How to Select a Date Range in an Acrobat PDF Calendar Field
Question details
The user needs to input a consecutive date range in a PDF form using a calendar field.
- Product
- Adobe Acrobat
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Creating or filling out a PDF form that requires a start and end date (a date range).
- Observed behavior
- The built-in Acrobat calendar form field only permits the selection of a single date, preventing users from selecting a range directly.
Determine whether your form users will be using desktop PDF viewers that support JavaScript or basic mobile viewers, as this will dictate whether complex scripts or simple text fields are best.
Use Separate Start and End Date Fields
The simplest and most reliable method is to create two separate calendar fields to capture the beginning and end of the date range.
Open your PDF document in Adobe Acrobat and click on 'Prepare Form' from the right-hand tools pane.
Select the Date Field tool from the top toolbar, place it on your document, and name it 'Start Date'.
Select the Date Field tool again, place it next to the first field, and name it 'End Date'.
Right-click each field, go to Properties, navigate to the Format tab, and ensure the format category is set to 'Date'.
Combine Dates in a Calculated Text Field
Use a custom calculation script to display the chosen start and end dates together in a single read-only field.
Format a Standard Text Field for Date Ranges
Instead of using the built-in calendar picker, use a standard text field with custom validation to ensure users manually type a date range.
Create and Fill PDF Forms with WPS Office
WPS Office includes a powerful PDF editor that allows you to easily view, fill, and create PDF forms. If complex scripting in Acrobat is too difficult, use WPS PDF to quickly add standard form fields and manage your documents.
- 1. Open the PDF document: Download and launch WPS Office, then open your PDF document containing the form.
- 2. Navigate to the Form tab: Click on the 'Form' tab in the top ribbon to access form creation and editing tools.
- 3. Add form controls: Use the form controls to add Text Fields for manual date range entry or standard Date Fields for single selections.
- 4. Save and distribute: Save the modified PDF document and share it with your users for easy filling.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why can't I select multiple dates in the default PDF calendar field?
The default date picker (calendar field) in Acrobat is designed to return a single date string. It does not support array selection or date range dragging natively, which is why workarounds are required.
Can I use a dropdown list for date ranges instead?
Yes. If you have predefined date ranges (like specific weeks, financial quarters, or months), you can use a Dropdown field instead of a Date field, allowing users to select a specific range from a list.
Will a custom JavaScript date picker work on mobile PDF readers?
Not always. Many mobile PDF apps, tablet viewers, and browser-based PDF engines have limited or no support for custom JavaScript, which can break advanced date range scripts. Using two separate date fields is the safest approach.
How can I automatically calculate the number of days between the start and end date?
You can add a third Text Field and use a custom calculation script in its properties. The JavaScript must parse the date strings from your Start Date and End Date fields into Date objects, subtract them, and divide by 86,400,000 (milliseconds in a day) to output the total number of days.
