Select/deselect a checkbox as related checkboxes are selected/deselected

Question

I'm creating a PDF form using Acrobat DC. The form has five checkboxes for tests available from Laboratory A and 18 checkboxes for tests available from Laboratory B. I'm looking for a way that I can have a checkbox for Laboratory A (LabA_CB) automatically select when one or more of the available tests at Laboratory A is selected, and a second checkbox for Laboratory B (LabB_CB) automatically select when one or more of the available tests at Laboratory B is selected.

However, I also need the Laboratory A and B checkboxes to deselect if all of the associated tests for that lab are deselected. The code I've tried so far either does not deselect the Laboratory A and B checkboxes even if all associated test checkboxes are deselected, or it deselects the Laboratory A and B checkboxes each time one of the associated tests is deselected even if other associated tests remain selected. I think this is because the only code I've been able to find is for the mouse up event for each of the individual test checkboxes.

I am a complete JavaScript novice, but I hope there is a way to make the Laboratory A and B checkboxes "check" to see if any of the tests associated with that lab have been selected/deselected. Each of my test checkboxes is named with the associated lab and actual test name (e.g., LabA_Protein_CB, LabA_Fiber_CB, LabB_Iron_CB, LabB_Lead_CB) and the export value is also set to the test name. I need it to be set up this way for exporting data into Excel.

Any advice would be much appreciated! Searching for anything related to checkboxes seems to only return answers regarding select/deselect all or calculations.

George_Johnson · Accepted Answer

OK, for the Lab A text field, you can use a custom calculate script like this:

// Custom calculate script
(function () {

    // Get a reference to the LabA_CB field
    var f_labA = getField("LabA_CB");

    // Create an array of check box names to check
    var aFields = [
        "LabA_Proximate1_CB",
        "LabA_Proximate2_CB",
        "LabA_NDF_CB",
        "LabA_Other1_CB",
        "LabA_Other2_CB"
    ];

    // Scan through the check boxes to see if any are selected
    for (var i = 0; i < aFields.length; i += 1) {

        if (getField(aFields[i]).value !== "Off") {

            // Select the check box by setting its value to its export value
            // You could also use the checkThisBox method instead, but I never liked it
            f_labA.value = "Yes";  // replace "Yes" with the actual export value

            // No need to scan further since we found a selected check box
            return;
        }
    }

    // None are selected, so deselect the check box
    f_labA.value = "Off";

})();

Be sure to remove any Mouse Up scripts you've added.

George_Johnson · Answer

A common way to deal with this is to set up a hidden text field and set up a calculation script with it that does the job of the automatic selecting/deselecting of the checkboxes. The text field's calculate script will be triggered whenever any of the checkboxes is manually changed.

So the code could first scan through the relevant Lab A fields to see if any have been selected, and set the value of the LabA_CB to either "Off" (to deselect) or whatever you set the export value to (to select). Same idea for the Lab B fields.

This simplifies things since you'll only need a single calculation script for the hidden text field, and not multiple Mouse Up scripts for each check box. Post again if you need help with the code, and include what you've tried.

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