Creating a Stamp with Check boxes

[_ArthurMaloney_]

I need to create a Stamp that has check boxes that a user can fill in by clicking on them once the stamp is placed.

I can create the forms and everything on the PDF that I am making into the stamp and they work just fine.

But when I add that PDF as a custom stamp the forms for the Check Boxes and Text fill go away.

How do I make it where those forms carry over into the new custom stamp and make it so the users can click on the forms to check the boxes or fill in the text?

Thanks!

[_Sabian_Zildjian_]

The PDF that you are creating for the stamp's appearance gets flattened or rasterized when it's placed on the new form you are attempting to create. So you have to do a two step process to achieve your goal. 1) Create the stamp; 2) create the check boxes.

Sabian

[_ArthurMaloney_]

That's all fine and good but it defeats the purpose. This was a stamp that I was going to put on everyone's computer so they can stamp the drawings and they can fill in the check boxes by clicking on them. Not by having to redraw the check boxes. My users are not that computer savvy so anything that makes it easy for them would be great.

[Bill12]

They could always just use the typewriter tool or text touchup tool to put Xs in the boxes. You might have to show them, but it should not be too hard.

[_Kim_Gosnell_]

I agree with Arthur that it defeats the purpose. I am trying to do the same thing. I want a FILLABLE stamp that I can edit after it's placed on the PDF. I need to insert text in the stamp and then check some checkboxes in the stamp after it's placed on the pdf. I do not want to have to create a custom stamp every time and have to browse to it every time. Is there anyway to do exactly this or what is the workaround? Would I create a fillable stamp in Go Live or Live Cycle?

[gkaiseril]

Stamps are the annotations of the person placing the stamp. Now one can create a dynamic stamp that one can fill in before its placement. See "Dynamic Stamp Secrets" by Thom Parker, http://www.acrobatusers.com/tutorials/2007/dynamic_stamp_secrets/ .

To get the check boxes prior to placement, you probably will need to use the 'Dialog' object to capture that data prior to applying the stamp and other data you want to be dynamic in stead of the "app.response()" method.

[_Craig_Daniel_]

I am with Arthur and Kim. There needs to be an easy way to do this or else we will get slammed by our hundreds of end users that expect the custom stamp to work just like an old fashioned rubber stamp. To explain a little more what is needed, lets say we are an Architect approving a construction submittal. We create a custom stamp that has four checkboxes on it (Approved, Approved as Noted, Revise and Resubmit, and Rejected). We use the stamp toolbar to place our stamp on the page, then need to be able to select one of the four checkboxes just like you would do when applying a rubber stamp and taking a pen and checking on of the boxes. This all works fine when you create a form in PDF, but when it gets turned into a stamp, the file gets flattened and the checkboxes stop working. There must be a way to do this.

[Adenjo]

I have exactly the sam problem, and have tried the create form and then turn into a stamp, has anyone had anyluck, i am a Document Controller and need to stamp electronic documents with my own created stamp this is desperate now as the number of electronic documents clearly outweighs the number of paper

[DimitriM]

Hi Adenjo,

While you cannot have interactive elements in a custom stamp "after" it is placed on the PDF, you CAN have a dynamic stamp with fillable elements like text fields, check boxes, etc that you would fill in "before" you place the stamp.  A tutorial and downloadable sample "Dynamic Stamp Secrets" is available at acrobatusers.com

http://www.acrobatusers.com/tutorials/2007/02/dynamic_stamp_secrets

When you download that example (place it in your stamps folder) and select one of the stamps a dialog will pop-up that asks you for the information to fill in the stamp.  Fill in the dialog, hit OK and the stamp is placed on the PDF with that info ( such as approved, accetped ,etc) in it.

For check boxes and other interactive elements you need to create a custom dialog since a simple text field is all you get with the built-in response boxes in Acrobat.  Custom dialogs can be easily created with a plugin for Acrobat "AcroDialogs."  Using AcroDialogs you can create a custom dialog with just about all interatcie elements (check boxes, dropdowns, radio buttons, etc).

This setup is used by lots of companies now and people love it (at least the ones we've helped with this solution anyway).  Once you've got the stamp file created all you have to do is install it in the Acrobat stamp folder for anyone  who needs to use them- create once, use by many.

