PDF forms preferences

Last updated on Aug 16, 2025

Learn how to set preferences to manage form features in Adobe Acrobat.


PDF form preferences allow you to customize how you interact with and manage PDF forms. These settings control form field behavior, appearance, and auto-complete functions. Adjusting these preferences can enhance efficiency and consistency when working with PDF forms.


General preferences

Options

Description

Automatically calculate field values

Automatically performs all field calculations upon user entry.

Automatically adjust tab order when modifying fields

Resets the tab order when you create, delete, or move form fields.

Show focus rectangle

Indicates which form field currently has the focus.

Show text field overflow indicator

Displays a plus sign in text fields that exceed the borders.

Show field preview when creating or editing form fields

Displays the appearance of a form field when you create or edit forms.

Automatically detect Form fields

Detects the form fields automatically and places the respective fields.

Auto-enable text editing in Prepare Form

Automatically enables text editing when using the Prepare a form tool.

Highlight Color preferences

Options

Description

Show border hover color for fields

Displays a black outline around a form field when you place the pointer over it.

Fields highlight color

Opens a color picker to select the color of highlighted form fields. The highlight appears when the Highlight Existing Fields button on the document message bar is selected.

Required fields highlight color

Opens a color picker for selecting the border color of form fields that must be filled in. The border appears for required form fields when the Highlight Existing Fields button is selected or after you attempt to submit the form.

Auto-Complete preferences

Options

Description

Auto-Complete

Displays three options: Off, Basic, or Advanced.

Remember numerical data

Shows suggestions based on numbers you've previously entered. This option helps speed up form filling and reduce errors. It's available only when Basic or Advanced is selected in the auto-complete preferences.

Edit Entry List

Displays current entries stored in the Auto-Complete memory. You can select and delete any entries you don’t want to keep to fill in future forms.