Prerelease Documentation: Form Field Borders

Last updated on Mar 18, 2025

Alert:

This article contains prerelease information. Release dates, features, and other information are subject to change without notice.

Three pages are presented below:

The controls to configure the default value for checkboxes and radio button borders.
The updated Checkbox field page containing the Show field border property.
The updated Radio button field page containing the Show field border property.

Set the default value to show or hide the field borders for Checkbox and Radio button fields.

Checkbox and Radio button fields include a native border around the check mark or selection. This border is useful when the document does not have pre-printed boxes, ensuring selections remain visually clear.

If the document already includes printed boxes, aligning fields to match them can be challenging. Disabling the field borders removes the extra outline, leaving only the check mark or selection indicator, resulting in a cleaner and more professional final document.

The Form Field Borders control sets the default border visibility for both checkboxes and radio buttons, allowing you to either display or hide borders based on your document’s needs.

Configuration

Availability:

Acrobat Standard and Acrobat Pro: Not Configurable
Acrobat Sign Solutions: Supported; Disabled by default
Acrobat Sign for Government: Supported; Disabled by default

Configuration scope:

Administrators can enable this feature at the account and group levels.

Access this feature by navigating the administrator's configuration menu to Send Settings > Form Field Borders

The Send Settings menu highlighting the Form Field Borders controls.

This setting defines the default value for the checkbox and radio button field property that displays the field borders. This does not lock the field value, and form authors can change the border setting after placing the fields.

Enabled – Checkbox and radio button fields will default to showing borders.
Disabled – Checkbox and radio button fields will default to hiding borders.

Form authors can adjust the border visibility as needed to match the document’s design and ensure a polished final appearance.

Use Checkboxes to allow recipients to select one or more options from a group of choices.

Checkboxes make forms more straightforward by allowing users to select multiple options with a single action. They are ideal for collecting preferences, permissions, and confirmations, such as subscribing to updates or agreeing to terms and conditions.

They also improve accessibility and usability. Checkboxes are easy to navigate with a keyboard or screen reader, making them an inclusive choice for all users. Since they provide explicit, visual confirmation of selections, they help reduce errors and ensure user intent is accurately captured.

By simplifying decision-making and streamlining form completion, checkboxes create a faster, more efficient experience. They eliminate unnecessary typing and make it easy for users to interact with a form, leading to higher completion rates and better data accuracy.

Availability:

Acrobat Standard and Acrobat Pro: Supported
Acrobat Sign Solutions: Supported
Acrobat Sign for Government: Supported

Left-click field menu

Left-clicking (or CMD-clicking) a checkbox field opens a submenu that provides quick access to common customization options. This submenu offers a streamlined alternative to the entire field customization menu, making it especially attractive to experienced form builders.

Of note is the option to convert the field into a Radio Button.

View of the field with the left click field menu exposed.

Settings impacting the field:

Checkboxes can be configured to display or hide the box that surrounds the check icon.

If the underlying form already has boxes printed on it, removing the field's box graphic will result in a cleaner-looking final document.

The default value (to display or omit the box) can be set in your group's Send Settings:

Note:

The default value of the checkbox graphics is applied when the field is placed, but the user placing the fields can always change the configuration in the fields customizable properties.

Customizing the field properties:

Double-clicking the field opens the full customization menu in the context panel.

The field's left-click menu also has an option to open the Customize field panel:

The Checkbox field with the left-click menu exposed and Customise field highlighted.

Checkbox fields have five sections that can be configured:

When added to an agreement, each field must be assigned to a specific participant (Prefill, participant1, participant2) or condition (Any recipient, All recipients). Field assignment determines who can interact with the field, ensuring that only the designated recipient(s) can complete it.

Field Assignment Options

Explicitly Assigned to a Recipient – Only the designated recipient can fill in explicitly assigned. If the field is required, they must complete it before proceeding. If the field is optional and left empty, it remains locked for others.
Prefill – Prefill fields are available only to the sender before the agreement is sent. Recipients cannot edit or interact with prefilled fields.
Any recipient – The field is available to each recipient in turn until one of them enters content. Once completed, it becomes locked (read-only) for all subsequent recipients.

Proper field assignment ensures clarity in document workflows, prevents unauthorized edits, and maintains structured, organized agreements.

The Field Assigned To section of the field properties with three recipients and three example fields

Tip:

Note that the colored dot next to a recipient’s name or email in the recipient list corresponds to the colored border of the fields assigned to that recipient. This visual cue helps quickly identify which fields belong to each signer, making it easier to manage and verify field assignments within the agreement.

