How do I add new form fields to my PDF document in Acrobat?

First, go to 'All tools' and select 'Prepare a form'. Acrobat will open your document in form editing mode. On the right-hand panel, you will see options to add different types of fields like text boxes, checkboxes, and radio buttons. Click on the field type you want, then click on your document where you want to place it. You can then resize and move it.

What is the difference between a text box and a list box in a PDF form?

Feature Text Box List Box. Purpose Allows users to type in any text. Allows users to choose one or more items from a predefined list. User Input Free-form text entry. Selection from a fixed set of options. Example Use Name, address, comments. Country selection, list of products, preferred options.

Configure PDF Form Fields in Adobe Acrobat — How-to & AI prompts

AI prompts

3 ways to ask · copy any one

AExecute — “help me do it”I have a [form=volunteer sign-up PDF] with 12 fields and need required name, email, and…+

I have a [form=volunteer sign-up PDF] with 12 fields and need required name, email, and emergency contact marked mandatory, tab order set for phone after email, and date field locked to MM/DD/YYYY before [deadline=Friday]

when the reply comes backPush once: ask it to sharpen the weakest part, and to say what it assumed.

BImprove — “do it better”Our HR onboarding form confuses hires and often comes back incomplete. Make every legal name…+

Our HR onboarding form confuses hires and often comes back incomplete. Make every legal name and bank account field required, add inline hints for format, set clear tab order from top to bottom, and enforce value validation for email and routing number so recruiters can accept forms without back-and-forth. Tell me which fields might annoy signers and why

when the reply comes backPush once: ask it to sharpen the weakest part, and to say what it assumed.

CDecide — “help me choose”We receive partial payroll PDF forms from new employees and payroll won't run until everything…+

We receive partial payroll PDF forms from new employees and payroll won't run until everything is perfect. Recommend which fields should be required versus optional, which validations are essential versus overbearing, and whether to prefill any data to reduce mistakes. Explain trade-offs between forcing completion (which delays sign-up) and accepting later corrections (which risks payroll errors)

when the reply comes backPush once: ask it to sharpen the weakest part, and to say what it assumed.

How to do it

the tool · the steps · what to avoid

1
Open Adobe Acrobat and select the Prepare Form tool from the Tools menu.
Best practiceYou can quickly access the Prepare Form tool by searching for it in the Tools search bar.
2
Choose an existing PDF or scan a document to use as your form background, then select Start to begin editing.
3
Add form fields such as text fields, checkboxes, radio buttons, or drop-down lists by selecting the appropriate field type and placing it on the form.
4
Double-click a form field to open its Properties dialog.
5
To set up calculations, go to the Calculate tab in the Properties dialog, choose a calculation type (e.g., Value is the sum), and select the fields to include in the calculation.
NoteFor custom calculations, select Custom calculation script and enter JavaScript code.
6
To add field validations, switch to the Validate tab in the Properties dialog, select a format category (such as Number or Date), and set validation rules or custom validation scripts as needed.
Best practiceUse the Validate tab to set range limits or add custom JavaScript for complex validation.
7
To assign actions, go to the Actions tab in the Properties dialog, select a trigger (such as On Focus or On Blur), choose an action type (like Run a JavaScript), and configure the desired action.
Best practiceCommon actions include showing/hiding fields or displaying messages based on user input.
8
Repeat steps 4–7 for each field that requires calculations, validations, or actions.
9
Save the form to preserve your changes.
Best practiceTest your form thoroughly by entering sample data to ensure all calculations, validations, and actions work as intended.
Best practiceBLOGS: If you encounter issues with fields not updating, try closing and reopening the form or using the Clear Form option to reset field states.

In the appWith the API

You can preview your form in Acrobat by selecting the 'Preview' button to test calculations and validations before distributing.

This runs in the Acrobat app - there is no separate API for this task.

The real tasks

the one, listed here

New hires keep submitting incomplete payroll forms and payroll can't process them on time.

FAQ

about this task

First, go to 'All tools' and select 'Prepare a form'.
Acrobat will open your document in form editing mode.
On the right-hand panel, you will see options to add different types of fields like text boxes, checkboxes, and radio buttons.
Click on the field type you want, then click on your document where you want to place it. You can then resize and move it.

Tooltips and labels are crucial for making PDF forms accessible. A label clearly tells all users what information a field needs. A Tooltip provides a description for screen readers, which helps people with visual impairments understand and navigate the form. Without these, some users might not be able to complete the form correctly, making it inaccessible.

No, it is not recommended to use form tools from programs like Microsoft Word if you plan to convert the document to a PDF form. Word's form tools often do not export to accessible PDF fields correctly. It's best to start with a well-structured Word document and then use Acrobat's 'Prepare a form' feature to add the form fields directly in Acrobat.

Feature	Text Box	List Box
Purpose	Allows users to type in any text.	Allows users to choose one or more items from a predefined list.
User Input	Free-form text entry.	Selection from a fixed set of options.
Example Use	Name, address, comments.	Country selection, list of products, preferred options.

Running the Accessibility Checker is important to make sure your PDF form can be used by everyone, including people with disabilities. It checks for common problems like missing labels, incorrect tab order, or fields that screen readers cannot understand. Fixing these issues ensures your form is usable and compliant with accessibility standards before you share it.

Configure PDF Form Fields

When to use it

AI prompts

How to do it

Glossary

The real tasks

FAQ

Sources

Adobe help

Video

Other guides