<< Click to Display Table of Contents >> Navigation: PDF-XChange Editor Plus V9 User Manual > Tabs Guide > Form Tab > Add Check Boxes to Documents |
Check boxes enable the selection of predefined options:
Figure 1. Example Check Boxes
The functionality of PDF-XChange Editor enables a wide range of dynamic customization for check boxes. Click the dropdowns below for further information:
1. Click the Form tab, then click Check Box. A blue square will be displayed beneath the pointer. This square represents the check box:
Figure 2. Active Check Box Tool
2. Move the square to the desired location and then click to add the check box to the document. Added check boxes appear as detailed below:
Figure 3. Added Check Boxes
•Click and drag the yellow control points to resize check boxes. •Use the options in the Format Tab to determine the style and appearance of selected check boxes:
Figure 4. Format Tab, Check Boxes
•Click Select Fields to select and edit form fields. •Click the options in the Form Fields group to enable alternative form field formats. •Click Keep Mode to create multiple check boxes consecutively. If this option is disabled then PDF-XChange Editor will revert to the designated default tool after the creation of a single check box. •Click Tab Numbers to show/hide the tab order numbers of form fields. •Click Calculation Order to show/hide the order in which calculations are performed when there is more than one form field that contains a value calculation. Further information about value calculations is detailed below. •Click Grid to enable/disable the grid, which is used to assist in the accurate placement of form fields, as detailed in (figure 4). •Click Create Multiple Copies to create multiple copies of selected form fields, as detailed here. •Click Fields to show/hide the Fields pane, which is used to view/edit form fields. •Click Fill Color to determine the fill color of the check box. •Click Stroke Color to determine the border color of check boxes. •Click Width to determine the width of check box borders. •Click Border to determine the style of check box borders. •Select an option in the Font Size dropdown menus to determine the size of the check mark used in check boxes. •Use the Text Color dropdown menu to determine the color of the check mark used in check boxes. •Click Properties to open the Check Box Properties pane, which enables the customization of additional elements of check boxes and is detailed in the section below. |
The Check Box Properties pane can be used to determine a range of style and functionality options for check boxes. For example, it is possible to use the Actions properties to add multiple dynamic actions to check boxes, such as running JavaScript, launching web links and opening files on the local computer. (JavaScript is a high-level programming language that can be used to perform custom operations. See here for an index of existing JavaScript operations that the PDF-XChange Editor forms can use, as well as additional information about JavaScript). Click Select Fields to select form fields, then click the desired field and click Properties in the Format tab to open the Check Box Properties pane:
Figure 5. Check Box Tool, Check Box Properties Pane
The options detailed below are available in the Check Box Properties pane:
The General properties determine the general parameters of check boxes: •Read Only determines whether or not the check box can be edited. •Locked determines whether or not the check boxes can be moved, and whether or not its properties can be modified. •Field Name determines the name of the check box. This name is present when the Select Fields tool is enabled, and when check boxes are listed in the Fields pane. •Tooltip determines the information displayed when the pointer is hovered over the check box. •Mapping Name determines the mapping name that the check box uses. This name is used to reference interactive form data when the form is exported, and does so without affecting the appearance of the name in the original document. •Orientation determines the orientation of the check box. •Visibility determines the visibility of the check box. •Required determines whether or not the check box is a required field. Required fields must be filled before documents that contain them can be submitted. •Exportable determines whether or not the check box data can be exported from the form. •Layer determines the optional content layer to which the check box belongs. When a field belongs to an optional content layer, it displays only when the layer is enabled. Use the Layers pane to view/create/edit layers, as detailed here.
The Style properties determine stylistic elements of check boxes. They are detailed beneath (figure 4).
The Position properties determine the position and dimensions of check boxes: •Left determines the distance of the check box from the left margin. •Top determines the distance of the check box from the bottom of the page. •Width/Height determine the width/height of the check box.
The Default Text Format properties determine the default properties when text is entered into the check box: •Font Size is always set to auto for check boxes. This is because the font size refers to the size of the tick when check boxes are selected, and the tick must be proportionate to the size of the check box. •Text Color determines the color of the tick when check boxes are selected.
The Options properties determine additional options for check boxes: •Check Box Style determines the icon used when check boxes are selected. •Export Value determines the value that represents check boxes when they are exported. •Checked by Default determines whether or not the check box is checked by default.
The Actions properties determine the action taken when users interact with the check box: •Mouse Down initiates an action when the left mouse button is pressed (without being released). •Mouse Up initiates an action when the left mouse button is clicked (pressed and released). •Mouse Enter initiates an action when the pointer moves into the check box. •Mouse Leave initiates an action when the pointer moves out of the check box. •On Focus initiates an action when the check box is selected. •On Blur initiates an action when the check box is deselected. •Click the ellipsis icon on the right of actions to add/edit check box actions:
Figure 6. Check Box Properties Pane, Action Ellipses
The process of adding actions is detailed here. |
The following example will detail how to create a check box list for the months of the year:
1. Click the Form tab, then click Check Box.
2. Click the Format tab, then click Grid and Keep Mode:
Figure 7. Format Tab, Keep Mode Highlighted
3. Click to place check boxes in the document:
Figure 8. Adding Check Boxes
The next step is to add text labels for the check boxes:
4. Click the Add dropdown menu in the Home tab, then click Text and add text labels for the months of the year:
Figure 9. Home Tab, Add Text Tool Selected |