PDF (adobe.com)

Apply the Validate Form behavior

The Validate Form behavior checks the contents of specified text fields to ensure that the user has entered the correct type of data. Attach this behavior to individual text fields with the onBlur event to validate the fields as the user is filling out the form, or attach it to the form with the onSubmit event to evaluate several text fields at once when the user clicks the Submit button. Attaching this behavior to a form prevents the submission of forms with invalid data.

  1. Select Insert > Form or click the Form button in the Insert panel to insert a form.
  2. Select Insert > Form > Text Field or click the Text Field button in the Insert panel to insert a text field.

    Repeat this step to insert additional text fields.

  3. Choose a validation method:

    • To validate individual fields as the user fills out the form, select a text field and select Window > Behaviors.

    • To validate multiple fields when the user submits the form, click the <form> tag in the tag selector at the lower-left corner of the Document window and choose Window > Behaviors.

  4. Select Validate Form from the Add Behavior menu.
  5. Do one of the following:

    • If you are validating individual fields, select the same field that you selected in the Document window from the Fields list.

    • If you are validating multiple fields, select a text field from the Fields list.

  6. Select the Required option if the field must contain some data.
  7. Select one of the following Accept options:
    Use Anything
    Checks that a required field contains data; the data can be of any type.

    Use E‑mail address
    Checks that the field contains an @ symbol.

    Use Number
    Checks that the field contains only numerals.

    Use Number From
    Checks that the field contains a number in a specific range.

  8. If you have chosen to validate multiple fields, repeat steps 6 and 7 for any additional fields that you want to validate.
  9. Click OK.

    If you are validating multiple fields when the user submits the form, the onSubmit event automatically appears in the Events menu.

  10. If you are validating individual fields, check that the default event is onBlur or onChange. If not, select one of those events.

    Both events trigger the Validate Form behavior when the user moves away from the field. The difference is that onBlur occurs whether or not the user has typed in the field, and onChange occurs only if the user changed the contents of the field. The onBlur event is preferred if the field is required.