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Two Dynamic Tables

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Level 3

I have two dynamic tables in my form.  Each table dynamically sizes base on pressing add or remove buttons.  However, the first table expands into the other table.  I cannot place the two tables in one like the purchase order sample because after the second table I will have additional fields and text...  So the two tables need to expand the page to account for the additional lines.  Any suggestions of how to link the tables to account for the other one and the additional text fields?

Thanks

1 Accepted Solution

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Correct answer by
Level 10

Hi,

Here you go. The main problem is that the parent subform (page1) was set to positioned and not flowed). It is working now, but there are form elements that you will want to put into a positioned subform.

Basic approach should be:

  • Design form initially using positioned subforms;
  • Wrap form objects that do not grow into positioned subforms (eg these will be objects that are next to each other in a group that don't change position or size relative to each other);
  • You may end up with a few positioned subforms;
  • Then wrap the dynamic objects (those that increase in size or addInstance) into flowed subforms. Again there may be a few of these interspersed in between the positioned flowcharts;
  • Last step - set the parent subform to flowed. At this stage things will move around the form and you may need to tweak the flowed subforms to get the look and feel right.

Basically that is what I did with your form (apart from teaking objects back into the right position).

I hope that helps,

Niall

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11 Replies

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Level 10

Hi,

You need to wrap both tables in a flowed subform, so that when the first table expands it pushes the second one down. Here are some samples.

Hope that helps,

Niall

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Level 3

Hi: 

My problem that I'm having now is that the page break is not working.  Also, does the second table need a flowed subform if it's going to expand as well to move text below it?

Thanks

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Level 10

Hi,

The second will only need a flowed subform if the objects inside the table are set to expand to fit OR if you have buttons to add more rows to the table.

Positioned / flowed refers to how the objects inside the subform will behave.

If the second table is static, then it can be a positioned subform.  If the second table is dynamic, then it will need a flowed subform as well.

There is an option in the Object / Subform panel for "allowing page breaks within content". You could tick this, but then also make sure in the warning tab that this behaviour is allowed for the target version.

Note you will have to save the form as dynamic form in order to get the form to flow.

Good luck,

Niall

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Level 3

Niall:

I do get a warning tab  once that is selected....  Any suggestions of how to resolve that?

Thanks

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Level 10

Hi,

I have just checked and "allowing page breaks in content" is a feature that was introduced in Acrobat/Reader v9. So to clear the warning you will need to go into the File / Form Properties / Defaults tab and select a target version of v9.0 or v9.1.

Users with older versions may have a problem.

Hope that helps,

Niall

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Level 3

That did not work...  This is the exclamnation mark i'm getting "This Objec

t may not work properly....  Although the object is allowed to break, deselecting the allow page breaks within content option of the parent object restricts this object from breaking between pages."

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Level 10

Hi,

You can get that error when there is a conflict in "allowing breaks in content" between a subform and the parent subforms above it.

Here the subform allows breaks in content, but the page subform (parent / root subform) does not allow breaks in content. Hence the error. You just need to go through the parent subforms and make a consistent choice.

Parallels Desktop1.png

Hope that helps,

Niall

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Level 3

Almost got it working....  I was able to get rid of the exclamation points....  however, when I click the add button to insert more

rows, it never carrys over to the new page.

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Level 10

Hi,

Both the parent and the flowed subform should allow breaking of content. The problem may be in the pagination tab, it should look something like this:

Parallels Desktop1.png

If that doesn't work, it might be useful to post the form, so I can see what is going on.

Good luck,

Niall

Avatar

Correct answer by
Level 10

Hi,

Here you go. The main problem is that the parent subform (page1) was set to positioned and not flowed). It is working now, but there are form elements that you will want to put into a positioned subform.

Basic approach should be:

  • Design form initially using positioned subforms;
  • Wrap form objects that do not grow into positioned subforms (eg these will be objects that are next to each other in a group that don't change position or size relative to each other);
  • You may end up with a few positioned subforms;
  • Then wrap the dynamic objects (those that increase in size or addInstance) into flowed subforms. Again there may be a few of these interspersed in between the positioned flowcharts;
  • Last step - set the parent subform to flowed. At this stage things will move around the form and you may need to tweak the flowed subforms to get the look and feel right.

Basically that is what I did with your form (apart from teaking objects back into the right position).

I hope that helps,

Niall