Adding an interactive Action Button to a form

Topics

You can add interactive fields to your form. Soda PDF can add pre-set options like a Print Button, Submit Form Button, Email Button, and a Save Button. 

This article will not cover changing your button's appearance, you can learn more in our full-form field properties guide. 

You can also program your own button with JavaScript. This article will cover how you can add each of the following:

• Print Button
• Submit Form Button
• Email Button
• Save Button
• Open File Button
• Open Web Page Button
• Document Navigation Button
• Reset Form Button
• Show/Hide Field Button
• JavaScript-coded Button

 

Other topics we'll cover:

• Managing Multiple Actions
• Change Button Caption
• Testing your Button
• Deleting a Button

 

Save Button

This button will trigger the Save As command when a user clicks it.

 

Step 1 - Choose the Save Button Option

• Open the Forms Tab.
• Select Button.
• Click Save.

 

 

Step 2 - Place the Save Button on your PDF

You will see the outline for the box appear on your document. You can position it wherever you would like.

• Click anywhere in your file to place the button.
  • Hold down your left mouse button and drag the cursor to resize the field as you place it. 

 

 

You can now resize your button or move it anywhere on your page in the Edit Mode. 

 

 

Open File Button

When a user clicks this button, a specific file will open. Please note that whoever receives this file will need access to the file location. 

 

Step 1 - Add an Action Button

• Open the Forms tab.
• Select Button.
• Click Action Button.

 

 

Step 2 - Place the Action Button on your PDF

You will see the outline for the push button appear on your document. You can position it wherever you would like.

• Click anywhere in your file to place the button.
  • Hold down your left mouse button and drag the cursor to resize the field as you place it. 

 

 

Step 3 - Open Add Action Window

• Select your button while in Edit Mode.
• Open the Properties.
• Click on the Events tab.
• Click on Set next to Action.

 

 

Step 4 - Choose Open File Action 

• Click the Open File option in the Add Action window.

 

 

Step 5 - Choose your File and Confirm the Action

• A Browse Window will open and you can choose the file. 
• Your action will appear in the Add Action window, click ADD to confirm.

 

 

Open Web Page Button

When a user clicks this button, a specific web page will open. 

 

Step 1 - Add an Action Button

• Open the Forms tab.
• Choose Button.
• Click Action Button.

 

 

Step 2 - Place the Button on your PDF

You will see the outline for the button appear on your document. You can position it wherever you would like.

• Click anywhere in your file to place the button.
  • Hold down your left mouse button and drag the cursor to resize the field as you place it. 

 

 

Step 3 - Open Add Action Window

• Select your button while in Edit Mode.
• Open the Properties.
• Click on the Events tab.
• Click on Set next to Action.

 

 

Step 4 - Choose Open Web Page Action 

• Click the Open Web Page option in the Add Action window.

 

 

Step 5 - Enter the URL

• Enter the URL into the box.
• Click Apply to confirm.

 

 

Step 6 - Confirm the Action

Your action will appear in the Add Action window.

• Click ADD to finalize.

 

 

Document Navigation Button

When a user clicks this button, they will be brought to a specific page in your PDF. 

 

Step 1 - Add an Action Button

• Open the Forms tab.
• Select Button.
• Click Action Button.

 

 

Step 2 - Place the Action Button on your PDF

You will see the outline for the button appear on your document. You can position it wherever you would like.

• Click anywhere in your file to place the button.
  • Hold down your left mouse button and drag the cursor to resize the field as you place it. 

 

 

Step 3 - Open Add Action Window

• Select your button while in Edit Mode.
• Open the Properties.
• Click on the Events tab.
• Click on Set next to Action.

 

 

Step 4 - Choose Go to Page Action 

• Click the Go to Page option in the Add Action window.

 

 

Step 5 - Navigate to your Target Page

• Scroll to the target page.
  • You can also use the navigation options at the right bottom corner of the page.
• Click on the page to confirm.

 

 

Step 6 - Confirm the Action

Your action will appear in the Add Action window.

• Click ADD to finalize.

 

 

Reset Form Button

When a user clicks this button, you can choose certain form fields to be reset. 

 

Step 1 - Add an Action Button

• Open the Forms tab.
• Choose Button.
• Click Action Button.

 

 

Step 2 - Place the Button on your PDF

You will see the outline for the button appear on your document. You can position it wherever you would like.

• Click anywhere in your file to place the button.
  • Hold down your left mouse button and drag the cursor to resize the field as you place it. 

 

 

Step 3 - Open Add Action Window

• Select your button while in Edit Mode.
• Open the Properties.
• Click on the Events tab.
• Click on Set next to Action.

 

 

Step 4 - Choose Reset Form Action 

• Click on the 3 dots in the Add action window.
• Choose the Reset Form option.

 

 

Step 5 - Choose Fields that will be reset

• Check the boxes next to any field that needs to be reset.
• Click Apply to confirm.

 

 

Step 6 - Confirm the Action

Your action will appear in the Add Action window.

• Click ADD to finalize.

 

 

Show/Hide Field Button

The Show Field option lets you create a trigger to display hidden fields. The Hide Field option lets you hide certain fields. 

 

Step 1 - Add an Action Button

• Open the Forms tab.
• Choose Button.
• Click Action Button.

 

 

Step 2 - Place the Button on your PDF

You will see the outline for the push button appear on your document. You can position it wherever you would like.

• Click anywhere in your file to place the button.
  • Hold down your left mouse button and drag the cursor to resize the field as you place it. 

 

 

Step 3 - Open Add Action Window

• Select your button while in Edit Mode.
• Open the Properties.
• Click on the Events tab.
• Click on Set next to Action.

 

 

Step 4 - Choose Show Field or Hide Field Action 

• Click on the 3 dots in the Add action window.
• Choose the Show Field or Hide Field option.

 

 

Step 5 - Choose Fields that will be Hidden/Revealed

• Choose the form fields that need to be hidden/revealed.
• Click Apply to confirm.

 

 

Step 6 - Confirm the Action

Your action will appear in the Add Action window.

• Click ADD to finalize.

 

 

JavaScript Coded Button

You can code a button that uses a script made with JavaScript. 

 

Step 1 - Add an Action Button

• Open the Forms tab.
• Choose Button.
• Click Action Button.

 

 

Step 2 - Place the Button on your PDF

You will see the outline for the button appear on your document. You can position it wherever you would like.

• Click anywhere in your file to place the button.
  • Hold down your left mouse button and drag the cursor to resize the field as you place it. 

 

 

Step 5 - Add your Script

• Enter your script into the box.
• Click OK to confirm.

 

 

Step 6 - Confirm the Action

Your action will appear in the Add Action window.

• Click ADD to finalize.

 

 

Managing Multiple Actions

You can set up your button to have multiple actions at once. They will be triggered in the order they appear. 

You can rearrange the order of any actions.

• Drag and drop actions to change the action execution order.

 

 

You can remove an action from the button.

• Click the bin icon next to the action you want to remove.

 

 

Change Button Caption

You can update the button caption that the user sees.

• Select your button while in Edit Mode.
• Open the Properties.
• Choose the Appearance Tab. 

 

 

• Open the Text section.
• Type in your new caption and click anywhere else to confirm.

 

 

Click here to learn more about changing the appearance properties of the form fields. 

 

Testing your Button

• Switch into View Mode.
• Click on the button.

 

 

Deleting a Button

• Click into Edit Mode. 
• Right-click on the button.
• Select Remove.