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WPDSWINGMAN
WPDSWINGMAN
Participant
March 16, 2026
Question

Can a user entered email address be automatically converted to a clickable "mailto" link?

  • March 16, 2026
  • 1 reply
  • 38 views

I have a fillable PDF that asks for an email address in a text field. Once the user enters their email address, I would like for it to automatically be converted into a clickable mailto link that, when clicked, opens the default email on another user’s device. Is this even possible?

    1 reply

    Thom Parker
    Community Expert
    Thom ParkerCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    March 16, 2026

    Data entered into a form field cannot be converted into a “true” link, but it can be made into a JavaScript link.  The difference is that a “true” link will work on just about any PDF viewer: mobile, browser, third party, etc. Whereas a JavaScript link is a button with code that performs the operation to open an URL or email.   This only works in PDF viewers that support JavaScript. 

    See these entroes in the Acrobat JavaScript Reference:

    https://opensource.adobe.com/dc-acrobat-sdk-docs/library/jsapiref/JS_API_AcroJS.html#launchurl

    https://opensource.adobe.com/dc-acrobat-sdk-docs/library/jsapiref/JS_API_AcroJS.html#mailmsg

     

    These JavaScript functions open an URL or send an email using the system default browser or email client. 

    What do you mean by “opens the default email on another user’s device?”  Please explain the workflow.   

     

    Thom Parker - Software Developer at PDFScriptingUse the Acrobat JavaScript Reference early and often
    WPDSWINGMAN
    WPDSWINGMANAuthor
    Participant
    March 16, 2026

    The form requires 2 signatures, User A and User B, the last signature from User B essentially approves User A.

     

    1. User A enters their information 
    2. User B reviews the information and then signs for approval or contacts User A with questions

    I would like for User B to be able to click on User A’s email address and it pop up a window to send an email to User A

    Thom Parker
    Community Expert
    Thom ParkerCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    March 16, 2026

    (Correction. switch from UserB to UserA email) 

    Well then the app.mailMsg() function will work perfectly if you don’t need the to send the PDF, but if you do, then use the doc.mailDoc() function.

    Assuming the user A email is in a field  named “UserAEmail”, here’s code for the MouseUp action on a button that will send the Whole PDF. 

    var strUserAEmail = this.getField("UserAEmail").valueAsString;
    this.mailDoc(true,strUserAEmail);

     

     

    Thom Parker - Software Developer at PDFScriptingUse the Acrobat JavaScript Reference early and often
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