The Checkbox field includes four configurable elements:

Required field – When selected, the field becomes mandatory. The assigned recipient must interact with it, which is uncommon with checkboxes.
- If you have a use case that requires a checkbox, consider if using an Initials field would provide a more effective result.
Value type – Allows the form author to change the field value between Entered and Calculated.
- An Entered value expects the recipient to interact with the field to either check or uncheck it.
- A Calculated value expects the field value (checked or unchecked) to be automatically adjusted based on the values of other fields. Selecting the Calculated option will:
  - Require the form author to enter a formula to alter the checkbox value.
  - Lock the field value such that the recipient can't edit it. The field is calculated, so manually editing it is not permitted.
  - Remove the option to set the field as Required. The field value is set outside the action of the recipient.
  - Remove the option to set the Checkbox default value.
Checkbox default - Define if the checkbox should be Checked or Unchecked when the agreement is first displayed to the recipient.
Field name - The name of the field. Naming your field intuitively will significantly improve the experience when running reports and data exports. The default values will reflect the field type and an incrementing value. Consider changing the name to reflect the use of the field. e.g., Customer Initials, Countersignature Initials, Manager Initials.

View of the field customization menu with the Customizable Field Type section highlighted.

Custom Field Content controls how the field appears in the form:

Tooltip – A tooltip is a message that appears in a text bubble when the recipient hovers over a field in the e-signing experience. Use this value to display the field name or provide simple instructions.
Lock field value - When enabled, the field is read-only. The recipient will not be allowed to alter the value.
Show field border – When enabled, the checkbox's square border is visible and appears in the final document.
- When disabled, the border is hidden, and only the checkmark is printed. If the document already includes a checkbox, this creates a cleaner look.
- The default value of this property (enabled or disabled) is controlled in the Group Send Settings menu.

The "Customize field" panel highlighting the "Customize Field Content" section

The advanced field actions are the same as those available when you right-click a field to open the quick menu.

Copy field – Copies the field and its current values to your clipboard. The only difference between the original and copied field is the field name.
- To paste, right-click where you want the field and select Paste from the menu.
- You can also use the keyboard shortcuts Ctrl/Cmd + C to copy and Ctrl/Cmd + V to paste.
Delete field – Removes the field.
- You can recover a deleted field using the Undo shortcut: Ctrl/Cmd + Z if needed.
Clone and link fields – Creates an identical clone of the field with the same name and properties next to the original field. Because the fields share the same name, they remain linked—editing one updates all linked copies. Likewise, when a recipient enters content into one field, it's replicated to all its clones. This is useful when multiple forms in an agreement require the same information. For example, if a form requests a signer's Name and Address more than once, cloning the fields allows the signer to enter their information once, automatically updating all linked fields.
- You can create multiple linked clones of the same field.
- You can delete an individual clone of a field without impacting the other clones.
Repeat Field on All Pages – Adds a copy of the field to every page of the agreement in the same position as the original (using the same x and y coordinates).

The Advanced Field Actions section of the field properties.

You can set conditions to control how fields interact with each other, allowing fields to appear or be hidden based on user input.

A condition determines whether a field is shown or hidden when specific values are met. This can be triggered by a single event (such as checking a box) or a series of events where any or all conditions must be met (such as checking a box, applying a signature, and selecting a radio button).

Setting Field Conditions in Acrobat Sign

When configuring conditional logic for a field, you define how it behaves when specific conditions are met.

Field state: How does the field change?

The Field state setting determines whether the field is shown or hidden when triggered by a condition:

Show this field – The field is hidden by default and appears when the condition is met.
Hide this field – The field is visible by default and disappears when the condition is met.

When: What is the scope of conditions for changing the field state?

The condition scope defines if one or all conditions must be met to effect a change in the field state.

Any – If any defined conditions are met, the action is triggered.
All – Every condition in the set must be met before the action is triggered.

Conditions: What has to happen for the field state to change?

Conditions define which criteria must be satisfied before the action occurs. The condition must identify a specific field and evaluate that field's state or contents based on the operator.
Define a condition by:

Select a field – Choose the field that will act as the trigger. All fields currently on the form are listed.
Choose an operator – Define how the trigger evaluates the field's state. The available options vary based on the field type (e.g., for checkboxes: is/isn't selected; for text fields: comparisons such as equals, greater than, or contains)
Set the trigger value – Define the value that activates the condition. For checkboxes, this is checked or unchecked. For text fields, this can be a specific value or a Contains/Doesn't contain type of expression.

Multiple conditions can be set by selecting the plus icon under the existing condition. This adds a new condition that can be configured, expanding the scope of the existing condition.

By setting up conditions, you can create dynamic, interactive forms that adjust based on user input, improving efficiency and usability.

The Add or Edit Conditions section of the field properties.

