Creating flowing text in interactive pdf

[AJLangtry]

Hi guys,

I'm wondering how to create flowing text in an interactive pdf. I want to be able to hit return to go to the next box wether that be a check box, radio button or a text field as I am creating a document to fill in online that contains all 3 styles. Can anyone tell me how best to do this? 🙂 thanks in advance.

[Dave Creamer of IDEAS]

Can you clarify?

>...how to create flowing text in an interactive pdf. I want to be able to hit return to go to the next box...

To me, flowing text is a self-expanding text box; moving from box to box is an accessibility issue.

Which one are you looking for?

Also, this reads like an Acrobat issue, not InDesign.

[AJLangtry]

Hi, 

Thank you for replying. Maybe flowing text box isn't the right term. Bascially I want the user to be able to hit return to go to the next input field, is that something I have control over?

[JonathanArias]

that does exist, you use tab

[JonathanArias]

a floating text as in a popup?

[AJLangtry]

Hi Jonathan,

No, not a pop up. Essentially its for the end user to fill in a form with say for example

First Name:
Surname:
Date of birth:

And imagine beside each of these fields there is a text box they can fill in on a pdf. Once they input their first name, I want them to be able to hit enter/return, or whatever you want to call it, and go to the next text field, in this case their Surname and so on.

[Dave Creamer of IDEAS · Accepted solution]

Tab is the standard keyboard input for this.

[Bevi Chagnon - PubCom.com · Accepted solution]

Hi AJLangtry,

You're describing a PDF form's "Tab Order," where the user can tab from field to field in the correct, logical order.

This is a requirement for accessible PDF forms so that people who use assistive technologies (such as screen reader software by those who are blind) can navigate from field to field, but Tab Order also helps all users.

Control this in Acrobat's Form Editor tool by sequencing the form fields in the correct order in the form tree (the right-hand panel). On the right side, drag and drop the form fields into the correct tab order.

Learn more about how to do this while making accessible PDF forms in Adobe's free online seminar series at https://adobe.lookbookhq.com/acrobataccessibility 

It's an excellent series hosted by Adobe's Rob Haverty who is part of Adobe's accessibililty team.