How to Fix Reversed Arabic Text in Adobe Acrobat PDF Forms
Question details
The user needs to correct Arabic text that is appearing backward when typed into a PDF form field.
- Product
- Adobe Acrobat
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Filling out or creating interactive PDF forms that require Arabic language input.
- Observed behavior
- When entering Arabic text into a PDF text field, the characters render from left to right instead of the correct right-to-left orientation, causing the text to appear reversed or backward.
Ensure you are using a version of Adobe Acrobat that supports form editing and that you have opened the document in 'Prepare Form' mode to access field properties.
Change Text Field Direction to Right-to-Left
Modify the specific text field properties in Adobe Acrobat to natively support Right-to-Left (RTL) reading order for Arabic text.
By default, many PDF text fields are set to Left-to-Right reading order. Changing this property ensures that complex scripts like Arabic connect and flow properly.
Right-click the problematic text field in your PDF document and select 'Properties' from the drop-down context menu.
In the Properties dialog box, click on the 'Appearance' or 'Options' tab depending on your specific version of Acrobat.
Locate the 'Text Direction' or 'Direction' setting. Click the dropdown menu and select 'Right to Left'.
Close the Properties window and type your Arabic text into the field again to confirm it now renders in the correct direction.
Easily Edit and Fill Multilingual PDFs with WPS Office
WPS Office offers a comprehensive, user-friendly PDF editor that makes filling out forms and editing text in any language a seamless experience.
- 1. Open your PDF: Launch WPS Office and open your PDF document using the built-in WPS PDF tool.
- 2. Access Form Fields: Click directly into the interactive text fields you wish to fill.
- 3. Enter Text: Type your Arabic text naturally. WPS PDF handles formatting and rendering smoothly.
- 4. Save the Document: Click the 'Save' icon or press Ctrl+S to securely save your completed PDF form.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my Arabic text appear disconnected in PDF forms?
Disconnected Arabic text usually occurs when the PDF viewer or the specific font lacks support for complex text shaping. Changing the text field font to a widely supported Arabic font like Arial or Times New Roman usually resolves this.
Can I fix reversed text if I only have Adobe Reader?
Adobe Reader does not allow you to change form field properties. You will need the creator of the PDF to update the field to Right-to-Left, or you can use a capable PDF editor like WPS PDF to fill out the form correctly.
How do I type Arabic in standard PDF text boxes, not form fields?
When using the standard 'Add Text' tool, ensure your system keyboard is switched to Arabic and that you select the Right-to-Left alignment option in the text formatting toolbar before typing.
Does changing the text direction affect other fields in the PDF?
No, changing the text direction in the field properties only applies to the specific text field you modify. You must update the properties for each field that requires Arabic input.
