Multiple choice checkboxes in PDF forms

[reamer@adobeforums.com]

Hi,

I tried searching on this and couldn't find anything!

I want to be able to add a checkbox with 3 states, (blank, ticked and crossed).

I'm using Acrobat 5, please let me know if this is something that can be done in Acrobat 6 but not in 5.

[reamer@adobeforums.com]

Sorry i should add that they all need to be the same box.

I have space constraints and so it needs to be 1 small box with 3 alternative states.

I've tried a combo box but the arrow to open the menu obscures the choice made.

Thanks

[George_Johnson@adobeforums.com]

No, not with a check box. But it's possible to hack up a button/text field combination to emulate a > 2 state control. It involves a small amount of JavaScript. Let me know if you'd like a sample...(now where is that...)

I've tried a combo box but the arrow to open the menu obscures the choice
made




That may just be a problem at certain magnifications. As one zooms in, it often is not a problem. Can't you just make the combobox a little wider?

George

[Larry_Tilley@adobeforums.com]

George does that "hack" allow you to replace the x with "Y" or "YES"?

[George_Johnson@adobeforums.com]

does that "hack" allow you to replace the x with "Y" or "YES"?




Yes. One of the big advantages of this approach is it uses a button, which can have any appearance you want.

George

[Larry_Tilley@adobeforums.com]

So, would you care to share the information. I have an HR department that would rather see YES or NO displayed rather than placing a check by the word.

Larry

[George_Johnson@adobeforums.com]

Sure, but I won't be able to post it until later today.

George

[George_Johnson@adobeforums.com]

Here's the demo: <http://www.peakforms.com/pdfs/multistate.pdf>

You'll have to study the JavaScript to see how it works. There is some document-level code (in the 'init' JavaScript) and calls to it in the button's Mouse Up event and the text field's Validate event.

There are two types of fields. The traffic light field gets its icon changed with each click of the button, and the other button gets its face text and text color changed with each click.

It might be better to use document-level icons, as opposed to the (normally) hidden buttons as the source of the icons, but the approach the demo uses is a bit easier to set up and understand. Post again if you have any questios.

George

[reamer@adobeforums.com]

hi george,

thanks a lot for the help!

>I've tried a combo box but the arrow to open the menu obscures the >>choice

made





That may just be a problem at certain magnifications. As one zooms >in,
it often is not a problem. Can't you just make the combobox a >little
wider?




afraid not. i have size constraints, the boxes are boxed in either side by more boxes and this can't be changed!

have another question before i go off and try to make this work.

the PDF document i am creating has many, many of these multistate checkboxes. Is that going to be a problem? Is there any naming convention i should use?

thanks again.

[reamer@adobeforums.com]

I could not reproduce this effect in another document (i tried using one, then the other example contained in the demo).

I found the document javascript init but pasting that in the new pdf didn't help.

[Larry_Tilley@adobeforums.com]

Thank you. I believe it will take care of my needs.

Larry

[reamer@adobeforums.com]

thanks george, i worked it out now.

for anyone who needs to know how to reproduce the tri-state button in this demo (this is for the button/text not traffic lights)[url]http://www.peakforms.com/pdfs/multistate.pdf[/url] <http://www.peakforms.com/pdfs/multistate.pdf>:

You need to open the tools menu, Tools/Javasript/Document Javascripts
-then edit the 'init' javascript. copy the whole script.

Edit the properties of the button box (button3), on the ACTIONS tab. It has a javasript on the MOUSE UP action: setNextButtonVal("text3", aButtonText); [text3 is the name of the text box]. Copy this down

Edit the properties of the text box (text3), on the VALIDATE tab. It has a CUSTOM VALIDATE script: setNewButtonText("button3", aButtonText, event.value); [button3 is the name of the button box]

Open the document you would like to add the button to, open the tools menu again - Tools/Javasript/Document Javascripts. Then write 'init' in the box and add it. Then paste the 'init' script in.

create a button and add the JS to the MOUSE UP state. make sure the it contains the correct name of the textbox.

create a textbox and add the JS to the custom validate script. make sure the it contains the correct name of the button.

To add more than one of these buttons to a PDF, just change the names of the boxes and in the scripts accordingly.

Change the text and colours in the 'init' script.