Anticipating Field Names in PDF Custom Calculation Scripts
In my last column on how to create a check box scoring questionnaire I described the right-click > Create Multiple Copies function, which is one of the handiest shortcuts for creating fillable fields.
It will be used again in this column, as well as a math addition shortcut for fields with the same route name that was also described in the previous article.
It's important to point out that the Create Multiple Copies shortcut actually makes copies of the original fields, so all formatting and scripting contained in the original fields will be present in the copied fields. It's also important to point out that certain field properties can be changed for multiple fields simultaneously by selecting the fields and changing properties for one of the selected fields. However, other field properties cannot be changed for multiple fields this way.
FORMATTING MULTIPLE FIELDS AT THE SAME TIME
It's easy to determine which properties can be changed for multiple fields and which can't by simply opening the field properties with one field selected versus opening the field properties with multiple fields selected.
The screenshot on the left is the Acrobat UI field properties with one text field selected. The screenshot on the right is the Acrobat UI field properties with multiple fields selected. Not only are the Name and Tooltip properties disabled in the second screenshot, but three of the tabs (Format, Validate, and Calculate) are missing. If you want to set any of the properties in any of these missing tabs, and have those properties consistent for all copies of the fields, you can set them prior to activating the Create Multiple Copies shortcut.
