How to Add Clear Form and Submit Actions in Acrobat Prepare Form
Question details
The user is unable to find the Action option in the Button Properties dialog when trying to add Clear Form and Submit buttons to a PDF document.
- Product
- Adobe Acrobat
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Creating an interactive PDF form and attempting to assign functional behaviors (like clearing data or submitting the form) to specific buttons.
- Observed behavior
- The Button Properties dialog lacks the Action tab or action configuration options for buttons, usually because the fields were imported from another application like InDesign.
Ensure you have the PDF opened natively in your PDF editor and verify that you are using the specific 'Prepare Form' tool, rather than relying on form fields exported from third-party design software.
Recreate Form Buttons Directly in the Prepare Form Tool
Delete any imported fields generated by other applications and use the native Prepare Form tool to ensure all button properties, including Actions, are fully available.
When PDF forms are exported from design applications like Adobe InDesign, complex form elements often lose their interactive properties. To assign actions like 'Clear Form' or 'Submit', the buttons must be generated natively within the PDF editing environment.
Open your document in Adobe Acrobat, navigate to the Tools menu, and select the 'Prepare Form' tool.
Locate the existing Clear Form or Submit buttons that lack the Action property. Right-click on them and select 'Delete' to remove the faulty fields.
Click the 'Add a Button' icon in the Prepare Form toolbar at the top, then drag and draw the button onto your document layout.
Double-click the newly created button to open the 'Button Properties' dialog. Navigate to the 'Actions' tab, choose 'Mouse Up' as the trigger, and select either 'Reset a form' or 'Submit a form' from the Select Action dropdown list before clicking 'Add'.
Easily Create Interactive PDF Forms with WPS Office
Skip the complicated troubleshooting. WPS Office provides a streamlined PDF form builder where you can easily add, customize, and assign actions to buttons like Clear Form or Submit without compatibility issues.
- 1. Open the PDF in WPS Office: Launch WPS Office, open your PDF document, and navigate to the 'Form' tab on the top ribbon.
- 2. Insert a Push Button: Click on 'Push Button' in the toolbar and drag your cursor over the page to draw the button.
- 3. Access Button Properties: Double-click the new button to open the Properties window, where you can customize its appearance and behavior.
- 4. Set the Action: Navigate to the 'Actions' tab, select your preferred trigger, and set the action to 'Reset a form' or 'Submit a form' to make it fully functional.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the Actions tab missing in my PDF Button Properties?
This usually happens when the form fields were generated in another application, such as Adobe InDesign, before exporting to PDF. The interactive properties do not fully transfer, requiring you to delete and recreate the button directly in your PDF editor.
How do I make a Clear Form button in a PDF?
Use your PDF editor's form tools to add a standard Push Button. Open its Button Properties, go to the Actions tab, and set the action to 'Reset a form'. This will clear all user-entered data when the button is clicked.
Can I test my Submit button while in editing mode?
No. To interact with and test form buttons like Clear or Submit, you must exit the 'Prepare Form' or editing mode and view the document in standard preview or reading mode.
