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mdwebcat
mdwebcat
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Required Fields and JavaScript Issue

Aug 16, 2012 8:18 AM

Hello,

 

I have created a form with required fields.  The PDF will not be "submitted" with a Submit button.  However, we still want it to be fillable and have some required fields.  I pulled the JavaScript below from The Adobe Acrobat Developer Tips and it works great on my Mac.  However, when I test on the Windows side it freezes and crashes Adober Reader X.

 

I used Acrobat Pro 9 on my Mac side to create the form.  I use the same versions of Acrobat Reader X on the Windows side and Mac side.

 

Here is the JavaScript I am using.

 

f = getField(event.target.name)

if (f.value.length == 0)

    {
    f.setFocus()
        

    //Optional Message - Comment out the next line to remove
        

    app.alert("This field is required. Please enter a value.")
         

    }

 

 

I removed the JavaScript action and tested again on the Windows side and it opened fine BUT of course the required function is not there without the JavaScript.  So, it seems as though the JavaScript is causing a weird compatability issue? I'm just not sure what the solution is.

 

Any guidance is greatly appreciated. 

1074 Views   9 Replies   Latest reply: Bob Hamlet, Oct 22, 2012 11:10 AM
 
Replies
  • MarkWalsh
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    1. MarkWalsh,
    Aug 16, 2012 8:26 AM   in reply to mdwebcat
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    Where are you putting your code? Is it in a field event, or document event?

     

    Also,

    f = getField(event.target.name)

    can be shortened to

    f = event.target

     

     

    and you can shorten it even further if you just need the value from

    f = getField(event.target.name)

    if (f.value.length == 0)

     

    to one of the following (depending on which event you are using for your code

    if (event.value.length == 0)

    if (event.target.value.length == 0)

     
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  • mdwebcat
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    2. mdwebcat,
    Aug 16, 2012 8:31 AM   in reply to MarkWalsh
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    Thank you so much for responding!!  I am placing it within the Text Field Properties>Actions area.  I will try shortening the script and see if that works.

     
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  • MarkWalsh
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    3. MarkWalsh,
    Aug 16, 2012 8:48 AM   in reply to mdwebcat
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    Which action? I'm assuming the 'onBlur' event


    Shortening the code won't change how it runs. The event.target is the field itself, so you don't need to get the name to access the field, but either way should produce the same results (unless there was an issue on the PC, but I doubt that)

     

    fwiw, your code works fine on my PC in the  OnBlur event of a field.

     
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  • mdwebcat
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    4. mdwebcat,
    Aug 16, 2012 8:49 AM   in reply to MarkWalsh
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    Hi,

     

    Yes, I am using the onBlur event.  Hmm... well, I guess I will have to investigate more to find out what the issue is on the Windows side.  It's so odd.  I have never run into this issue before.

     
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  • mdwebcat
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    5. mdwebcat,
    Aug 16, 2012 8:59 AM   in reply to mdwebcat
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    On the Windows side when I try to open the form here is what happens:

     

    1.  I can open the fillable form (PDF). 

     

    2.  When I click into the first required field (with the JS action) and try to click into another required field without typing anything in the first required field, I do get the correct popup message reminding me about the required information.  BUT... then for some reason it will not let me type anything and then I have to hit Control Alt Delete to get out of Reader.  The popup message stays on the screen, I can see my cursor within the form field but nothing happens when I type.

     
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  • MarkWalsh
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    6. MarkWalsh,
    Aug 16, 2012 9:43 AM   in reply to mdwebcat
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    I;ll see if I can test it in Reader, perhaps there's an issue there.

     

    Does it work if you comment out the 'setFocus' line?

     

    f = getField(event.target.name)

    if (f.value.length == 0)

        {
   

         // f.setFocus()
        

        //Optional Message - Comment out the next line to remove
        

        app.alert("This field is required. Please enter a value.")
         

        }

     

    Or if you comment out the alert line?

     
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  • mdwebcat
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    7. mdwebcat,
    Aug 16, 2012 10:44 AM   in reply to MarkWalsh
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    That worked!  YAY!!!!!  Thank you so much.

     
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  • mdwebcat
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    8. mdwebcat,
    Aug 17, 2012 1:22 PM   in reply to mdwebcat
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    One issue that I just ran into....  

     

    If I click inside a required form field without typing anything and then click inside of another required form field I get the correct popup JavaScript message.  BUT.... the cursor does not stay in the first required form field that I clicked out of.  It moves to the next required form field.  Is there a way to make the cursor stay in the first required form field until you fill it out?

     

    Thanks!!! 

     
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  • Bob Hamlet
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    9. Bob Hamlet,
    Oct 22, 2012 11:10 AM   in reply to mdwebcat
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    If you put the setfocus after the appalert line, it returns the focus to the field without looping.

     
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