How to Restore the Missing Date Field in Acrobat Prepare Form
Question details
The user needs to add a Date field to a PDF form, but the specific Date field option is missing from the Adobe Acrobat Prepare Form tools.
- Product
- Adobe Acrobat
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Creating or modifying a fillable PDF form that requires users to input a date or automatically capture a signing date.
- Observed behavior
- The Date field button is no longer visible in the Prepare Form toolbar, despite previously being available for Adobe Sign workflows.
Verify whether your document is intended to be a standard interactive PDF form (AcroForm) or an Adobe Sign document, as the available field types in the toolbar change based on the document's form type.
Convert the Document to an Adobe Sign Form
Use this method if you need the dedicated Adobe Sign Date field, which is specifically designed for e-signature workflows.
Adobe Acrobat separates standard form fields from Adobe Sign fields. If you are preparing an e-signature document, you must explicitly enable the Adobe Sign toolset to reveal the specific Date field icon.
Open your document in Adobe Acrobat, navigate to the 'Tools' menu, and select 'Prepare Form'.
Look at the right-hand panel where the form options are listed, and click on 'More' (represented by a wrench or three dots depending on your version).
Select 'Convert to Adobe Sign Form' or 'Revert to Adobe Sign Form' from the dropdown menu.
The Date field icon will now be restored to your toolbar, allowing you to drag and drop it onto your document.
Format a Standard Text Field as a Date Field
If you are creating a standard AcroForm instead of an Adobe Sign document, you should use a formatted Text field.
Easily Add and Manage Form Fields with WPS PDF
If you find Acrobat's interface changes confusing, WPS Office provides a streamlined, intuitive PDF editor. You can easily insert text fields, checkboxes, and formatted date boxes without having to switch between complex document modes.
- 1. Open WPS PDF: Launch WPS Office and open your PDF document.
- 2. Access Form Tools: Click on the 'Form' tab located in the top navigation ribbon.
- 3. Insert a Text Field: Select 'Text Field' to draw a fillable box anywhere on your document.
- 4. Set Formatting: Right-click the field to access its properties and easily set it to your desired format, including date structures.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did the Date field disappear from my Prepare Form toolbar?
The Date field is a specialized tool primarily available for Adobe Sign workflows. If your document was created or reset as a standard AcroForm, Acrobat hides this specific button, requiring you to format a standard text field as a date instead.
Will a formatted text field automatically fill with today's date?
No. A standard text field formatted as a Date in an AcroForm only restricts the user to inputting the date in a specific format (e.g., MM/DD/YYYY). It does not automatically capture the current date unless you add a custom JavaScript calculation.
Can I use standard AcroForms and Adobe Sign fields in the same document?
No. Acrobat typically separates these two workflows. You must choose to prepare your document as either a standard interactive PDF form or an Adobe Sign document, which dictates the layout of your toolbar.