Hope this helps,

Dimitri

WindJack Solutions

www.windjack.com

www.pdfscripting.com

[skumar88ca]

Hi Everybody,

I read this post and here are my comments

The Article "Dynamic Stamp Secrets" by Thom Parker, http://www.acrobatusers.com/tutorials/2007/dynamic_stamp_secrets/ was really helpful but you need to read it very carefully to accomplish but you are asking.

Few key points to know about Dynamic Stamps (these were mentioned in many posts by Thom Parker)

Dynamic stamp can accept the user entered information while placing the stamp, b ut once the stamp is placed you can not go back and change anything in the stamp. Your best bet will be to delete the stamp and place a new one with required information. This may be due to the legal reasons or whatever but this is the fact.

Having said that, it doesn’t mean that dynamic stamp has great lot uses. I was able to create dynamic stamps with user input data and checkboxes, radio buttons etc. I created these stamps for Document Control for drawing numbering and approval. If you need more information please let me know.

[Gdifronzo]

Were you ever able to create a stamp that inserts logos (icons into it)? Thanks!

[DimitriM]

Hi gdifronzo,

Yes, you can include logo images on custom stamps.  If the logo is the only thing on the stamp, just Create a new stamp and use the Browse for File button to select the image file with the logo.

Hope this helps,

Dimitri

WindJack Solutions, Inc

www.windjack.com

www.pdfscripting.com

[Gdifronzo]

Thanks for your answer, Dimitri.  It's really nice to hear that it can be done.

I'm using the following code...

var cAsk = "Enter Exhibit Number" ;
var cTitle = "Exhibit Number:  ";
if(event.source.forReal && (event.source.stampName == "#eNVzyyEc8k0TPW34bdjlxB"))
{
  var cMsg = app.response(cAsk, cTitle);
  event.value = cMsg;
  event.source.source.info.exhibit = cMsg;

  var a = this.getField("Sign");
  a.buttonImportIcon()
}

The user enters the exhibit number and then should be able to browse for an icon to be shown in the button "SIGN".  This works if I have the stamp pdf file open.  However, when I close it and try to stamp a file, it does not ask the user to select an icon.  It only ask the user for the exhibit number.  Any ideas why this is happening and how I can make this work?  Even if I have to open the stamp pdf file in the background to make it work.

[Thom Parker]

Code in a stamp file operates in an odd context.  There are all kinds of restrictions

on what a script can and cannot do.  Importing an image into a button

is unfortunately not somthing that can be done.  At least not from the stamp script.

However, Acrobat always loads a new copy of the stamp file whenever the stamp is placed.  This means that you can write a folder level script that modifies the stamp file and then either call the menu item or place the stamp directly using the "doc.addAnnots()" function.

Thom Parker
The source for PDF Scripting Info
pdfscripting.com

The Acrobat JavaScript Reference, Use it Early and Often
http://www.adobe.com/devnet/acrobat/javascript.html

Then most important JavaScript Development tool in Acrobat
The Console Window (Video tutorial)
The Console Window(article)

[Gdifronzo]

Thanks for your response! I am afraid creating a folder level script is beyond my knowledge but certainly will look into it and appreciate your help.

[Guest]

can someone give an example of the code used to put in the checkbox function?  It seems like there are a lot of people that would benefit from this information.  I know that skumar88ca mentioned that he had done it before. Could you please enlighten us a little more. 

[try67]

You can only do it if you fill in the check-box BEFORE the stamp is applied.

Afterwards, it's no longer possible.

[Guest]

yeah thats perfectly fine..  i just need to know how to make it do that. if you need to discuss further,

email to aaaah_bees (at) hotmail.com

[DimitriM]

Hi regularflavor,

Custom dynamic stamps have been coming up more and more lately- people in many industries want fields, checkboxes, pulldowns, company logos, etc to replace rubber ink stamps.  Creating them is not a trivial task and requires some basic understanding of how stamps work in Acrobat.  If you are interested in learning how to develop custom dynamic stamps, you may want to consider a membership to www.pdfscripting.com  We've been adding lots of content on stamps over the last couple months- sample stamp files, a full series of articles with step by step instructions, and a new training video on how to copy dynamic features between stamp files.

http://www.pdfscripting.com/public/department53.cfm

It's not free, but is the most comprehensive set of content available on custom dynamic stamps for PDFs.

Dimitri

WindJack Solutions

http://www.pdfscripting.com

http://www.windjack.com