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G
GGN
Inspiring
January 16, 2023
Answered

Date in Acrobat / Problem No. 3 …

  • January 16, 2023
  • 4 replies
  • 4249 views

It is a real pain to work with Date-functions in PDFs if you are supposed to use the “dd.mm.yyyy” Syntax (which is common standard in German-Language Countries and afaik in many other countries too, but apparently unknown to Adobe-Developers….) I remember having these problems back in the 1980ies when working with US-programms. And I’m really … that I run into these ancient problems again using Adobe in 2023!!! Sorry for this prologue …

 

Now. Next problem with date():

I have a field, defined as date “dd.mm.yyyy”:

 

 

 

I want to assign a default-value for this field. The following command returns the date in the wanted format:

 

 

Now I thought – just put this as Default Value:

 

 

 

And I guess every other program in this world would gladly accept a default-value in exactly the same format that is specified for this very field – but unlike Acrobat:

 

 

 

Something wrong with ME?

This topic has been closed for replies.
Correct answer Bernd Alheit

You can't use a script as default value.

Use a date like: 01.01.1980

 

Or set the default value at document open with the script.

4 replies

G
GGNAuthor
Inspiring
January 17, 2023

Well actually there were many good answers. But @Bernd Alheit was the first one to mention the alternative way.

And I'm still reluctant to use document level script. So I ended up with a script in the field-action / On Focus:

 

if (this.getField("Beginn").value == "") {this.getField("Beginn").value=this.getField("datumheute").value;}

//datumheute is an existing field that already calculates the current date for other purposes too

 

Thank you all! For the other issues discussed - especially my struggels with converting or calculating dates in JS and the Pro-Reader problem I better start separate tickets.

    JR Boulay
    Community Expert
    JR BoulayCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    January 17, 2023

    In any case everyone should consider this:

    😉

     

    Acrobate du PDF, InDesigner et Photoshopographe
      try67
      Community Expert
      try67Community Expert
      Community Expert
      January 17, 2023

      There's always an XKCD... 🙂

        JR Boulay
        Community Expert
        JR BoulayCommunity Expert
        Community Expert
        January 17, 2023

        "(which is common standard in German-Language Countries and afaik in many other countries too, but apparently unknown to Adobe-Developers….)"

        This is because you're using Acrobat in English language.

        I have the same issue with the French date format (dd/mm/yyyy), it's only available when I use Acrobat in French language.

        So, I assume that the German date format should be available when using Acrobat in German language.

         

        Acrobate du PDF, InDesigner et Photoshopographe
          G
          GGNAuthor
          Inspiring
          January 17, 2023

          Thank you @JR Boulay !

          I'm using the English Version on one and the German on another Computer. When posting on this forum I usually take the Englisch one.

          Regarding the Date-Format, It's true, there are diffferences, but even in the German version they offer "tt/mm/yyyy" and "tt-mm-yyyy" which come pretty close, but are still unusual in Germany.

            bebarth
            Community Expert
            bebarthCommunity Expert
            Community Expert
            January 17, 2023

            Hi,

            You can use a date format in German (or another language) whatever the language of the software!

            For a German format: event.value=util.printd("date(de){DD.MMMM YYYY}",new Date(),true);
            For the same in French: event.value=util.printd("date(fr){DD.MMMM YYYY}",new Date(),true);

            ...in Spanish: event.value=util.printd("date(es){DD.MMMM YYYY}",new Date(),true);

            ...in English: event.value=util.printd("date(en){DD.MMMM YYYY}",new Date(),true);

            ...etc

            Below with FrenchAcrobat version, the date in German, English and Spanish.

            @+

             

            Bernd Alheit
            Community Expert
            Bernd AlheitCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
            Community Expert
            January 16, 2023

            You can't use a script as default value.

            Use a date like: 01.01.1980

             

            Or set the default value at document open with the script.

              G
              GGNAuthor
              Inspiring
              January 17, 2023

              Thank you @Bernd Alheit!

              I don't want to set a fixed date. The field should be filled with the current date. But that means you can't use a calculation to set a default value? I can't believe it ... and why doesn't Adobe care to display more precise error message?

              Well, guess I have to find another way ... I had the experience, that document scripts sometimes don't work in Reader. So maybe I give the "Actions" a try.

              Nesa Nurani
              Community Expert
              Nesa NuraniCommunity Expert
              Community Expert
              January 17, 2023

              You can use a document level script to fill in a new date in that field every time you open a document.

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