PDF Forms, Auto-Calculate

Adobe PDF Forms can contain fields that auto-calculate. These can include fields containing user-input
values and fields containing unchanging values set by the form’s designer.

NOTE: For more on PDF Forms, go to:

https://www.cuesta.edu/departments/documents/training_docs/PDF_Forms_QR.pdf

The example below illustrates creating a form using the following fields:
• NumberOfTickets - User enters how many tickets they wish to purchase
• TicketPrice – Contains a set value, “12”, the price of a single ticket
• TotalPrice – An auto-calculating field; number of tickets * ticket price

1. Create a Word document with spaces for user-input and calculation fields.

2. Convert the Word document into a PDF form using Acrobat Pro:
a. In Acrobat click the Tools tab, and then click Prepare Form.
b. Click Select a file.
c. Locate and open the Word document to convert, and then click Start.
d. Click OK.

Steps
3. If necessary, edit the fields requiring user-
input, formatting appropriately.
Example
i. Locate or create a text field for the
number of tickets, calling it
“NumberOfTickets”.
ii. Double-click the NumberOfTickets field
and on the Format tab, set “Select format
category” to Number, “Decimal Places”
to 0, and “Currency Symbol” to None.

PDF Forms, Auto-Calculate Page 1 of 5 Last Revised Date: November 29, 2017
Steps
4. Add and/or edit fields containing static
(unchanging) values to be used in calculation,
selecting the Read Only option and entering a
number in the Default Value field.
5. Add and/or edit fields containing calculation
results, selecting the Read Only option and
creating a calculation.
PDF Forms, Auto-Calculate
Example
iii. Add a text field, calling it “TicketPrice”.
iv. Double-click the TicketPrice field and on
the General tab, click the check box for
“Read Only”.
v. On the TicketPrice field Properties
Options tab, enter the static value to be
computed (i.e. 12) in the “Default Value”
field.
vi. On the TicketPrice field Properties Format
tab, set “Select format category” to
Number and “Currency Symbol” to $.
Page 2 of 5 Last Revised Date: November 29, 2017
 Steps Example
vii. Add a text field, calling it “TicketPrice”.
viii. Double-click the TicketPrice field and on
the General tab, click the check box for
“Read Only”.
ix. On the TicketPrice field Properties
Options tab, enter the static value to be
computed (i.e. 12) in the “Default Value”
field.

x. On the TicketPrice field Properties Format

tab, set “Select format category” to
Number and “Currency Symbol” to $.

6. Add and/or edit fields containing calculation xi. Add a text field for the total ticket price,
results, selecting the Read Only option and calling it “TotalPrice”.
creating a calculation. xii. Double-click the TotalPrice field and on
the General tab click the check box,
“Read Only”.

PDF Forms, Auto-Calculate Page 3 of 5 Last Revised Date: November 29, 2017
 Steps Example
xiii. On the TotalPrice field Properties Format
tab, set “Select format category” to
Number and “Currency Symbol” to $.

xiv. On the TotalPrice field Properties

Calculate tab, click the button for “Value
is the” and set the dropdown to product
(x).

xv. Click the Pick… button.

The Field Selection screen will display

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 Steps Example
xvi. Select the check boxes for
“NumberOfTickets” and “TotalPrice”,
and then click OK.

xvii. Close the Text Field Properties window.

7. Make any other necessary changes and save the PDF form.

8. Reopen the form in Acrobat Pro and, from the menu bar, select File > Save As > Reader Extended
PDF > Enable Additional Features.
The “Enable Usage Rights in Adobe Reader” will display.

9. Click Save Now.

10. Save the document, either with a new name or with the same name replacing the original PDF form.

PDF Forms, Auto-Calculate Page 5 of 5 Last Revised Date: November 29, 2017