How to Make a Field Required Based on a Checkbox in Adobe Sign
Question details
The user wants to know how to make an email field conditionally required only when a specific checkbox is selected in a PDF form.
- Product
- Adobe Sign / PDF
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Creating a dynamic PDF form where certain fields become mandatory based on user selections.
- Observed behavior
- Adobe Sign does not natively support dynamically changing a field's required status based on another field. This feature requires standard PDF JavaScript or a workaround.
Verify whether you are creating a standard interactive PDF form or an Adobe Sign web template, as scripting capabilities and supported features differ significantly between the two.
Use JavaScript in Standard Acrobat PDF Forms
While Adobe Sign forms lack this conditional feature, standard interactive PDF forms support conditional required states through custom JavaScript.
Adobe Sign's proprietary web form builder does not natively support making fields conditionally required based on a checkbox. However, if you create a standard PDF form, you can achieve this using a custom validation script.
Open your PDF form in edit mode and right-click the Checkbox field to access its Properties menu.
Navigate to the 'Actions' tab, select 'Mouse Up' as the trigger, and choose 'Run a JavaScript' as the action to perform.
Input a custom script that checks the checkbox status and alters the target field's required property. For example: `this.getField('Email').required = event.target.isBoxChecked(0);`.
Save the PDF document and test the form in a standard PDF viewer to ensure the email field only becomes mandatory when the box is checked.
Utilize Adobe Sign Conditional Show/Hide Logic
As a workaround within Adobe Sign, you can hide the required field entirely until the checkbox is ticked.
Edit and Fill Standard PDF Forms with WPS Office
While complex JavaScript conditional forms require specialized enterprise tools, WPS Office provides a lightweight, highly compatible, and free alternative for everyday PDF editing, form filling, and document management.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use JavaScript in Adobe Sign forms?
Standard Adobe Sign web forms generally do not support custom JavaScript for security and compatibility reasons across different devices. Dynamic logic must be built using Adobe Sign's built-in conditions.
Why does my required field condition not work when sent for signature?
If you built a standard PDF with JavaScript and uploaded it to a cloud signing platform like Adobe Sign, the platform often flattens the file or strips interactive scripts. Use the platform's native condition tools instead.
Can WPS Office fill out interactive PDF forms?
Yes, WPS Office fully supports opening, filling, and saving standard interactive PDF forms, including text fields, checkboxes, and radio buttons.
