Check to see if any field is empty

[nexx222]

I have a pretty large document that has over 200 text/check boxes. What I want to do is create a button that makes a pop-up warning for any blank fields in the entire document.

Right now the only way I've seen to do this is using javascript using an array of every field and checking them 1 by 1 in a for-loop. I would like to avoid this as the array requires you to type the title of each field so with 200+ fields it becomes quite tedious typing them all in.

Using Acrobat XI Pro, thanks.

[gkaiseril]

Not if you use the comparison of the field's value to the field's default value.

// required fields;
var aRequiredFields = new Array("Text1", "Text2",
"Check Box3", "Group1", "List Box5", "Dropdown6");
// messages for non-completed fields;
var aMessage = new Array();
aMessage["Text1"] = "Complete Text1";
aMessage["Text2"] = "Complete Text2";
aMessage["Check Box3"] = "Complete Check Box3";
aMessage["Group1"] = "Complete Radio Button Troup1";
aMessage["List Box5"] = "Complete List Boxt5";
aMessage["Dropdown6"] = "Complete Dropdown6";
// array  of non-compleeted field names;
var aNotCompleted = new Array();
// loop through fields and finding fields whose value si the same as their default value;
for(var i = 0; i < aRequiredFields.length; i++) {
// clear the field fill color;

this.getField(aRequiredFields).fillColor = color.transparent;

if(this.getField(aRequiredFields).value == this.getField(aRequiredFields).defaultValue) {
    // log field name into array;
aNotCompleted.push(aRequiredFields);

// set the field's fill color;

this.getField(aRequiredFields).fillColor = color.red;

} // not completed
} // end loop field names
if(aNotCompleted.length != 0) {
var cMsg = "Complete following " + aNotCompleted.length + " fields:";
for(var i = 0; i < aNotCompleted.length; i++) {
  // load field message into error message
  cMsg += "\r"+ aMessage[aNotCompleted];
  }
app.alert(cMsg, 1, 0);
} else {

// actions to complete when all required fields completed.
app.alert("Conradualtions, all fields completed", 3, 0);
}

[28110942]

Thank you all so much for posting the scripts, they're so helpful!  I put Try67's script in a Print button:

var emptyFields = [];

for (var i=0; i<this.numFields; i++) {

     var f= this.getField(this.getNthFieldName(i));

     if (f.type!="button" && f.required && f.display==display.visible) {

          if ((f.type=="text" && f.value=="") || (f.type=="checkbox" && f.value=="Off")) emptyFields.push(f.name);

     }

}

if (emptyFields.length>0) {

     app.alert("You must fill in the following fields:\n" + emptyFields.join("\n"));

}

else

{

app.execMenuItem("Print");

}

It works perfectly!  Then I tried adding MichaelN's highlighting addition but it didn't work. What I'm hoping to achieve is to turn off the automatic highlighting of the required fields until the Print button is engaged, then to highlight the required fields that were not filled in.  I'm not sure if this is possible, and if it is, if I have to uncheck Required in the fields and set them as Required through JavaScript instead.  Would I need to start a new thread for this?  Thank you

[28110942]

I added this Document level script on Page Open:

app.runtimeHighlight = false;

Then it worked to hide the required field highlighting.

[LLBx]

I know this is a super old thread. Did you get the answer for this? I am facing the same problem too. hopefully someone can help. Below is my code

var emptyFields = [];
for (var i=0; i<this.numFields; i++) {
     var f= this.getField(this.getNthFieldName(i));
     if (f.type!="button" && f.required ) {
          if ((f.type=="text" && f.value=="") || (f.type=="checkbox" && f.value=="Off"))emptyFields.push(f.name);
     }
}
if (emptyFields.length>0) {
     app.alert("Error! You must fill in the following fields:\n" + emptyFields.join("\n"));
} else {
// actions to complete when all required fields completed.
 app.alert("No errors are detected, remember to save your file and get signatures.", 3, 0);
}

[DANI3LM0]

try67 wrote:

Yes. Change this line:

if (f.type!="button" && f.required ) {

To this:

if (f.type!="button" && f.required && f.display==display.visible) {

This is great, but I have buttons that show and hide certain fields. This code permanently makes the required fields visible and does not allow me to re-hide them when I click the check box that hides them. How to I fix this part? Thanks!

[try67]

No, this code doesn't do that, unless you copied it incorrectly.

[DANI3LM0]

try67 wrote:

No, this code doesn't do that, unless you copied it incorrectly.

Hi Try. So when I copy paste the code, the required fields remain hidden. They do not become visible when checking the boxes.

Code:

var emptyFields = [];

for (var i=0; i<this.numFields; i++) {

     var f= this.getField(this.getNthFieldName(i));

     if (f.type!="button" && f.required && f.display==display.visible) {

          if ((f.type=="text" && f.value=="") || (f.type=="checkbox" && f.value=="Off")) emptyFields.push(f.name);

     }

}

if (emptyFields.length>0) {

     app.alert("Error! You must check 'Yes' in the following boxes to qualify for Preferred Tier:\n" + emptyFields.join("\n"));

}

[try67]

Again, this script doesn't change the visibility of any fields. It just makes sure that only visible fields are validated.

