How/where to declare a document level global variable in Acrobat?

[jeff_biss]

Creating a global variable when writing JavaScript in a file is is straight forward and obvious, but not when trying to set it in Acrobat via the Use JavaScript tool in Acrobat. I have read:

• Document Level (Document Open) Scripts (https://www.pdfscripting.com/public/Document-Level-Scripts.cfm)

It is obvious that the Document javascripts strings tool is the place to enter JavaScript functions, as many as required can be added and are visible using the All javascript strings tool:

//<Document-Level>
//<ACRO_source>foo</ACRO_source>
//<ACRO_script>
/*********** belongs to: Document-Level:foo ***********/
function foo()
{
   console.println("Hello, world!"); 
}
//</ACRO_script>
//</Document-Level>

The added function is shown in the Scripts pane of the Javascript Debugger window indicating that Acrobat sees them.

However, it isn't obvious how to create a document global variable. When I add them manually to the All javascripts strings/Javascript Editor and close, the variable is lost as in it is not there when the Editor is opened again. As the functions are enclosed in <ACRO></ACRO> tags, it may that there are tags for the document level variables? If so, what are they? I assume that when a document level variable is created, it will be displayed in the Inspect pane of the JavaScript Debugger window because Variable/Value are shown in the header.

[try67]

Do NOT edit the code via the All Javascripts command. You can seriously mess up your file doing that.

Use the Document JavaScripts command, instead, and place your code outside of a function. That way it will execute when the file is opened.

[Thom Parker · Accepted solution]

Just declare the variable in a doc level script

For example:

var a = "A";

That's all there is to it, simple 🙂

And as suggested by Try67, Don't use "Edit all scripts"

[JR Boulay]

[MOVED TO THE ACROBAT DISCUSSIONS]