How to Use Display and Export Values in PDF Dropdown Fields
Question details
The user needs to set up PDF dropdown or list fields with descriptive display text for users, while storing a separate numeric or coded export value for backend scripts and calculations.
- Product
- PDF Editor
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Creating or modifying interactive PDF forms where dropdown selections must trigger specific calculations or script actions based on hidden values.
- Observed behavior
- A form requires the display value (e.g., 'Reactivate') to be visible to the user, while an underlying export code is stored and utilized by the document's JavaScript or calculation functions.
Ensure your PDF software is in form-editing mode and that you have a prepared list of the user-facing display names alongside their corresponding backend export codes.
Assign Export Values in Field Properties
Use the built-in form field properties to define both the visible item text and the underlying export value.
Interactive PDF forms allow each item in a dropdown list or combo box to hold two distinct pieces of data: a Display Value (what the user reads) and an Export Value (the data sent to a server or used in formulas). Configuring this prevents the need for complex hidden text fields.
Launch your PDF editor and open the document. Navigate to the form editing tools to make the form fields interactive and selectable.
Right-click the specific dropdown, list box, or radio button field you want to modify, and select 'Properties' from the context menu.
Navigate to the 'Options' tab. In the 'Item' field, type the descriptive text for the user (e.g., 'Reactivate'). In the 'Export Value' field, type the corresponding code or numeric value.
Click 'Add' to insert the item into your list. Repeat this process for all options, then close the properties window and preview the form to ensure the dropdown functions correctly.
Utilize Export Values with JavaScript
Access the configured export values using Acrobat JavaScript to automate calculations or populate other fields.
Build Interactive PDF Forms with WPS Office
WPS Office features a comprehensive PDF editor that empowers you to effortlessly design interactive forms, add customizable dropdown menus, and define field properties without navigating complex, expensive software.
- 1. Open Your PDF: Launch WPS Office and open the PDF document you want to turn into an interactive form.
- 2. Access Form Tools: Navigate to the 'Form' tab in the top ribbon to reveal all interactive field options.
- 3. Insert a Dropdown Field: Select the 'Combo Box' tool and click on the document page where you want the dropdown to appear.
- 4. Configure Values: Double-click the newly placed field to open its properties, where you can easily add your display text and export values.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use export values with radio buttons?
Yes. Every individual choice within a radio button group can have a unique export value assigned in its properties. This allows a single selection to pass a specific numeric or text code to your backend or scripts.
Do I need to use hidden text fields to store export values?
No. Modern PDF editors allow you to store the export value directly within the dropdown, list, or radio button field itself. There is no need to create extra hidden text fields as workarounds.
Why aren't my export values updating in my calculations?
If your script relies on a dropdown's export value, make sure the dropdown field has 'Commit selected value immediately' checked in its Options tab. This ensures the value is passed to the script the moment a user makes a selection.
Are export values supported in all PDF viewers?
Most standard desktop PDF viewers, such as WPS Office and Adobe Acrobat, fully support interactive forms and their export values. However, some basic browser-based PDF viewers may struggle with complex JavaScript calculations linked to these values.
