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Dynamic_positivity9943
Participant
August 18, 2025
Question

If/then dropdown script

  • August 18, 2025
  • 1 reply
  • 328 views

Hi smart people. Need some help with writing a JavaScript if/then for a pdf form. 

if the selection in dropdown11 is "No" than the selection in dropdown12 is "N/A"

 

and 

 

if the selection in dropdown11 is "Yes" than selection in dropdown12 cannot be "N/A"

1 reply

Thom Parker
Community Expert
Thom ParkerCommunity Expert
Community Expert
August 18, 2025

There's a little complexity to this.  One way to do this is to use two scripts, i.e., Validation scripts on both dropdowns. 

 

Validation Script for "dropdown11"

var oFld12 = this.getField("dropdown12");
if(event.value == "No")
   oFld12.value = "N/A";
else if((event.value == "Yes") && (oFld12.value == "N/A"))
   oFld12 = "SomethingElse";

// Note, you'll need to provide a valid value for dropdown12

 

Validation Script for "dropdown12"

event.rc = !((this.getField("dropdown11").value == "Yes")&& (event.value == "N/A"));

 

 

Thom Parker - Software Developer at PDFScriptingUse the Acrobat JavaScript Reference early and often
D
Dynamic_positivity9943Author
Participant
August 18, 2025

Thanks, that worked; however, if either box is edited after initial selection and breaks the "rule" it accepts the wrong answer. Anyway remedy for that?

Thom Parker
Community Expert
Thom ParkerCommunity Expert
Community Expert
August 18, 2025

Ok, a little more complex that I originally thought.  First, the value of "dropdown11" hasn't changed by the time "dropdown12"  gets the change from the "dropdown11" script.  So there needs to be a blocking mechanism.  And there is a condition missing from the "dropdown12" scripts. 

Finally, both dropdowns need to be set to "commit immediately"

 

Here's the tested code:

 

Validation Script for "dropdown11"

var oFld12 = this.getField("dropdown12");
this.change = true;
if(event.value == "No")
   oFld12.value = "N/A";
else if((event.value == "Yes") && (oFld12.value == "N/A"))
   oFld12.value = "A";
this.change = false;

 

Validation Script for "dropdown12"

if(!this.change)
	event.rc = (this.getField("dropdown11").value == "No")&& (event.value == "N/A") || (this.getField("dropdown11").value == "Yes")&& (event.value != "N/A");

 

Note that the code for dropdown11 uses "A" as the default value for dropdown12. Change this to the default value on your form for dropdown12.

 

 

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