Checkboxes for Forms

[creative-marketing]

Hi All,

I am having issues within ID when it comes to implementing checkboxes for forms that I am creating. I have numerous checkboxes, and then a text frame next to it with important text within the frame. The issue is that I am unable to place the text frame close to the checkbox unless I convert the checkbox into an object, which is not going to work for me since I need these checkboxes to be interactive. Anyone have any suggestions?

[creative-marketing]

EDIT: When I place a text frame filled with text, the text gets moved aside slightly but the borders of the text frame still move.

[Bevi Chagnon - PubCom.com]

creative-marketing​, can you give us a few more details?

• How are you making the checkboxes? Are you using a character/glyph on a font that looks like a checkbox? Or are you creating a small frame that will become a checkbox? Or are you making an interactive checkbox form field from InDesign's Buttons and Forms panel?

[creative-marketing]

Using the checkbox button from the button/forms panel.

[Barb Binder]

Hi creative-marketing:

Do you have text wrap on the frames? Or are the frames anchored? A screen shot with one of frames selected would be helpful.

I can put the checkboxes against the text frame edge—or even overlap the text frame—with no text or frame movement.

~Barb

[creative-marketing]

This is when I convert the buttons into an object, but then the buttons loose there PDF interactive function.

Then this happens when I make the buttons interactive, but you can see there are no text-wrap options selected for the text frame.

[Barb Binder]

Hi creative-marketing :

I certainly don't see text wrap boundaries. Are you comfortable sharing a page of the file? You can hover over my name above and message me a link to the file on dropbox (or other file sharing server). That may be quickest, at this point.

~Barb

[Bevi Chagnon - PubCom.com]

creative-marketing​, yes we can see the body text moves slightly to the right. Have never seen that before. Is there anything else in the layout that might be hidden underneath, like an invisible frame?

Also, are the pieces on different layers? If so, move them to one layer.

But this might be irrelevant.

The checkbox form fields must be anchored inside the frame with the body text in order to complete the form and end up with a workable PDF form. When you do that, the text alignment might snap into place.

Use either method described above to anchor them: drag the blue anchor square in front of its corresponding body text to create a custom anchor, or cut/paste it into place as an inline object.

Let us know how this works out.

[Bevi Chagnon - PubCom.com]

Not sure what is causing the movement in your form, but let's review the basics of form fields. It's best practice to have each form field anchored as an inline (or custom) object because this creates the correct tab order, reading order, and accessibility to make the form work correctly after it's export to PDF.

It's not wise to have form fields "loose" laid out on the pad.

Here's a form building technique we teach in our classes that gives fine control over the placement of the form fields within the text. Let us know if it corrects the problem you're having.

Step 1:

Get everything set up. Create the text frames to hold the form field labels and format the text as you want it to be.

Then create one frame that will become the master "checkbox form field." Resize it to fit your design.

Make sure that frame doesn't have any text wrap on it.

Step 2:

Convert the frame to an interactive checkbox form field:

Select it | Object Menu | Interactive | Convert to Check Box.

Step 3:

The results are shown below.

Not quite finished, but we're getting there.

Step 4:

Cut the new checkbox form field, and paste it as an inline anchored object either in front of or after the text label. (To do this, switch to the text tool, click an insertion point, and paste.)

Paste again for the remaining checkboxes.

You want all checkboxes either anchored inside the text frame as shown, or custom-anchored inside the text frame using the drag-the-blue-anchor method. Use whichever method works best for you, just as long as all checkboxes are anchored in the end. (Most times we prefer the inline method shown here because it is easier to adjust and design the form's layout, especially when editing or updating the form.)

Note that the checkbox form field must be separated from the text by some sort of white space: a regular spacebar, en-space, whatever fits your design. The spacebar below is highlighted in yellow.

Step 5:

Select each checkbox form field and adjust it vertically to fit your design.

And correct the form field's properties in the Buttons and Form panel.

Hope this helps!