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The order of the fields is different in acrobat

Forum|Forum|7 years ago
November 14, 2018
4 replies
5581 views

This is really driving me crazy.

After creating form fields in InDesign, the tab order in acrobat is completely different.

I have tried diverse strategies: drawing the form fields in the right order (one after the other), converting them to form fields in the right order, putting the field layers into order ...

A glance at "Set Tab Order" shows that everything is in perfect order (textfield 1, textfield 2 ...) – but once exported to acrobat everything is shuffled.

I am about to create a document with 1200+ textfields. My client wants it be highly accessible - so the right tab order is mandatory.

The prospect of shoving 1200 text fields into the right position really turns me down. Especially because this is a function that should be possible to work automated (sort by number, from left to right, sort by whatever ).

Does anybody have an idea, that could help me? I did my tries with InDesign CC 2019.

Correct answer Colin Flashman

My preferred method to do this is to use the articles panel (available from the window menu).

The above screenshot shows a simple form I've used elsewhere and the tab order in which I would like the user to navigate through. To add items to the article panel, I drag and drop the relevant field into the articles panel from the page itself, and then when its item appears in the articles panel, I can then move it if it isn't in the appropriate position.

If it isn't already checked on, make sure to click the hamburger icon in the top right hand corner of the panel and select "Use for reading order in Tagged PDF".

Upon export of the file via interactive PDF, make sure the bottom right checkboxes (as highlighted in the next image) are checked on:

Just tested this in CC2019 and all good.

Colin Flashman

Correct answer

Community Expert

My preferred method to do this is to use the articles panel (available from the window menu).

The above screenshot shows a simple form I've used elsewhere and the tab order in which I would like the user to navigate through. To add items to the article panel, I drag and drop the relevant field into the articles panel from the page itself, and then when its item appears in the articles panel, I can then move it if it isn't in the appropriate position.

If it isn't already checked on, make sure to click the hamburger icon in the top right hand corner of the panel and select "Use for reading order in Tagged PDF".

Upon export of the file via interactive PDF, make sure the bottom right checkboxes (as highlighted in the next image) are checked on:

Just tested this in CC2019 and all good.

If the answer wasn't in my post, perhaps it might be on my blog at colecandoo!

jane-e

Community Expert

https://forums.adobe.com/people/Colin+Flashman wrote
My preferred method to do this is to use the articles panel (available from the window menu).

Great tip, Colin! (And don’t forget to bring me some Vegemite next November!)

Lukas Engqvist

Community Expert

Are the fields all in one text flow as anchored objects. Forcing them in a text flow lets Acrobat know the order.

John Mensinger

Community Expert

It's hard to know whether it'd be worth pursuing without having seen the layout, but have you tried any of the tab-ordering options in Acrobat? If the fields are generally organized into rows and/or columns, there are functions for ordering them accordingly.

To be frank though, a single document with 1200 form fields may be destined to fail in one way or another, with or without a resolution of your tab order issue.

Derek Cross

Community Expert

You can drag the fields into the order you want them in. Make sure they all have different names. 1200 seems a lot, might be worth checking in the Acrobat forum.

obotoAuthor

Known Participant

yes - 1200 is a lot. I did the "drag into order" thing with a 400 field pdf - and is a real pain.

Whats the next field? 239 - ok. Where 239? Scrolling, scrolling, scrolling. Ah here it is. Click and drag up and up and up - where is 238?

It took me about two days. But 1200? I can't spend a week dragging field names.

Especially if a software could do this within seconds ...

jane-e

Community Expert

I tired unchecking set tab order based on structure as well and it also came out jumbled on Acrobat DC

Hi Cindy, please show us three screen shots:

The tabs order panel (InDesign)
The Articles panel (InDesign)
The fields with the Tabs order with numbers in the Prepare Form tool (Acrobat)

Jane

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