What You Need to Know to Use JavaScript in Acrobat and PDF

Acrobat JavaScript is really two different things- the Core JavaScript Language and a set of objects that connect Core JavaScript to Acrobat. This is an important point and every JavaScript programmer should understand the difference. However, to use Acrobat JavaScript it is not necessary to be a Core JavaScript expert; a reasonable familiarity with JavaScript and some basic programming concepts are all that's required. The really important stuff to know and understand is the Acrobat Scripting environment, the object structure, and how to use the Acrobat scripting objects (called the DOM for Document Object Model).

• Introduction to Acrobat JavaScript
• PDF Form Scripting
• The Core JavaScript Language
• Creating Your First Form in Acrobat
• Introduction to LiveCycle (XFA) Forms
• Practical Database Connected (XFA) Forms

Featured Videos

•     PDF Stamps Gone Wild!! (10:51, 28MB) - What is a PDF Stamp and how far can you take it? The answers are here, from the simple static stamps built into Acrobat to advanced interactive stamps and stamp automation. Stamps are simply the best way to markup and move documents through a process.
•     Take a tour of the PDFScripting.com website!!

This set of videos will ease you into the world of Acrobat JavaScript so you can say, "I get it!!"

•   Basic Concepts
  •     What's JavaScript (4:41, 5.8 MB)
  •     JavaScript in Acrobat and PDF (6:20, 5.5 MB)
  •     Setting Up for Developing Scripts in Acrobat (7:22, 6.2 MB)
  •     The Acrobat JavaScript Console (Your New Best Friend) (7:52, 7.67 MB)
  •     Understanding the Document Object Model (11:02, 8.2 MB)
  •     Using the Acrobat JavaScript API Reference (18:48, 15.3 MB)
•     Where do the Scripts Go?
  •     Finding Scripts in Acrobat (14:45, 13.3 MB)
  •     Finding Scripts in PDFs (15:45, 17.2 MB)
  •     Finding Scripts in Form Fields (17:25, 13.3 MB)
    •     Example: Looking at a Real Form (18:49, 14.4 MB)
    •     Sample File: Finding Scripts on a Form

•   Form Scripting Basics
  •     Introduction to Form Scripting (9:22, 6.6 MB)
  •     Adding Fields to a Form and Setting Field Properties (8:09, 8.0 MB)
  •     Form Scripting Basics (16:16, 15.4 MB)
    •     Setting and Getting Field Properties with JavaScript
•   JavaScript Events, or How to Enter Scripts
  •     Introduction to Document Events (12:49, 8.5 MB)
  •     The Event Object (4:03, 3.7 MB)
  •     Order of Event Execution (19:15, 17.4 MB)
    •     Event Order Test Example
  •     Entering Field Widget (mouse and focus) Events (14:49, 15.0 MB)
    •     Widget Script Examples
  •     Entering Calculation Scripts (9:21, 7.6 MB)
    •     Example: Calculations in an Order Form (13:52, 15.5 MB)
    •     Order Form Example File
  •     Entering Validation Scripts (7:19, 4.9 MB)
    •     Example: Basic and Alternate Uses of Validation Scripts (12:12, 14.5 MB)
    •     Example File: Validation Event Scripts
  •     Entering Format Scripts (13:39, 9.7 MB)
    •     Format Script Examples
  •   Entering KeyStroke Scripts
    •     Part 1: The Proper KeyStroke Script (16:52, 16.0 MB)
      •     Example: Basic and Alternate Uses of Proper keystroke Scripts (14:13, 15.3 MB)
      •     Proper Keystroke Example PDF
    •     Part 2: The WillCommit KeyStroke Script (15:00, 15 MB)
      •     Examples Part1: WillCommit/Complete Keystroke Scripts (14:54, 14.9 MB)
      •     Examples Part1: WillCommit/Complete Keystroke Scripts (13:57, 12 MB)
      •     WillCommit/Complete Keystroke Script Examples File
  •      Entering and Using Document Level Scripts (11:55, 12.5 MB)
    •     Document Level Script Examples (7:45, 10 MB)
    •     Doc Level Example - Order Form

  •     Entering and Using Document Action Scripts (7:47, 6.8 MB)
    •     WillSave Document Action Examples (18:27, 23.9 MB)
    •     WillSave Sample Files
    •     WillPrint/DidPrint Document Action Examples (8:14, 12.3 MB)
    •     WillPrint/DidPrint Sample File
    •     WillClose Document Action Examples (10:05, 16.7 MB)
    •     WillClose Sample File

