javascript for acrobat

[denis]

Is there someone who could help with a javascript in Acrobat?
The context is a PDF document containing an alphabetical list of 1000 titles
(with individual links to other PDF documents) where the user has to make
his choice. Instead of letting him scan through this long list, we would
rather let him type what he is looking for, while a javascript would detect
the matching strings and stripdown the list along
with the typing.
Mostly only a few keystrokes (<10) would already be enough to reduce the
number of matching items to a fairly readable list, where the user could
then make his choice by hitting the link.

Thanks in advance for your help.

Mathilda D. Kerbacho

[Jeff North]

Re: javascript for acrobat

On Tue, 8 Jun 2004 15:04:57 +0200, in comp.lang.javas cript "denis"
<kerbacho@gmx.n et> wrote:
[color=blue]
>| Is there someone who could help with a javascript in Acrobat?
>| The context is a PDF document containing an alphabetical list of 1000 titles
>| (with individual links to other PDF documents) where the user has to make
>| his choice. Instead of letting him scan through this long list, we would
>| rather let him type what he is looking for, while a javascript would detect
>| the matching strings and stripdown the list along
>| with the typing.
>| Mostly only a few keystrokes (<10) would already be enough to reduce the
>| number of matching items to a fairly readable list, where the user could
>| then make his choice by hitting the link.
>|
>| Thanks in advance for your help.[/color]

AFAIK, you can't. A PDF file is static unless everyone has the full
PDF version installed that allows them to enter information into PDF
forms.

Why not create a web page and use a bit of javascript to control the
user select.

[Mathilda D. Kerbacho]

Re: javascript for acrobat

[color=blue]
> AFAIK, you can't. A PDF file is static unless everyone has the full
> PDF version installed that allows them to enter information into PDF
> forms.[/color]
Javascript works fine with Acrobat (XML forms) ;
the syntax is slightly different from web environment but the features are
more or less the same.

M.D.K.

[Mark Anderson]

Re: javascript for acrobat

Mathilda,

"denis" <kerbacho@gmx.n et> wrote in message
news:10cbebq39i evi51@corp.supe rnews.com...[color=blue]
> Is there someone who could help with a javascript in Acrobat?
> The context is a PDF document containing an alphabetical list of 1000[/color]
titles[color=blue]
> (with individual links to other PDF documents) where the user has to[/color]
make[color=blue]
> his choice. Instead of letting him scan through this long list, we[/color]
would[color=blue]
> rather let him type what he is looking for, while a javascript would[/color]
detect[color=blue]
> the matching strings and stripdown the list along
> with the typing.
> Mostly only a few keystrokes (<10) would already be enough to reduce[/color]
the[color=blue]
> number of matching items to a fairly readable list, where the user[/color]
could[color=blue]
> then make his choice by hitting the link.
>
> Thanks in advance for your help.
>
> Mathilda D. Kerbacho[/color]

Acrobat v4/v5/v6 JS all support a 'keystroke' event for fields (includes
lists/combos) and you can use this to hook the script you'll need. As
for scripts here are couple of suggestions:

http://www.oreillynet.com/pub/a/javascript/2003/09/03/dannygoodman.html

and

http://www.devarticles.com/c/a/JavaScript/Suggest-As-You-Type/

....you may need to adapt any advanced DOM stuff for Acrobats more
limited JS object model.

Another good place to look for Acrobat JS help is www.planetpdf.com
including their free and helpful user-to-user forums.


HTH

Mark Anderson

[Mathilda D. Kerbacho]

Re: javascript for acrobat

Mark Anderson wrote:
[color=blue]
> As for scripts here are couple of suggestions:
> http://www.oreillynet.com/pub/a/java...nygoodman.html
> and
> http://www.devarticles.com/c/a/JavaS...t-As-You-Type/[/color]
Both well documented and close to our purpose, especially the latter.
Many thanks for the clue.
[color=blue]
> ...you may need to adapt any advanced DOM stuff for Acrobats more
> limited JS object model.[/color]
Is it feasible?

M.D.K.

[Mark Anderson]

Re: javascript for acrobat

Mathilda,

"Mathilda D. Kerbacho" <kerbacho@gmx.n et> wrote in message
news:10ceg1m535 6hm16@corp.supe rnews.com...[color=blue]
> Mark Anderson wrote:
>[color=green]
> > As for scripts here are couple of suggestions:
> >[/color][/color]
http://www.oreillynet.com/pub/a/java...nygoodman.html[color=blue][color=green]
> > and
> > http://www.devarticles.com/c/a/JavaS...t-As-You-Type/[/color]
> Both well documented and close to our purpose, especially the latter.
> Many thanks for the clue.
>[color=green]
> > ...you may need to adapt any advanced DOM stuff for Acrobats more
> > limited JS object model.[/color]
> Is it feasible?
>
> M.D.K.
>
>[/color]

Not in a position to test right now. you just need 2 form elements -
either text box and list box, or perhaps just a combo. If I were trying
this I'd strip all the DHTML references (e.g. getElementById etc.) and
put placeholder comments. So now you have the basic JS logic and just
<g> need to replace the placeholders with the correct JS names (think
core JS in a different DOM). Make sure you have the JS Guide for
Acrobat to hand. In v4/v5 it was on the Acrobat Help menu. Not sure
where it is on v6 - you might need to dig out your install disk (in all
cases the doc is a PDF).

If you get stuck I commend you to the JavaScript sub-section of the
PlanetPDF user-to-user forums - there are some very experienced and
friendly PDF+JS folk there.

Regards

Mark

[Mark Anderson]

Re: javascript for acrobat

2 more references for you:

http://www.webreference.com/programming/javascript/gr/column5/3.html

http://www.mattkruse.com/javascript/autocomplete/index.html

Regards

Mark

[Mathilda D. Kerbacho]

Re: javascript for acrobat

Thank you, Mark.
Your suggestion is encouraging. I'll try.
[color=blue]
> If you get stuck I commend you to the JavaScript sub-section of the
> PlanetPDF user-to-user forums - there are some very experienced and
> friendly PDF+JS folk there.[/color]
I have posted my question there. Feasibility was confirmed.

Kind regards.

M.D.K.