I found another issue with Forms in Document Editor (version 9.3.1.8).
Steps to reproduce:
In Document Editor create a Text Field (Forms → Text Field).
Set the field height so it spans more than one line (multi-line mode).
Fill the field with text that occupies several lines.
The field displays correctly in the Document Editor and when exporting via File → Export → PDF.
However, when using File → Save As → PDF, the Text Field is saved as a single-line field.
Text that does not fit into one line is cut off and becomes invisible in the resulting PDF.
Expected behavior:
Multi-line Text Fields should retain their multi-line properties and full content when saving the document as PDF (especially important for fillable forms).
Actual behavior:
The field collapses to one line, and overflowing text is lost.
Environment:
OnlyOffice Desktop Editors 9.3.1.8
OS: Fedora KDE 44
Display: Dell XPS 9710 (4K)
This bug makes it impossible to reliably create multi-line fillable forms that need to be saved/distributed as PDF. It is a serious limitation for anyone creating templates with forms (agencies, corporate documentation, contracts, etc.).
I can provide a sample .docx file with the problematic form if it helps with debugging and a video-demonstration.
Thank you for the video, the sample file, and the detailed information.
From the video, it appears that the Multiline field option is not enabled for this text field, so the field is effectively configured as a single-line field. Multiline behavior is supported only when the Multiline option is enabled.
If you need this field to be multi-line, please enable the Multiline field checkbox and test the result once again.
We will also additionally check whether the visual display of such text in several lines inside our editor is expected behavior in this case, and we will update you here once we have the verification results.
Thank you for the clarification! You are absolutely right — enabling the “Multiline” checkbox resolves the issue for fixed-size fields. However, testing this revealed a deeper architectural / UX limitation regarding how forms behave in professional document workflows.
Currently, “Multiline” behavior is only available if “Fixed size” is enabled for the field.
This creates a serious layout issue for real-world corporate templates (like contracts, invoices, or briefs):
When Fixed size is enabled, the field turns into a rigid rectangular box. It completely breaks the visual flow of the paragraph, making the text look detached and unprofessional.
When Fixed size is disabled, the field integrates beautifully into the surrounding text of the paragraph, but it is forced to be single-line only.
Thank you for the detailed follow-up and for testing the Multiline option.
Our QA team has reviewed your case and provided clarification on this behavior. The rendering you observed when opening the file in third-party applications is expected, and here’s why:
ONLYOFFICE currently implements two types of text fields in PDF forms, each with specific characteristics:
Inline fields (dynamic size)
Automatically adjust their size based on the amount of text entered
Do not support multiline input — they are designed for single-line text only
Integrate seamlessly into surrounding paragraph text
Fixed size fields
Have predefined dimensions
Support the Multiline option
Ensure consistent rendering across third-party editors
The root cause of the discrepancy you’re seeing is that third-party PDF editors do not support the concept of inline fields. When converting or opening such documents, they automatically transform inline fields into fixed-size fields, but without enabling the multiline setting. This leads to differences in how the document is displayed.
We understand that this creates a limitation for professional document workflows where you need both seamless text integration and multi-line input. Unfortunately, at this time, the architecture does not allow combining inline-style layout with multiline behavior due to how third-party applications handle form field rendering.
For now, to ensure consistent appearance across different PDF viewers and editors, we recommend using Fixed size fields with the Multiline option enabled, even though this impacts the visual flow you mentioned.
We appreciate you bringing this UX limitation to our attention, and we will consider it for future improvements.