Create and configure checkbox groups

Require recipients to select a specific number or range of options from a group of checkboxes.

In Adobe Acrobat Sign, a checkbox group combines two or more Checkbox fields under one selection rule. Each checkbox remains an individual field, while the group determines how many choices the recipient must or can select.

For example, you can require a recipient to select exactly two benefits, at least one preference, or no more than three options.

Before you begin

Checkbox groups can be created and edited in the modern Request Signatures and Library Template authoring experiences.

Start with Checkbox fields when recipients need to select more than one option. If recipients must choose only one option from a set, use Radio buttons instead.

See Form field types for help choosing between selection fields.

Create a checkbox group

Start by placing one Checkbox field, then add the remaining choices from that field.

A checkbox group is created when you add the second checkbox. The field properties identify the checkbox as PART OF GROUP and display the checkbox group name.

Each checkbox you add this way becomes part of the same group.

Configure each checkbox

Each checkbox remains an individual form field.

For each checkbox, review its:

• Field name.
• Default checked or unchecked state.
• Appearance.
• Other supported field properties.

Use a field name that identifies the choice the checkbox represents. Clear names are especially important when checkbox data will be exported.

For example, names such as Dental, Vision, and Life insurance are more useful than Checkbox 1, Checkbox 2, and Checkbox 3.

The tooltip is shared across the checkbox group. Changing it for one checkbox changes it for all checkboxes in that group.

Configure the group rule

Open the checkbox menu and select Customize group to configure the shared group behavior.

Choose the rule that matches how many options the recipient should be allowed or required to select:

Use Count to specify the number required by the selected rule. For Custom range, set both a minimum and maximum.

The group configuration also displays the field names of the checkboxes included in the group.

Name the checkbox group

The group has its own name in addition to the individual field names.

Use a descriptive group name that identifies the purpose of the choices, such as Benefit selections.

The group name organizes the checkboxes in authoring but isn't included as a separate value in exported field data.

Understand how recipients complete the group

Acrobat Sign evaluates the selection rule as the recipient selects and clears checkboxes.

The recipient must satisfy the group rule before completing the agreement.

For example:

• Select exactly 2 requires two choices.
• Select at least 1 requires one or more choices.
• Select at most 3 permits zero through three choices.
• A Custom range of 2–4 permits two, three, or four choices.

Individual Checkbox fields can still have their own default state. When you use defaults, make sure the initial selections comply with the group rule.

Remove checkboxes from a group

Open the action menu for a checkbox when you need to remove part or all of the group.

Choose:

• Delete field to remove only the selected checkbox.
• Delete all instances to remove all checkboxes in the group and the group rule.

Review the group rule after changing the number of available choices to make sure the configured selection count still makes sense.

Understand exported checkbox data

Each checkbox is represented separately in exported field data using its individual field name and checked or unchecked state.

The checkbox group's name and selection-rule metadata aren't included in the export.

If exported data will be used for reporting or downstream processing, use meaningful names for every checkbox instead of relying on the group name to provide context.

Things to know

• A checkbox group contains at least two Checkbox fields that share one selection rule.
• Individual checkboxes retain their own names, values, default states, and supported field properties.
• Conditional behavior and calculations apply to the individual checkboxes, not to the checkbox group itself.
• Checkbox groups can't be created or edited in classic authoring.
• Opening grouped checkboxes in classic authoring causes them to be treated as independent fields and the group rule is lost.
• Mobile-friendly authoring isn't supported for documents that use checkbox groups.
• Text tags and AcroForms don't support creating checkbox groups.

For ordinary Checkbox configuration, see Form field properties.