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Mykel Calculating status...

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How do I change appearance states for checkboxes in InDesign CS6?

Sep 10, 2012 8:15 PM

Tags: #custom #indesign #state #cs6 #checkboxes #interactivity #appearance

Hello,

I am creating an interactive fillable PDF form and need to use a custom checkbox.

I am aware as to how I add my 'Icon' to the Sample Buttons and Form Box, but am having difficulty when attempting to alter the appearance states 'Normal' or 'Rollover' or 'Click'.

It seems that when I turn my button into a checkbox, as soon as it becomes selected, it puts a god awful default tick inside it as opposed to allowing me to choose my own 'Normal' state.

Please help.

1324 Views 3 Replies Latest reply: Mead324, Feb 14, 2013 5:44 AM

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1. Steve Werner,

Sep 10, 2012 10:15 PM in reply to Mykel

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I haven't tried to create custom graphics for a checkbox in CS6, but I can tell you where to find out. However, unless someone else here can explain it to you, you need to get a subscription to InDesign Magazine. Sandee Cohen has written a great article in the current issue (August/Septemer 2012) on creating forms and form fields in InDesign. She spends two pages on your topic alone. There is no way I can copy that much material from the article (pages 15-16).

Here's where you can get a subscription to InDesign Magazine—a great resource.

www.indesignmag.com/purchase.php

With the coupon code FRIEND you can save $20 on a 1-year subscription. With the coupon code FRIENDS, you can save $15 off a 2-year subscription.

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2. aldo_arriaga,

Sep 24, 2012 5:22 PM in reply to Mykel

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I found a solution to this.

When you choose an interactive element (say checkbox, radio button, etc) you are able to choose the different states of the button by clicking on those states in the Button and Forms panel. In order to edit the buttons, click the state you wish to edit and go to your button. Select it with White Arrow (A) and then you can modify the individual state... i.e. change color, delete parts, perhaps draw too...

I hope this is useful to you. Try it and let me know.

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3. Mead324,

Feb 14, 2013 5:44 AM in reply to Mykel

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I am having the same problem as Mykel. Using CS6, I've created a form and added checkboxes. I had a request that I customize the checkboxes to make them easier to see when checked. I adjusted the states of the checkbox and they seemed to function well....but only in Acrobat Pro X. When I open the PDF in Acrobat Reader XI, then the checkboxes act strangely. (Most of the end users will be using Acrobat Reader, so this is a concern.) When intially checked, they appear in the modified way that I want them to. However, as soon as the user clicks somewhere else on the page, the modified checkbox reverts to the default checkbox with a tick mark in it instead.

I'm exporting the PDF as an interactive PDF and have tried various settings. I've also experimented with creating a checkbox from scratch rather than modifying a provided checkbox. All to no avail. I'd welcome any thoughts or suggestions anyone may have. Hoping I've just missed a step in the process!

Here are links to my original CS6 InDesign document and the PDF:
https://workspaces.acrobat.com/?d=w15hEhbZV4LmGFdQYL-1pA

https://workspaces.acrobat.com/?d=5rdmI1K-LG8iFoFC4FTRdA

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