Text tag examples

Unassigned Checked Checkbox Text Tag

Checkbox1_es_:checkbox(checked)

Breakdown of the Tag:

Checkbox1 → Unique field name (you can modify as needed).
_es_ → The text tag signifier. Do not edit or omit.
checkbox → Defines the field as a checkbox field.
checked→ Makes the checkbox checked by default.

Required Unchecked Checkbox Text Tag

Required_Checkbox_es_:signer1:checkbox:required

Breakdown of the Tag:

Required_Checkbox → Unique field name (you can modify as needed).
_es_ → The text tag signifier. Do not edit or omit.
signer1 → Assigns the field to the first signer.
checkbox → Defines the field as a checkbox field.
required → Makes the field required.

Checkbox with a Label Text Tag

Agreement_Checkbox_es_:signer1:checkbox:label("I agree.")

Breakdown of the Tag:

Agreement_Checkbox → Unique field name (you can modify as needed).
_es_ → The text tag signifier. Do not edit or omit.
signer1 → Assigns the field to the first signer.
checkbox→ Defines the field as a checkbox field.
label → Adds a text label to the right side of the checkbox.

Full view of the Field and the customizable fields.

Use Radio buttons to ensure clear selections in online forms when only one option is allowed from a larger list.

Radio buttons are ideal for situations where users must select only one option from a predefined set. They ensure clear, mutually exclusive choices, preventing confusion and reducing errors in form submissions.

They work well for selecting preferences such as gender, payment methods, or subscription plans. Unlike checkboxes, which allow multiple selections, radio buttons enforce a single selection, making them useful for questions with definitive answers.

By guiding users to make a clear choice, radio buttons improve form usability and data accuracy. Their simple, intuitive design makes them easy to understand and interact with, streamlining the form-filling process.

Availability:

Acrobat Standard and Acrobat Pro: Supported
Acrobat Sign Solutions: Supported
Acrobat Sign for Government: Supported

Left-click field menu

Left-clicking (or CMD-clicking) a radio button field opens a submenu that provides quick access to common customization options. This submenu offers a streamlined alternative to the entire field customization menu, making it especially attractive to experienced form builders.

There are two options of note in the field's left-click menu:

The ability to navigate between the several instances of the radio button array. The individual buttons can be oddly spaced, and this ability to navigate between them is useful.
The option to convert the field into a Checkbox.

Settings impacting the field:

Radio buttons can be configured to display or hide the box that surrounds the check icon.

If the underlying form already has boxes printed on it, removing the field's box graphic will result in a cleaner-looking final document.

The default value (to display or omit the box) can be set in your group's Send Settings:

Customizing the field properties:

Double-clicking the field opens the full customization menu in the context panel.

The field's left-click menu also has an option to open the Customize field panel:

The Radio Button field with the left-click menu exposed and Customise field highlighted.

Radio button fields have four sections that can be configured:

Field Assignment Options

Explicitly Assigned to a Recipient – Only the designated recipient can fill in the field. If required, they must complete it before proceeding. If optional and left blank, it remains locked for others.
Prefill – Prefill fields are available only to the sender before the agreement is sent. Recipients cannot edit or interact with prefilled fields.
Any recipient – The field is available to each recipient in turn until one of them enters content. Once completed, it becomes locked (read-only) for all subsequent recipients.

Proper field assignment ensures clarity in document workflows, prevents unauthorized edits, and maintains structured, organized agreements.

Tip:

The Radio button field includes several configurable elements:

Required field – When selected, the field becomes mandatory. The assigned recipient must interact with it.
Value type – Allows the form author to change the field value between Entered and Calculated.
- An Entered value expects the recipient to interact with the radio button array and select one of the options.
- A Calculated value expects the field value to be automatically selected based on the values of other fields. Selecting the Calculated option will:
  - Require the form author to enter a formula to alter the radio button selection value.
  - Lock the field value so that the recipient can't edit it. The field is calculated, so manually editing it is not permitted.
  - Remove the option to set the field as Required. The field value is set outside the recipient's action.
  - Remove the option to set the Default radio button selected value.
  - Remove the option to set the Radio button values.
Radio button style - This defines the icon that is used when the radio button is selected. Options include Circle, Check, Cross, Diamond, Square, and Star.
Field name - The name of the field. Naming your field intuitively will significantly improve the experience when running reports and data exports. The default values will reflect the field type and an incrementing value. Consider changing the name to reflect the use of the field. e.g., Service Level, Frame type, Trim color.
Default radio button selected - This drop-down field contains all of the individual buttons in the array. Selecting any one of them will cause that radio button to be selected when the form first loads for the recipient.
Radio button values - Each radio button can contain a value that can be used in calculations of other fields. The button value is also reflected in reporting data dumps for the radio button array.

