Hi Thom

Admittedly a novice on the AS3 & Java script side of things,

I use your references and gave the coding an attempt...

When you have a moment, I could use your review and

some further direction.....

Thanks in advance for your responses and help.

Dale

~ ~ ~

Givens on the SWF side;

~movie is published as: pdf_test.swf

~dymanic text instance: pdf_input

??confirm tis SWF script belongs in an 'action' layer (i.e. frame 1...) ??

code (actionscript3)

// to set up my function within my SWF

function nametextinput("names1") {

}

//  to make my function available to the PDF java script

var connection = ExternalInterface.addCallback("mypdfId", null, nametextinput);

~ ~ ~

Givens on PDF side;

~file is saved as: text1.pdf

~form input textfield:  name1

code (java script)

// to send PDF's form text field to the embedded SWF

// RMA is on page two, first RMA... and only RMA

function sendtoswf()

{     rma = this.getAnnotsRichMedia(1)(0)

ExternalInterface.call("myPdfId", null, nametextinput)

};

Thank you Thom

I appreciate the details.....

This provides a thorough understanding as to

this objective.....

Very helpful.... again.. Thanks!

Dale

Hi Thom,

I trust your New Year is off to a creative start.

RE: Text Field pass into SWF

~

Below is an update and a request for "fine tuning" these codes;

~ I have upgraded to FLASH CS5 and ACROBAT X Pro

( I have not studied FLEX)

I spent some time studying the Acrobat JavaScript Reference, JavaScript Debugger and reversed

engineered the PDF in the link you provided;

http://pdfdevjunkie.host.adobe.com/RMA1_acrossTheBridge.shtmlhttp://

Still, I must be missing something; a variable or syntax, format..., software version...

When you have a chance, I again, could use your coaching on what

I have missed or haven't yet understood.

Thanks in advance for your continued patience...

here's my facts:

SWF side using FLASH CS5

ActionScript 3

1) inserted a dynamic text on the stage, with a single frame, with NO instance name, "classic", and embedded my fonts

2) create an action layer with the following code (using AS3);

function nametextinput(fname) {

}

ExternalInterface.addCallback("pdfname", nametextinput);

3) saved, then published the file   pdfname.swf

~ ~

PDF side using Acrobat X Pro

Per your suggestion;

One page, a text field, a Button and the   RMA  pdfname.swf

1) inserted a Form, Text-Field and named it   'fname'  (without the ' ' ) ... no coding anywhere with the Text Field Properties

2) Inserted a Button ~ within the Properties, under the Action Tab, a Mouse Up trigger was added with a Run JavaScript action

3) within this JavaScript Editor the following code was placed;

var rma = this.getAnnotsRichMedia(0)[0];

rma.callAS("pdfname", this.getField("fname").value);

4) saved PDF as   basic_v1.pdf

Using the JavaScript Debugger, I continually receive errors.

I have attempted many adjustments, i.e. Brackets / Syntax / naking conventions to no avail.

When I reverse engineered the PDF example ( ref above) I noted that codes

differ slightly from your suggestions (CAPs, more Brackets, and an app.alert is check if the RMA is Active !?). 

I attempted adjusting for that, but again, unsuccessfully.

So, again, I like'd to understand what I am missing as

much as I'd like to complete this objective.

When you have a chance, I would welcome you help.

Many thanks,

Dale

Fremont, CA

Thank you Dave,

I really apprecaite your comments.

This is a great help with the learning curve.

I'll adjust the SWF code and test it in the PDF..

Many thanks !

Dale:

If you want the trigger for passing the PDF form field value to the text object in the SWF, your ActionScript code would look like this...

myText.text = ExternalInterface.call("eval","getField('fname').value");

If you want to trigger to be in the PDF file, the SWF will need to be running and then you need to call an exposed function and pass in your variable.

Start by adding a function in ActionScript that sets the valie of your text object, then add a function for creationComplete that adds a callback for that function. init() is my creationComplete function and I expose the same internal name to the external interface just to keep things clear.

            private function init():void{

                      ExternalInterface.addCallback("fillText", fillText)

            }

            private function fillText(valueFromAcroField:String):void {

                myText.text = valueFromAcroField;

            }

Then use callAS to call the SFW function from Acrobat. Assuming your annotation is "RMA" that'd be...

RMA.callAS("fillText", getField('fname').value)

It's a lot of plumbing but it works.

J-

You'll need a way to identify the particular tect field you want to change the "text" parameter of in the function that you call from Acrobat then you need to expose that function so that Acrobat can call it.