•   Basic Concepts
•  Language Basics (10:38, 7.38 MB)
•  Control Flow (19:24, 14.8 MB)
•  Strings (24:56, 22.4 MB)
•  Arrays (17:35, 15.1 MB)
•  Objects (19:30, 15.8 MB)
•  Functions (9:13, 15.8 MB)
•  Example: Using a Function in a PDF (14:19, 13.9 MB)
•  Sample Files: Code re-use examples

These 3 tutorials are a beginners introduction into using Acrobat to create fillable and interactive forms.

Acrobat implements 2 different forms technologies, XFA and AcroForms. These videos deal with the creation of AcroForms. XFA forms are created in the LiveCycle Designer tool and will be dealt with in another set of videos.

AcroForms are the original forms implementation in PDF. This technology is tightly integrated into Acrobat and allows for forms features to be integrated into any kind of PDF document using any kind of PDF feature (unlike XFA forms). So you could say that it is for implementing document oriented forms.

•     Making your first PDF form, Discussion (9:19, 5.27 MB)
•     Example 1, Full Process in Acrobat 8 (14:06, 17.5 MB)
•     Example 2, Process Variations in Acrobat 9 (9:09, 15.2 MB)

LiveCyle (XFA) forms are very different from Acrobat's traditional forms technology. Not only are they structured differently, but the scripting model is also very different. In fact, in a LiveCycle form the form design directly impacts the ability to script the form properly. In order to write scripts for a LiveCycle form you have to pay close attention to how the form is structured and to the properties settings on each of the form elements.

These video tutorials provide all the basics you need to start writing effective form scripts. You'll learn how to set up and use LiveCycle Designer to design forms and enter scripts, how to control the structure of a form, how to use the form's structure to the best advantage for scripting, and how to script dynamic features such as repeatable fields.

•   LiveCycle (XFA) Scripting Basics
  •   Introduction to Scripting in LiveCycle (10:03, 6.7 MB)
  •   Getting Started with the LiveCycle Designer Application (13:12, 20.46 MB)
  •   Building Your First LiveCycle Form Part1: the importance of form structure (9:00, 11.3 MB)
  •   Building Your First LiveCycle Form Part2: using form structure in scripting (19:06, 20.9 MB)

•   Implementing Dynamic Form Features
  •   Part 1:Intro to Dynamic Features: Video 1, Auto-Expanding Fields (10:36, 11.95 MB)
  •   Part 1:Intro to Dynamic Features: Video 2, Flowing Fields (8:46, 12.78 MB)
  •   Part 2:Hiding and Showing Form Elements (13:44, 15.05 MB)
  •   Part 3:Repeatable Subforms, Video #1 - Introduction (5:22, 5.37 MB)
  •   Part 3:Repeatable Subforms, Video #2 - Setting Up (9:47, 12.7 MB)
  •   Part 3:Repeatable Subforms, Video #3 - Adding Features (10:52, 12.4 MB)
  •   Part 3:Repeatable Subforms, Video #4 - Using in Calculations (8:43, 8.66 MB)
•    Practical Database Connected Forms
  •   Part 1:Intro to Database Connected Forms (6:30, 6.22 MB)
  •   Part 2:Creating the Database Connection (10:09, 23.2 MB)
  •   Part 3:Connecting Fields to the Database (7:51, 21.6 MB)
  •   Part 4:Controlling the Database Connection, Navigating and Modifying Records (8:53, 14.7 MB)
  •   Part 5:Filling a DropDown List from DB Connection (13:50, 28.1 MB)
  •   Part 6:Navigating by Searching Records (5:25, 9.77 MB)
  •   Part 7:Acquiring Records with a Dynamic DB Query (7:16, 18.6 MB)
  •   Part 8:Building a Dynamic Table From DB Records (5:35, 12.5 MB)
  •   Part 9A: Protecting the DB From Users, Discussion and overview of the sample form. (8:19, 13.7 MB)
  •   Part 9B: Protecting the DB From Users, Scripts and structure of the sample form. (11:59, 33.9 MB)
  •   Part 10: Using the DB connection for Variable Data Automation
    (14:54, 25.6 MB)