Adding an interactive Push 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

 

Print Button

This button will open the print options when a user selects it.

 

Step 1 - Choose Print Button option

• Open the Forms Tab.
• Click Print Button.

 

 

Step 2: Place the Push Button on your PDF

You will see the outline for the combo 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. It's already programmed and ready to go. 

 

Submit Form Button

This button will send the form data to a specific server when a user clicks it.

 

Step 1 - Choose Submit Button option

• Open the Forms Tab.
• Click Submit Button.

 

 

Step 2: Enter server URL

• Enter the server URL into the button.
• Click OK. 

 

 

Step 3: Place the Push Button on your PDF

You will see the outline for the combo 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. It's already programmed and ready to go. 

 

Email Button

This button will open an Outlook email message with the filled out form attached when a user clicks it.

 

Step 1 - Choose E-mail Button option

• Open the Forms Tab.
• Click E-mail Button.

 

 

Step 2: Enter email message details

• Fill out the fields that will be pre-populated
• Click OK. 

 

 

Step 3: Place the Push Button on your PDF

You will see the outline for the combo 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. It's already programmed and ready to go. 

 

Save Button

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

 

Step 1 - Choose Save Button option

• Open the Forms Tab.
• Click Save Button.

 

 

Step 2: Place the Save Button on your PDF

You will see the outline for the combo 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. It's already programmed and ready to go. 

 

Open File Button

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

 

Step 1: Add general push button

• Open the Forms tab.
• Click Push Button. 

 

 

Step 2: Place the Push 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

• Click on the Events tab.
• Click 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 action

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

 

 

You can now resize your button or move it anywhere on your page. It's already programmed and ready to go. 

 

Open Web Page Button

 

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

 

Step 1: Add general push button

• Open the Forms tab.
• Click Push Button. 

 

 

Step 2: Place the Push 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

• Click on the Events tab.
• Click 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 OK to confirm.

 

 

Step 6: Confirm action

Your action will appear in the bottom part of the Add Action window.

• Click OK to finalize.

 

 

You can now resize your button or move it anywhere on your page. It's already programmed and ready to go. 

 

Document Navigation Button

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

 

Step 1: Add general push button

• Open the Forms tab.
• Click Push Button. 

 

 

Step 2: Place the Push 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

• Click on the Events tab.
• Click 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 bottom.
• Click on the page to confirm.

 

 

Step 6: Confirm action

Your action will appear in the bottom part of the Add Action window.

• Click OK to finalize.

 

 

You can now resize your button or move it anywhere on your page. It's already programmed and ready to go. 

 

Reset Form Button

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

 

Step 1: Add general push button

• Open the Forms tab.
• Click Push Button. 

 

 

Step 2: Place the Push 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

• Click on the Events tab.
• Click next to Action.

 

 

Step 4: Choose Reset Form action 

• Click the Reset Form option in the Add Action window.

 

 

Step 5: Choose fields that will be reset

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

 

 

Step 6: Confirm action

Your action will appear in the bottom part of the Add Action window.

• Click OK to finalize.

 

 

You can now resize your button or move it anywhere on your page. It's already programmed and ready to go. 

 

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 general push button

• Open the Forms tab.
• Click Push Button. 

 

 

Step 2: Place the Push 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

• Click on the Events tab.
• Click next to Action.

 

 

Step 4: Choose Show Field or Hide Field action 

• Click the Show Field or Hide Field option in the Add Action window.

 

 

Step 5: Choose fields that will be hidden/revealed

• Choose the button that needs to be hidden/revealed.
• Click OK to confirm.

 

 

Step 6: Confirm action

Your action will appear in the bottom part of the Add Action window.

• Click OK to finalize.

 

 

You can now resize your button or move it anywhere on your page. It's already programmed and ready to go. 

 

JavaScript Coded Button

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

 

Step 1: Add general push button

• Open the Forms tab.
• Click Push Button. 

 

 

Step 2: Place the Push 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 5: Add your script

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

 

 

Step 6: Confirm action

Your action will appear in the bottom part of the Add Action window.

• Click OK to finalize.

 

 

You can now resize your button or move it anywhere on your page. It's already programmed and ready to go. 

 

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.

• Select an action in the list.
• Use the Up and Down arrows. 

 

 

You can remove an action from the button.

• Select an action in the list.
• Click DELETE.

 

 

 

Change Button Caption

You can update the button caption, the CTA that the user see.

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

 

 

• Choose the Appearance Tab.
• Click next to Caption.
• Type in your new caption and click anywhere else to confirm.

 

 

Testing your button

• Switch into View Mode
• Click on the button.

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