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C
Cor24
Level 1
January 22, 2026
Question

Allow users to format text in a dynamic xfa pdf form field

  • January 22, 2026
  • 1 reply
  • 23 views

For our dynamic xfa pdf forms that are created in AEM (LiveCycle), we have some fields where users need to be able to add formatting like bold, bullets, indenting, etc. Do you have any suggestions for doing this?

    1 reply

    P
    Adobe Employee
    Pranay_MAdobe Employee
    Adobe Employee
    January 23, 2026

    Hi ​@Cor24,

    To answer your question, Yes, XFA supports a subset of HTML-like “rich text” (bold, lists, etc.) inside fields. In Forms Designer, you can turn a plain text field into a rich-text field:

    1. Open the form in AEM Forms Designer (or legacy LiveCycle Designer).
    2. Select the text field in Design View.
    3. In the Field tab, set Field Format = Rich Text.

    Please note that In PDF/XFA (opened in Acrobat/Reader), users typically do not get a full RTE toolbar; they can paste formatted content, but interactive RTE controls are basically an HTML5 feature. However, when the XFA is rendered as an HTML5 Form, the field is rendered with a rich-text toolbar:

    “You can convert a text field to a rich text field. It adds a list of formatting options to the text field. To convert, open the Forms Designer, select the text field in Design View. In the Field tab, select Rich Text from the Field Format drop-down list. Now, when the XFA form is rendered as an HTML5 Form, the field is rendered as a rich text field.”

    https://experienceleague.adobe.com/en/docs/experience-manager-65/content/forms/html5-forms/designing-form-template#capabilities-in-aem-forms-designer-for-html-forms

    Thanks
    Pranay

    C
    Cor24Author
    Level 1
    January 29, 2026

    Thank you for the response. Unfortunately, we are not rendering in html for these particular forms. Any other solutions you know of?

    P
    Adobe Employee
    Pranay_MAdobe Employee
    Adobe Employee
    January 30, 2026

    Hi ​@Cor24,

     

    Thank you for confirming that these forms are rendered purely as dynamic XFA PDFs and not using HTML or rich-text rendering.

    In this case, it’s important to clarify a platform limitation: dynamic XFA PDF forms do not support true end-user rich-text authoring (such as bold text, bullet lists, or indentation) within a single field when HTML/Rich Text rendering is not used. Acrobat/Reader does not provide any formatting controls for plain XFA text fields, and mixed formatting inside a single field is therefore not supported.

    That said, there are a few supported and commonly used alternatives:

    1. Structured form design
      The form can be designed using multiple fields or repeating subforms to simulate formatting (for example, separate fields or rows for bullets, headings, and indented text). This approach is widely used, works reliably in Reader, and produces predictable, compliant output.

    2. Predefined formatted fields
      Separate fields with fixed formatting (e.g. heading fields, bullet fields, notes fields) can be provided, allowing users to enter content while the form controls the visual appearance.

    3. Apply formatting during output generation
      If formatting is primarily required in the final generated PDF, users can enter plain text during data capture, and formatting (bullets, indentation, emphasis) can be applied programmatically during PDF generation or post-processing.

    Unfortunately, a Word-like rich text editing experience inside a single PDF field is not supported in non-HTML XFA forms.

    Thanks
    Pranay

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