- Automatically calculate field values: Specify whether to automatically perform all field calculations right after users input the entries. This option is checked by default. The setting for the option only applies to your current session, and it will revert to the default setting after the application is restarted. When filling in a PDF form that contains barcode fields, it is recommended to keep this option checked so that the barcodes can be generated and updated instantly.
- Manage Barcode Parameters: List all the decode conditions including the seven presets. You can create, edit, remove, import, and export custom decode conditions. Please refer to “Decode Condition for Barcode Field” for details.
- Show focus rectangle: With the option selected, a dotted rectangle appears around a form field if the form field currently has the focus. The option is selected by default.
- Show text field overflow indicator: Select this option to show the plus (+) sign if the text in a text field does not automatically resize and exceeds the bound of the field.
- Always hide document message bar: Specify whether to show the notification message or not when you open an interactive PDF form. By default, a notification message will be displayed when you open an interactive PDF form in Foxit PDF Editor. The notification message informs you that the document is a fillable form. You can click the Hide button or light bulk on the document pane to collapse or expand the notification message. If you do not want to see the notification message, please check the Always hide document message bar option.
- Highlight all fields: This option is checked by default, which allows you to highlight all form fields in the PDF form (Tip: The signature fields will no longer be highlighted after users apply signatures). You can click the color palette to change the highlight color for ordinary fields as well as required fields.
- Open Properties box after creating field: When checked, the properties box appears when creating a form field.
- Run form recognition when creating PDF in Foxit PDF Editor: When checked, Foxit PDF Editor will run form recognition automatically when a PDF is created and opened in Foxit PDF Editor.
- Auto-Complete: Auto-Complete includes three options that allow you to turn on or off the auto-complete feature. When enabled, Foxit PDF Editor will store your entries and provide relevant suggestions as you fill in an interactive PDF form.
- Off: Turn off the auto-complete feature. No suggestion will be provided when you fill in an interactive PDF form.
- Basic: Enable auto-complete feature, and provide relevant suggestions when you enter a character in the interactive form field.
- Advanced: Enable auto-complete feature, and automatically display a list of suggestions when you tab into a form field.
- Remember numerical data: This option is available when you choose Basic or Advanced in the Auto-Complete drop-down list. If it is enabled, Foxit PDF Editor will store numerical entries as well, otherwise, only text entries will be remembered.
- Edit Entry list: Remove the saved entries from the auto-complete memory.
Fill out PDF Forms
Foxit PDF Editor helps you work on both interactive PDF forms which contain fillable fields and non-interactive PDF forms which act as plain PDF files with lines and texts.
Fill in Non-interactive PDF Forms
You can use the tools in the Fill & Sign context tab (or the Foxit eSign tab) to add text and symbols in non-interactive PDF forms. As you move the cursor on the page with a fill tool selected, a blue frame appears if the cursor is hovering above a fillable area.
- Click Foxit eSign, or Home/Protect >Fill & Sign. Then you will find the form filling tools in the Foxit eSign tab or Fill & Sign context tab.
- To add normal text, select Add Text. Then click on the form where you want to add text, and input your text.
- To add text in continuous boxes in a line, select Comb Field. Then click on the form where you want to add text, and input your text. The comb field will spread text evenly across the width of the text field, which is very useful when you are filling in phone numbers, social security numbers, etc.
- To add predefined text such as name, date or address, click Predefined Text, and do the following:
- By default, Foxit PDF Editor will detect and display the current date and user name of your system in the predefined text list. If you want to predefine custom text, click Set Predefined Text. In the pop-up Set Predefined Text dialog box, click Set Identity to set your identity information, and save it as predefined text. Or double-click on the blank area in the box to input any text as desired. Upon completion, click OK to save your settings. Then all your custom predefined text will be listed in the Predefined Text drop-down list.
- Select a predefined text from the Predefined Text drop-down list, and click on the form where you want to add it.
- To add symbols, do the following:
- Select the Add Checkmark, Add Cross, or Add Dot tool to fill in check boxes or radio buttons. Select the Add Line tool to strike out text, or Add Rectangle tool to add rectangles.
- Then click on the form where you want to place the symbol.
- After adding text or symbols, use the field toolbar floating above them to make appropriate changes, if necessary.
- Click
or 
to decrease or increase the size. For symbols, you can also drag any of the handles to resize it. For comb fields, dragging the resize handle on the right-side of the field can also help you adjust the width of the field. The adjustments to size will be remembered and applied as the default. - To convert a normal text field into comb field or vice versa, click the Comb Field icon
or Add Text icon 
correspondingly. - To replace the current text or symbol, click
, and choose a desired option from the toolbar. - To move the text or symbol, drag it directly to the desired location.
- To delete the text or symbol, click
.
- Click
- After filling in the form, you can sign the form with your handwritten signature. For more information, please refer to “Foxit eSign” and “Quick PDF Sign”.
- When you have completed the form, click the Save button
or choose File >Save to save it.
Tip: The fill tool will be kept as selected by default for you to add the same object continuously. If you need to exit the fill tool, press the ESC key, or select another desired tool directly.
Fill in Interactive PDF Forms
- Make sure that you have selected the Hand command.
- Click the form field to input text or select the option as desired. For the text fields, you can right-click on it, and choose the options from the context menu to select, copy, cut, paste, or delete the text.
- Upon completion, click the Save button
(or File >Save) to save the PDF form. - You can follow the steps below to print the form, if needed:
- Click the Print button
in the Quick Access Toolbar, or click File >Print. - In the Print dialog box, specify the printer and other printing options as desired. Select the following option as needed in the Print What field:
- To print both the form and the input entries, select Document andmarkups;
- To print the typed entries only, select Form fields only;
- To print the form only, select Document;
- Click Print.
- Click the Print button
Reset Interactive Form Fields
You can clear all the interactive form entries with the following steps:
- Click Form >Reset Form.
- Click Yes in the pop-up message to confirm your operation.
Manage Form Data
For AcroForms, Foxit PDF Editor allows you to import and export form data in XML, XFDF, TXT, or CSV formats. For XFA forms, you can import and export form data in XML and XDP formats.