[DANI3LM0]

OK, thanks!

[dewe14]

hello, my document appear information "You must fill filed xxxx" but after that message why my document still print ya? Pls help .

Thanks

dewe14

[sheilab77417713]

I was able to do this by also adding the javascript to a new action on a Print button.

Mouse down>run the javascript

Mouse up>Print

It would still print if you go to "File>Print" but at least it required the fields to be filled in before the print button would work.

[try67]

If you add the print command as a part of the JS code then you could abort it entirely (when the button is used) if not all the fields are filled-in.

[sheilab77417713]

I realized after I posted this that it did not work. I could click okay and still save or print. Any suggestions? I probably need an "else if" statement at the end of the script.

[try67]

It all has to be done in a single script. One action can't interfere with another one.

If you post your code I could let you know how to do it.

[sheilab77417713]

I used this javascript

var emptyFields = [];

for (var i=0; i<this.numFields; i++) {

     var f= this.getField(this.getNthFieldName(i));

     if (f.type!="button" && f.required ) {

          if ((f.type=="text" && f.value=="") || (f.type=="checkbox" && f.value=="Off")) emptyFields.push(f.name);

     }

}

if (emptyFields.length>0) {

     app.alert("Error! You must fill in the following fields:\n" + emptyFields.join("\n"));

}

This is for the "SAVE" button on a reader extended form.

[try67]

Looks familiar... 🙂

It's more tricky for a save button, but try adding this at the end (and remove the separate "Execute a menu item" command, of course):

else app.execMenuItem("SaveAs");

[sheilab77417713]

That worked! Thank you. If I want to use this for the print button, would I use ("Print")? I will try it.

[try67]

Yeah, that should work.

On Tue, Mar 3, 2015 at 4:07 PM, sheilab77417713 <forums_noreply@adobe.com>

[sheilab77417713]

I tried it with ("Print") and it worked. Thanks try67‌ for your help.

[Lori K Illustration]

I have 3 PDFs that I want users to fill out, save and email back. I used the script above from Try67, and it works wonderfully on 2 of them. It alerts you if you try to save without filling in all of the required fields, which is exactly what I want it to do. But for some reason it's not working on the third PDF. I built all 3 in InDesign and exported as Interactive PDFs. I made sure that all of the text fields have unique names. The 3 PDFs are very similar, so I can't figure out why it's not working on one of them. Does anyone have any idea why?

I'm using Acrobat Pro XI that comes with Creative Cloud on the Mac. I'm going to Set Document Actions and then choosing "Document Will Save", and pasting in the script. 

[try67]

What type of field is it? Is it set as required? Are there any error messages in the JS console?

[Lori K Illustration]

The following error message appears in the Javascript Debugger. The weird thing is that when I checked the Javascript Debugger in one of the files that worked, it has the same error message--but it worked for that PDF. There are text fields, some of which are required, and some are not. (I also have some check boxes and radio buttons which aren't affected by the script, but that's separate issue). The required fields are outlined in red, so I know it's recognizing them as required.      

Acrobat EScript Built-in Functions Version 11.0

Acrobat SOAP 11.0

TypeError: f is null

4:Doc:Will Save

TypeError: f is null

4:Doc:Will Save

TypeError: f is null

4:Doc:Will Save

TypeError: f is null

4:Doc:Will Save

TypeError: f is null

4:Doc:Will Save

TypeError: f is null

4:Doc:Will Save

TypeError: f is null

4:Field:Mouse Up

TypeError: f is null

4:Field:Mouse Up

TypeError: f is null

4:Doc:Will Save

TypeError: f is null

4:Field:Mouse Up

TypeError: f is null

4:Doc:Will Save

SyntaxError: missing ; before statement

6:

SyntaxError: missing ; before statement

6:

SyntaxError: missing ; before statement

6:

SyntaxError: missing ; before statement

6:

SyntaxError: missing ; before statement

6:

SyntaxError: missing ; before statement

6:

SyntaxError: missing ; before statement

6:

TypeError: this.getField(f) is null

4:Doc:Will Save

TypeError: this.getField(f) is null

4:Doc:Will Save

TypeError: f is null

4:Doc:Will Save

TypeError: f is null

4:Doc:Will Save

SyntaxError: missing ) after argument list

9:

SyntaxError: missing ) after argument list

9:

TypeError: f is null

4:Doc:Will Save

TypeError: f is null

4:Doc:Will Save

TypeError: f is null

4:Doc:Will Save

TypeError: f is null

4:Doc:Will Save

TypeError: f is null

4:Doc:Will Save

SyntaxError: missing ; before statement

1:

TypeError: f is null

4:Doc:Will Save

TypeError: f is null

4:Document-Actions:Document Will Save

TypeError: f is null

4:Doc:Will Save

TypeError: f is null

4:Doc:Will Save

[try67]

Did you put the code in the Will Save action? If so, change this line:

if (f.type!="button" && f.required ) {

To this:

if (f!=null && f.type!="button" && f.required ) {

[Lori K Illustration]

It worked! You're a genius!

[murrjames]

Excellent, thank you.