Custom Field Content controls how the field appears in the form:

Tooltip – A tooltip is a message that appears in a text bubble when the recipient hovers over a field in the e-signing experience. Use this value to display the field name or provide simple instructions.
Lock field value - When enabled, the field is read-only. The recipient will not be allowed to alter the value.
Show field border – When enabled, the checkbox's square border is visible and appears in the final document.
- When disabled, the border is hidden, and only the checkmark is printed. If the document already includes a checkbox, this creates a cleaner look.
- The default value of this property (enabled or disabled) is controlled in the Group Send Settings menu.

The advanced field actions are the same as those available when you right-click a field to open the quick menu.

Copy field – Copies the field and its current values to your clipboard. The only difference between the original and copied field is the field name.
- To paste, right-click where you want the field and select Paste from the menu.
- You can also use the keyboard shortcuts Ctrl/Cmd + C to copy and Ctrl/Cmd + V to paste.
Delete field – Removes the selected individual radio button.
- If needed, you can recover a deleted field using the Undo shortcut: Ctrl/Cmd + Z.
Delete all instances – Deletes every radio button in the array of buttons under the same field name.

Text tag examples

An array of three radio buttons

(Red)Color_es_:signer1
(Blue)Color_es_:signer1
(Green)Color_es_:signer1

Breakdown of the Tag:

Red, Blue, and Green → Unique values for each button in the array.
Color → The name of the radio button group (array).
_es_ → The text tag signifier. Do not edit or omit.
signer1 → Assigns the radio button array to the first signer.

An array of three radio buttons with radio buttons explicitly identified

Color_es_:signer1:radio(Red)
Color_es_:signer1:radio(Blue)
Color_es_:signer1:radio(Green)

Breakdown of the Tag:

Color → The name of the radio button group (array).
_es_ → The text tag signifier. Do not edit or omit.
signer1 → Assigns the radio button array to the first signer.
radio → Explicit assertion that this is a radio button.
Red, Blue, and Green → Unique values for each button in the array.

An array of three radio buttons with labels and style included

(Red)Color_es_:signer1:label(“Red”):style(check)
(Blue)Color_es_:signer1:label(“Blue”):style(square)
(Green)Color_es_:signer1:label(“Green”):style(circle)

Breakdown of the Tag:

Red, Blue, and Green → Unique values for each button in the array.
Color → The name of the radio button group (array).
_es_ → The text tag signifier. Do not edit or omit.
signer1 → Assigns the radio button array to the first signer.
label → The label displayed by the radio button.
style → The shape of the graphic that is added when the radio button is selected.

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Prerelease Documentation: Form Field Borders

Set the default value to show or hide the field borders for Checkbox and Radio button fields.

Configuration

Availability:

Configuration scope:

Use Checkboxes to allow recipients to select one or more options from a group of choices.

Availability:

Left-click field menu

Settings impacting the field:

Customizing the field properties:

Field Assignment Options

Setting Field Conditions in Acrobat Sign

Field state: How does the field change?

When: What is the scope of conditions for changing the field state?

Conditions: What has to happen for the field state to change?

Text tag examples

Unassigned Checked Checkbox Text Tag

Required Unchecked Checkbox Text Tag

Checkbox with a Label Text Tag

Use Radio buttons to ensure clear selections in online forms when only one option is allowed from a larger list.

Availability:

Left-click field menu

Settings impacting the field:

Customizing the field properties:

Field Assignment Options

Text tag examples

An array of three radio buttons

An array of three radio buttons with radio buttons explicitly identified

An array of three radio buttons with labels and style included

Get help faster and easier

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Prerelease Documentation: Form Field Borders

Set the default value to show or hide the field borders for Checkbox and Radio button fields.

Configuration

Availability:

Configuration scope:

Use Checkboxes to allow recipients to select one or more options from a group of choices.

Availability:

Left-click field menu

Settings impacting the field:

Customizing the field properties:

Field Assigned To

Customize Field Type

Customize Field Content

Advanced Field Actions

Add or Edit Conditions

Setting Field Conditions in Acrobat Sign

Field state: How does the field change?

When: What is the scope of conditions for changing the field state?

Conditions: What has to happen for the field state to change?

Text tag examples

Unassigned Checked Checkbox Text Tag

Required Unchecked Checkbox Text Tag

Checkbox with a Label Text Tag

Use Radio buttons to ensure clear selections in online forms when only one option is allowed from a larger list.

Availability:

Left-click field menu

Settings impacting the field:

Customizing the field properties:

Field Assigned To

Customize Field Type

Customize Field Content

Advanced Field Actions

Field Assignment Options

Text tag examples

An array of three radio buttons

An array of three radio buttons with radio buttons explicitly identified

An array of three radio buttons with labels and style included

Get help faster and easier

Share this page