Fix InDesign PDF Form Field Description Truncated in Acrobat
Question details
A form field description created in InDesign displays fully as a tooltip in the final PDF, but appears truncated in the Adobe Acrobat Forms and Edit General properties interface.
- Product
- Adobe Acrobat
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Editing and verifying PDF form properties in Adobe Acrobat after exporting the document from Adobe InDesign.
- Observed behavior
- Only a few words of the form field description are visible in Acrobat's editing interface summary, even though the full text is retained and works as a tooltip in the actual PDF.
Verify whether the text truncation is happening when hovering over the field in standard viewing mode or only within Acrobat's 'Prepare Form' editing panel.
Check the Full Tooltip in General Properties
Acrobat often truncates long descriptions in the summary pane. Verify the full text is intact by accessing the field's specific properties menu.
When InDesign exports a PDF form, it sets the Description as the Tooltip. Acrobat's Forms and Edit summary pane may truncate this text to save space in the list interface, but the actual property retains the full wording.
Open your PDF in Adobe Acrobat, navigate to the 'Tools' menu, and select 'Prepare Form'.
Right-click the specific form field that appears truncated in the list and select 'Properties' from the context menu.
Navigate to the 'General' tab and locate the 'Tooltip' box. You should see the complete text preserved here, ensuring it will display correctly to the end-user.
Separate Field Names from Descriptions in InDesign
Optimize your form fields in InDesign before exporting to ensure the Acrobat summary pane remains readable and organized.
Manage and View PDF Form Fields Easily in WPS Office
If you are frustrated by truncated text and complex interfaces, WPS Office provides a streamlined PDF editor. You can easily view, fill, and edit PDF form properties without losing visibility of your descriptions and tooltips.
- 1. Open the PDF: Launch WPS Office and open your exported PDF form document.
- 2. Access Form Tools: Navigate to the 'Form' tab on the top ribbon to access the interactive form editing tools.
- 3. View Properties: Double-click the specific form field or right-click and select 'Properties' to clearly view the complete tooltip and description text.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a truncated tooltip in Acrobat properties affect the final PDF?
Usually, no. The truncation in Acrobat's right-hand summary pane is just a UI limitation. As long as the full text is inside the General Properties 'Tooltip' box, users will see the complete text when filling out the form.
Why do InDesign form descriptions become tooltips?
In the PDF format specification, form field instructions and descriptions are technically implemented as tooltips. InDesign maps its 'Description' field directly to the PDF 'Tooltip' property during the export process.
How can I test if my PDF form tooltips work correctly?
Exit the 'Prepare Form' editing mode in Acrobat and return to standard document viewing mode. Hover your mouse pointer over the form field; the complete text should appear in a small pop-up box.
