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Note: Changing the default properties does not change the settings for existing form fields of that type. The new defaults
apply only to new fields that you create.
Setting action buttons in Acrobat
About buttons
Buttons are most commonly associated with forms, but you can add them to any document. Buttons can open a file,
play a sound or movie clip, submit data to a web server, and much more. When deciding on how to initiate an action,
remember that buttons offer the following capabilities that links and bookmarks do not:
• A button can activate a single action or a series of actions.
• A button can change appearance in response to mouse actions.
• A button can be easily copied across many pages.
• Mouse actions can activate different button actions. For example, Mouse Down (a click), Mouse Up (releasing
after a click), Mouse Enter (moving the pointer over the button), and Mouse Exit (moving the pointer away from
the button) can all start a different action for the same button.
Buttons are an easy, intuitive way to let users initiate an action in PDF documents. Buttons can have a combination
of labels and icons to lead users through a series of actions or events by changing as the mouse is moved. For example,
you can create buttons with "Play, " "Pause, " and "Stop" labels and appropriate icons. Then you can set actions for
these buttons to play, pause, and stop a movie clip. You can select any combination of mouse behaviors for a button
and specify any combination of actions for a mouse behavior.
Add a button to an Acrobat PDF form
In Acrobat, choose Tools > Forms > Button Tool.
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Drag the cross hair to create the button area.
Click the General tab, and then specify a name, tool tip text, and other common properties.
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Click the Appearance tab, and then specify options to determine how the button will look on the page. Remember,
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if you select a background color, you won't be able to see through to any images behind the button. The text options
affect the label you specify in the Options tab, not the button name in the General tab.
Note: If Enable Right-To-Left Language Options is selected in the International panel of the Preferences dialog box, the
Appearance tab includes options for changing the digit style and text direction for buttons.
Click the Options tab, and select options to determine how labels and icons appear on the button.
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Click the Actions tab, and then specify options to determine what happens when the button is clicked, such as
jumping to a different page or playing a media clip.
Click Close.
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If you're creating a set of buttons, you may want to snap the object to grid lines or guides.
ADOBE ACROBAT 3D VERSION 8
User Guide
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