You
create a form design by dragging objects from the Library palette
onto one or more pages in the Layout Editor and working in the Object
palette to modify the properties specific to the object you select.
The object that you select determines which tabs are available in
the Object palette. Many other palettes are available that contain
specific properties that you may want to change. For example, you
can use the Font palette to change the font family, size, and style
of text in a selected object.
You place the objects you want in the form design on pages. If
you want an object to appear on each page of the form design, you
place it on a master page. For example, you can include a logo,
watermark, or introductory information that always appears in the
same location on each page of the form design.
The following key components make up a form design:
Master pages
Pages
Content areas
Subforms
Fields
Boilerplate objects
Form design elements are displayed in the Hierarchy palette.
Designer automatically generates XML source code for each object
as you build the form design. Because Designer automatically generates
the XML source code for you, you can create form designs without
having any knowledge about XML.
Master pages
Every
form design contains at least one master page that Designer creates automatically. Master pages are
designated to format pages, and they help to facilitate design consistency
because they can provide a background and layout format for more
than one page in a form design.
You can use the supplied
master page to format pages, edit the master page’s settings, or
add additional master pages if needed. If you are creating a simple interactive
form, you would probably use the supplied master page without changing
its settings.
At the very least, master pages define the orientation
and dimensions of pages. You can use master pages to define these
aspects of a form design:
Each master
page is created with a default content area that covers the whole page.
You can add text, images, and other boilerplate objects to a master
page. These objects are displayed on all of the pages that the master
page formats. (See Using master pages.)
Note: Text fields, numeric
fields, and date/time fields on master pages will not be interactive
on Acrobat 6-compatible forms. Users cannot modify the associated
data in these fields.
You manipulate master pages in the
Master Pages tab.
Pages
Pages represent
the pages of a form. Each page derives its size and orientation from
a master page and, by default, each page is associated with the
default master page that Designer creates. Each page is created
with a default subform that covers the whole page. (See Setting up pages.)
If your form design contains more than one
master page, you can choose which master page to assign to a page.
(See Using master pages.)
You work with pages in the Design View
tab.
Content areas
Content areas define
where objects can be placed on pages. When you design a form, you
cannot place an object on a page unless it is inside the area bounded by
a content area.You can add content areas to master pages only.
Whenever
you create a new master page, Designer creates a default content
area on the master page.
A form design that has a fixed layout
will typically contain one content area. A form design that contains
sections that adjust to accommodate data can have one or more content
areas. You can specify whether the objects in each content area
should be positioned from top to bottom, or from left to right and
top to bottom. (See Using content areas.)
Subforms
Subforms are
container objects that you can use to group form design objects, including
fields, boilerplate objects, and other subforms. When they are grouped, you
can control whether the subform and the grouped objects appear on
your form based on data bindings that you configure for your form.
You can also configure subform objects to be repeatable, which lets
you have multiple instances of a single subform and its grouped
objects appear on your form. This allows you to create more flexible
and adaptable form designs.
Subforms are essential when creating
forms that contain sections that expand to accommodate data because
they provide the dynamic capabilities to be visible, to remain hidden,
and to grow, all in response to data and user interaction at run time.
(See Subform.)
Tables
Tables are
essentially structured container objects that you can use to organize your
form design content in meaningful, logical ways. Each cell of a
table is a separate container capable of storing form design objects.
(See Using tables.)
Tables are very similar to subforms in terms
of functionality and behavior. Like subforms, tables can be dynamic,
which means they can repeat and grow in response to data and user
interaction at run time. (See Subform.)
Field objects
Designer provides a number of field
objects that are capable of capturing, merging, and displaying data.
A field object provides a data-entry region, and users can
interact with field objects by entering or selecting an associated
data value. (See About Objects.)
The following objects are field objects:
Button
Check box
Date/time field
Decimal field
Signature Field
Drop-down list
Email Submit button
HTTP Submit button
Image field
List box
Numeric field
Paper Forms Barcode
Password field
Print button
Radio button
Text field
Boilerplate or static objects
Boilerplate or static objects are
read-only objects that improve the aesthetic appeal of a form and
may provide context or assistance for users. They can be added to
pages or master pages. (See About Objects.)
The following objects are boilerplate objects:
Circle
Image
Line
Rectangle
Text
