Is it possible to set form fields to only print when they're filled in?

[mschamburek]

I have sample text in my fields, which I don't want to print. But, if someone fills out the form, I do want their filled-in information to print. Is this possible to set up?

[try67]

Yes. In the document's Will Print event you can enter a script that will set all the fields that have the same value as their default value to hidden (or non-printable), and then set them back to visible on the Did Print event.

[mschamburek]

That's very helpful, thank you! Unfortunately, I'm fairly code illiterate. Does anyone have a sample of code that I could use for this?

[try67]

I can help you with this, but do you have any hidden fields in your file that you don't want to print either way?

[mschamburek]

Thank you! No I do not have any hidden fields. I just want to be able to print the file blank in case people want to fill it out by hand, or have the option to fill it out digitally, and then print their responses.

[try67 · Accepted solution]

OK, then you can use this code as the document's Will Print script:

for (var i=0; i<this.numFields; i++) {
    var f = this.getField(this.getNthFieldName(i));
    if (f==null) continue;
    if (f.type=="button") continue;
    if (f.valueAsString==f.defaultValue) f.display = display.noPrint;
    else f.display = display.visible;
}

[mschamburek]

That worked amazingly! Thank you SO MUCH!!!

[radugbhr]

Hi.  I've tried the script you suggested and it still does not hide the fields with default values.  I have also tried:

if (Title2.value==Title2.defaultValue) Title2.display = display.noPrint; 

else Title2.display = display.visible;

I only have 1 field I need to hide for printing so I figured the straight if else statement should work.  But it does not.

Any thoughts?

[Bernd Alheit]

Where does you set the variable Title2? Any error message in the console?

[try67]

Assuming "Title2" is the name of the field, the first line of your code should be:

var Title2 = this.getField("Title2");

Then the rest of it should work...

[radugbhr]

U assumed correctly.  I put in the variable declaration but still no dice.  I Have 3 fields in the pdf I have swapped out Title2 for those field names to test if it was just Title2 but no.  The willPrint script is not executing for any field.  Not sure how to bring up the console to check the code.  Syntax looks fine though.

[try67]

If the code is accepted when you enter it under Document Will Print it means the syntax is OK. That doesn't mean it doesn't have other issues with it. Press Ctrl+J to open the Console and see if there are any error messages there.

[radugbhr]

It says there's a syntax error.  I must not be seeing it:

[try67]

Seems fine to me... Can you post the code as text, though?

[radugbhr]

var Title2 = this.getField("Title2");

if (Title2.value == Title2.defaultValue){

    Title2.display = display.noPrint;

} else {

    Title2.display = display.visible;

}

[try67]

Works fine for me.

[radugbhr]

Maybe some more information then.

There are 3 fields in the pdf.  Name, Title, and Title2

All 3 have the default values set to their field name.  Does it matter that the default value is a string and not a raw value? 

I have tried setting the javascript from Title2.value to Title2.valueAsString

Still no dice

[Bernd Alheit]

What happens when you execute the code in the console?

[radugbhr]

I receive the syntax error posted in my previous reply.

[try67]

Are you making sure to select the full code before executing it?

[radugbhr]

If I select the whole code, I do not receive the syntax error, but the field is still visible and will print.

[try67]

Well, at least the code is running!

What is the field's default value, and what is its current value?

[radugbhr]

The default value it "Title2", no quotes.  For testing, I open the pdf, and go to file->print.  I would think that would trigger the willPrint script since the default value was not edited after the pdf was opened.

[try67]

I'll need to see the actual file to be able to help you further with this.

Can you it with us via Dropbox, Google Drive, Adobe Document Cloud, etc.?

[radugbhr]

Of course.

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1UlnGG1WkqzokIOsRuviFi5OdNzccfAYR