The examples at the URL below will show you how to call an ActionScript function from Acrobat.

http://livedocs.adobe.com/acrobat_sdk/10/Acrobat10_HTMLHelp/wwhelp/wwh impl/js/html/wwhelp.htm?&accessible=true

The documentation at the URL below explains ExternalInterface. The docs refer to a browser but in this case the host is Acrobat or Reader.

http://help.adobe.com/en_US/FlashPlatform/reference/actionscript/3/fla sh/external/ExternalInterface.html

J-

Without seeing the surrounding code, I can't really help much. Remember that you Acrobat JavaScript need to be inside and ExternalInterface call like this...

myText.text = ExternalInterface.call("eval","this.getField('fname').value");

J-

Dale:

The Flash runtime inside Acrobat does not have direct access to anything in the PDF. In fact, it barely knows it running in Acrobat rather than a browser. All it know is that it's running in a host. So... for the SWF to get information from the PDF, you need to send the PDF some JavaScript that returns some value. You can then use that return value to do things in your SWF. How does that work.

Acrobat JavaScript, unlike ActionScript, has an "eval" function that will cause a string to be evaluated and executed as though it were code, we can take advantage of this inside Flash. If you were in Acrobat and you wanted to know the value of a field named "foo" then JavaScript would be...

myVal = this.getField("foo").value

... to get this information from inside a running SWF in Acrobat, you need to push the code into Acrobat through ExternalInterface and the return value will be your variable. We need to change the double quotes to single so we can nest them.

var fieldValue:String = ExternalInterface.call("eval","getField('foo').value");

Technically, there's no JavaScript in the PDF itself, this JavaSCript just runs in memory. If you're going to work withthis sort of thing you need a good understanding of both ActionScript AND Acrobat JavaScript.

Is that more.... or less clear?

J-

You just need this part

myText.text = ExternalInterface.call("eval","this.getfFeld('fname').value");

You don't need to use the loader.

J-

Joel

for clarity

I meant to type "without any other AS3, Braces {}..."

I have fixed the Syntax error, while review the code, I noted  "this.  was added in a recent reply.

That seemed to address this challenge.

I am currently addressing an output error: TypeError: Error 2007: Parameter must be non-null.

at Flash.text::TextField/set text ()

at pdfname_fla::MainTimeline/ frame 1

While researching this, I would welcome your insight.....

as a reference, the SWF dynamic text field instance is named  myText ( unsure if this is the/an issue)

Thanks again for your time......

D

UPDATE March 19, 2012 ~DS:

No Errors, but no Text Interface (between PDF & SWF)

With the Codes noted below, there are no AS3 "Output / Compiler errors"

and on the Acrobat side, JavaScript debugger did not report any errors.

With the SWF (RMA) loaded in the PDF... the two text fields are still not interfacing (PDF to SWF).

Please take a look at the retyped** Codes and notes posted below and

let me know how you would adjust.

SWF side:

Dynamic text instance:  namehere

Button name: play_btn

file saved as:  swf_to_pdf.swf

Code AS3

full retyped script as stated in SWF

/* "swfPdf" is used to 'call the function' (use this in the Acrobat PDF JavaScript)

    'fillText' is the actual function seen below that will be called

     'fname' referenced in fillText function(below), is the Acrobat textField name

*/

// Button set up

function clickHandler(event:MouseEnter):void

{

     trace("Click!");

     ExternalInterface.addCallback("swfPdf", fillText);

          function fillText(fname):void

          {

               this.namehere.text = this.ExternalInterface.call("eval", "this.getField('fname').value");

          }

}

          // assign Listener

              play_btn.addEventListener(MouseEvent.CLICK, clickHandler);

~ ~

PDF side

PDF has one page and only one RMA (0)[0]

Form Text field:  fname

Button (name):   play

file saved as:  pdf_rma_test.pdf

OnMouse Up, the code within the Button reads as follows

(full, retyped JavaScript as stated in PDF);

var rma = this.getAnnotsRichMedia(0)[0];

rma.callAS("sfwPdf", getField('fname').value);

Notes and observations:

While no errors were thrown on either side, please consider the following;

AS3 side

• ? within the "function fillText", is fname the correct reference
• ? this use of "this. "... does this reference need to be addressed on the Acrobat side
• Does the AS3 script require an 'import' reference script  i.e.  import flash.external.ExternalInterface;
• Does there need to be a script to to Play the SWF file immediately.. note, upon embedding in the PDF, the SWF is 'enabled' when the page is opened.. 
• Any special Publishing settings
• any other Commands required

Acrobat side

• ? does the getField require a this. before it
• ? confirm single or double quotes around fname reference

Other

• Trigger(s), i.e. the use of the Button in the PDF

• Launch settings(advanced options of SWF in the PDF)

          Can this effort the communication ??

               currently set as Enable When: the page containing the content is opened

                                      Disable When: the page containing the content is closed

** is there away to cut & paste code within a Forum / Discussion?

Many thanks for your time and guidance.....

D~

Message was edited by: DaLe Zki on March 19, 2012....