Configuring a Text Box object

Text Box objects are interactive objects that enable you to display and edit text. Only a rectangular text box can be a Text Box object. You can specify the font, size, type style, color, and alignment of text in Text Box objects.

Note: If a text box is not a Text Box object, it is converted to vectors and always displays as you see it in the Interactive layout. However, when working with a Text Box object, you must embed the fonts in the presentation if you want to be sure they will display on the end-user’s computer (see “Configuring export settings“). To ensure that a font is actually embedded, you must apply the font to at least one character or empty paragraph in a Text Box object somewhere in the layout. If you do not embed fonts, a default font will be used.

To configure a Text Box object:

  1. Create a Text Box object, as described in “Creating an object.” Make sure the Text Box object is selected.
  2. To indicate the Text Box object type, choose an option from the Display as drop-down menu:
    • Simple: The end user can select and copy text, but they cannot edit it.
    • Editable: The end user can edit the text in the box.
    • Scrollable: The box has a scroll bar. The end user can select and copy text, but they cannot edit it.
    • Editable and Scrollable: The box has a scroll bar, and the end user can edit the text in the box.
    • List: The box has a scroll bar and contains a list of items, each of which uses one line. The user can select one of the items in the list at a time.
  3. To configure additional settings for a Simple Text Box object, choose one or more options from the Options drop-down menu:
    • To hide the Text Box object until it displays using a Show action, choose Initially Hidden.
    • To prevent changes from being made to the Text Box object until it is enabled with an Enable action, choose Initially Disable.
    • To retain the Text Box object’s state when an end user exits and then re-enters the page the object is on, choose Keep Status on Page Entry.
    • To display all characters in the box as asterisks, choose Protected. This option can be useful for password-entry fields.
  4. To specify the initial position of the Text Box object, choose an option from the Initially at drop-down menu:
    • To initially display the Text Box object as it displays in the Presentation layout, choose Home.
    • To initially position the Simple Text Box object on the pasteboard, choose Top, Bottom, Left, or Right.

Configuring a Text Box object