Using text

Text objects present read-only text that users cannot edit. You can use text objects to do these tasks:

  • Label an area in the form

  • Provide instructions for filling out the form

  • Include a header and footer

After you add a text object to the form design, you can define these properties:

In addition, you can insert placeholders, such as floating text fields, and the values of run-time properties, such as page count, current page, and current date/time, into text objects.

The text object has the Make Fixed-Sized Text Objects Auto-fit While Editing option (Tools > Options > Workspace) selected by default. Therefore, the object automatically resizes at design time to accommodate the text you enter and the property settings you change, such as margins, borders, and font type and size.

To type characters into a text object

You can type characters into the object after you add the object to the form.

By default, the Make Fixed-Size Text Objects Auto-Fit While Editing option on the Workspace panel of the Tools > Options dialog is selected. This option allows the width and height of text objects to expand as you type characters. To expand only either the width or height of a text object, deselect Make Fixed-Size Text Objects Auto-Fit While Editing and then select the appropriate Expand To Fit option on the Layout palette.

  1. Select Edit and ensure that the Lock Text and Lock Static Objects commands are not selected.

  2. Double-click the text object and type the characters you want to add.

To insert a floating text field into a text object

You can embed a floating text field in a text object. Floating text fields support the merging of different text values within text objects. For example, you could embed a floating text field to generate a customer name in the salutation of a form letter.

A floating text field does not have a caption and can be edited as if it were a single character of text. The properties of the floating text field must be defined separately in addition to the properties of the text object.

Note: When merging floating fields with data, keep in mind that floating fields cannot span pages.
  1. In the text object, place the cursor where you want the floating text field to be merged.

  2. Select Insert > Floating Field.

  3. Select the floating text field and edit its properties.

To insert the value of a run-time property into a text object

You can insert the values of run-time properties into a text object. When the form is viewed, the actual value is inserted automatically.

The inserted value can have a different font, font size, and font style than the text object.

  1. In the text object, place the cursor where you want the value of the run-time property to be merged.

  2. Select Insert > [run-time property value] .

    • To insert the current page number of the finished form, select Current Page Number.

    • To insert the total number of pages making up the finished, select Number of Pages.

    • To insert the current date/time, select Current Date/Time.

    • To insert the value of the locale setting for the application processing the form, select Viewer Locale.

    • To insert the name of the application processing the form, select Viewer Name.

    • To insert the version number of the application processing the form, select Viewer Version.

  3. Select the run-time property value and edit its properties.

To merge text objects

When you import a PDF file into Designer, depending on the import options you choose, title and instruction text may be broken up into multiple text objects. This import behavior makes the text difficult to edit because individual words or individual letters may be broken into separate text objects. If you need to edit the text, you can merge text objects together to make the text easier to update.

  1. Select the text objects that you want to merge.

    If you also select an object of a different type, it will not be included in the merged object.

  2. Select Layout > Merge Selected Text Objects.

    All selected text objects combine into a single object.

To create a caption by merging a text object and a field object

You can create a caption for a field object that does not have a caption by merging it with a text object.

For example, if you have a text object above a text field whose caption is set to none, you can merge the two objects to create one field. The text from the text object becomes the caption for the text field.

View full size graphic
Before Merging: A.
Text object

B.
Text field

View full size graphic
After Merging: Text object

Before you perform this task, you must ensure the following settings are in effect:

  • Ensure you have one text object.

  • Ensure you have one field object whose caption is set to none in the Layout palette or the caption is empty.

The field object can be one of the following objects:

  • Check Box

  • Date/Time Field

  • Decimal Field

  • Signature Field

  • Drop-down List

  • Image Field

  • List Box

  • Numeric Field

  • Password Field

  • Radio Button

  • Text Field

You can merge only one text object to one field object.

  1. Select the text object that you want to become the caption for the field object.

  2. Ctrl+click or Shift+click to select the field object that you want to merge with the text object.

    The field object must have its caption set to none in the Layout palette or the caption must be empty.

  3. Select Layout > Merge as Caption.

    The new object’s caption becomes the text from the text object. The new object's size and position matches the total boundaries of the merged objects.

    You may have to edit the font of the caption and the value after you merge the objects.

To insert language-specific numbers in text or captions

Most regions of the world use a numbering system that is often called Roman or European (1, 2, 3, ...). However, the numbering system in Arabic is different; it is derived from Hindi or Indic numbers.

Although Arabic letters are written from right-to-left, numbers in Arabic are written from left-to-right. This numbering system is often called Arabic-Indic.

You can insert language-specific numbers in text or captions if your locale, such as Arabic (Egypt), supports it. The following locales support this feature:

  • Arabic (all except Algeria, Morocco, and Tunisia)

  • Thai (Thailand Traditional)

The options described in this Help topic are available only if support for the appropriate language is enabled through Microsoft Office Language Settings.

  1. Select the text.

  2. Right-click and ensure the language-specific Use Digits command is selected.

    If this menu item is not there, ensure the locale set for this object supports this feature.

  3. Type the numbers.

    This example is of a caption that shows three types of language-specific numbers.

    A. Arabic (Egypt) B. English (USA) C. Thai (Thailand Traditional)

To allow page breaks within a text object

The Allow Page Break Within Content option is enabled for a text object if the parent subform allows page breaks. This option is deselected by default.

Here are a few things to consider when allowing page breaks within a text object:

  • The Allow Page Break Within Content option is enabled for a text object only when the parent object allows page breaks.

  • Page breaks are not supported in rotated text objects.

  • The Allow Page Breaks Within Content option is disabled for floating fields. Instead, select the Allow Page Break Within Content option for the text object referencing the floating field.

  • A page break is not allowed when an object that can accept a page break is positioned beside an object that cannot.

  • When the Make Fixed-Size Text Objects Auto-Fit While Editing option (in Tools > Options > Workspace) or the Expand to Fit options (in the Layout palette) are deselected, the boilerplate text does not expand at design time, which means that page breaks are prevented.

To allow page breaks within a text object

In the Object palette, click the Draw tab and select Allow Page Breaks Within Content.

To keep a text object with the next object in the form

The Keep with Next option is enabled for a text field if the parent object allows page breaks and is a flowed container.

The Keep With Next option is disabled for floating fields. Instead, select the Keep With Next option for the text object referencing the floating field.

In the Object palette, click the Draw tab and select Keep With Next.

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