Problem: Some text fields set to expand don’t expand

[TPK]

I have been asked to troubleshoot a form document being created in Adobe LiveCycle Designer ES 8.2. This is a multi-part form (4 and a half pages long).

The problem is that two text fields on the form’s first page (that are set to auto-expand as the user enters text) don’t seem to work properly. Instead of auto-expanding, the text overflows outside the field’s bounding box. This only seems to occure on the first page for the form and in only these two text fields.

When I inspect the problem field’s properties this is what I see:

Object: Field (tab)

Type: Text Field

Appearance: Sunken Box

Allow Multiple Lines: (checked)

Allow Page Breaks within Content: (checked)

Field Format: Plain Text Only

Presence: Visible

Locale: Default Locale

Layout:

X: 0.125in

Y: 6.125in

Width: 7.625in (expand to fit: No)

Height: 1.625in (expand to fit: Yes, checked)

Anchor: Top Left

Margins: Left: .0394in, Right: .0394in, Top: .0394in, Bottom: .0394in

Caption: Position: None

When I look at other non-problem fields, this is what I see:

Object: Field (tab)

Type: Text Field

Appearance: Sunken Box

Allow Multiple Lines: (checked)

Allow Page Breaks within Content: (checked)

Field Format: Plain Text Only

Presence: Visible

Locale: Default Locale

Layout:

X: Blank (grayed out)

Y: Blank (grayed out)

Width: 7.625in (expand to fit: No)

Height: 2.625in (expand to fit: Yes, checked)

Anchor: Top Left

Margins: Left: .0394in, Right: .0394in, Top: .0394in, Bottom: .0394in

Caption: Position: None

Additionally it appears the problem fields are “isolated" on the first page. The fields do not make contact with any other object on the page. Whereas on the other pages the fields all make contact with each other or some other object.

Does anyone have a clue as to where the problem lies and what to do about it?

Thank you,

TPK

[Niall_O_Donovan]

Hi,

The first page is set to a Positioned Type. See Object > Subform palette. You will need to change this to a Flowed Type. When you do this, things are going to move on the page and be stacked vertically on the left hand side of the page.

I generally recommend placing objects that don't need to expand, inside a Positioned subform. These will then keep their relative position when the page is set to Flowed.

See here:

http://assure.ly/eSGQMt (Flowed/Positioned subform)

http://assure.ly/e2jR0C (expanding objects in flowed forms)

http://assure.ly/g80MVY (making fields dynamic)

Hope that helps,

Niall

[TPK]

Thank you Niall, that did the trick. I suspected it had something to do with the way the fields displayed differently on the pages but for the life of me I couldn't remember waht setting to change.

TPK