Uwe

        J
        Jeffrey_Smith
        Adobe Expert
        February 20, 2017

        When you create and add the check boxes in Acrobat, are you sure you are not creating additional options for the existing Radio Buttons? To verify whether there are separate radio and checkbox fields, view the Field List.

        K
        Kore_GroupAuthor
        Known Participant
        February 20, 2017

        I tested that by adding two new check boxes to a blank pdf. The only items in the Fields list were Check Box1 and Check Box2. Same result. I can't check them both at the same time.

        J
        Jeffrey_Smith
        Adobe Expert
        February 20, 2017

        Can you post the problematic test PDF?

        Barb Binder
        Barb Binder
        Adobe Expert
        February 20, 2017

        Will you share a couple of screen shots? We may as well start in InDesign to see if we can fix it there, and if not, we can move on to Acrobat.

        Show the frame selected and the Buttons & Forms panel open for two (or three) of the misbehaving checkboxes.

        macpawel
        macpawel
        Participating Frequently
        February 20, 2017

        Check boxex can't use the same name - please check it. If you copied tchem it's easy to make mistake

        Pawel

        L
        Laubender
        Adobe Expert
        February 20, 2017

        Hi Pawel,

        they can use the same base name.

        But with CC 2015.4 and CC 2017 there is a problem. Read on here for details:

        Re: Check boxes disappear on export to interactive PDF. Is this happening to anyone else?

        With CC 2015.3 and before it is working as expected.

        Example:

        Base name Check with a group of e.g. 4 check boxes should result after PDF Export to:

        Check#0

        Check#1

        Check#2

        Check#3

        But with CC 2015.4 and CC 2017 the result is this:

        Check1

        Check2

        Check3

        Check4

        A bug that I reported, is acknowledged and still not resolved.

        Regards,
        Uwe

        L
        Laubender
        Adobe Expert
        February 18, 2017

        Hi,

        what is your exact version of InDesign you are seeing this? On what OS?


        There are some bugs with formfields that were introduced with InDesign CC 2015.4.

        If you are seeing this with CC 2017 you could install CC 2015.3—not CC 2015.4—side by side with CC 2017 and work from CC 2015.3.

        If you are using InDesign CC 2015.4 you could uninstall CC 2015 and re-install CC 2015.0 to CC 2015.3 and work from that.

        Read the following thread here in this forum:

        Check boxes disappear on export to interactive PDF. Is this happening to anyone else?

        Here my answer in the same thread with installer links for CC 2015.0 and CC 2015.3:

        Re: Check boxes disappear on export to interactive PDF. Is this happening to anyone else?

        Some other links to threads that discuss the issues as well:

        Has the ability to have multiple fields with the same name been removed?

        Linking Checkboxes to "mark" at the same time

        Regards,
        Uwe

          Willi Adelberger
          Willi Adelberger
          Adobe Expert
          February 18, 2017

          As it is happening with Acrobat made check boxes too I suppose the problem is withing Acrobat, not InDesign. Did you try to reset preferences in Acrobat?

          K
          Kore_GroupAuthor
          Known Participant
          February 20, 2017

          Good suggestion, but no luck. The problem is still there.

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