Type between parenthesis, but parenthesis stays

[symone_1736]

I'm not sure if the title makes sense, but this is what I am trying to do; in the text box, I am typing in a state's abbreviation and need the abbreviation to be in parenthesis, but I don't want to have to put in the parenthesis every time. Is it possible to just type in the two letters but the output of it would switch to the letters be surrounded by the parenthesis? textbox1: I type in IL, output: (IL)

[symone_1736 · Accepted solution]

I found the answer to my own question

if (event.value) event.value = "(" + event.value + ")";

[William_Robert3460]

You can do that with a simple custom calculation script in the text box. Try this:

1. Right-click the text field → Properties → Calculate → Custom calculation script

2. Paste this code:

   if (event.value) {
     event.value = "(" + event.value.replace(/[()]/g, "") + ")";
   }

This will automatically wrap whatever you type (like IL) in parentheses, even if you forget to add them yourself.

[Thom Parker]

A Calculation script is a poor (and possibly outright dangerous) solution to this issue.  Never use a calculation script to act on the value entered into a field, because it has the potential to cause an infinate loop. 

The correct location for such a script is any of the events that are triggered on data entry into the field. In this instance the Validate event is the best choice since it is triggred after the data is being (but not quite) commited to the field. 

Keep your original solution and make sure to place the code into the Custom Validation Script for the field. 

[nforme_7108]

Yes that’s totally possible, and how you do it depends on the platform or language you’re using for the text box.

[PDF Automation Station]

The following custom format script is the best solution:

if(event.value)
{event.value="("+event.value+")"}

https://pdfautomationstation.substack.com/p/custom-format-for-pdf-fields

[Thom Parker]

Format or Validation?  Depends on the requirements for the final field value.

• If this is only for display, then a format script is the only solution.
• But if the value needs the parentheses, then the Validate (or keystroke) is the only solution.