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Paul5D64
Known Participant
October 15, 2022
Answered

DROPDOWN LIST - EXPORT VALUES

  • October 15, 2022
  • 1 reply
  • 1440 views

Hi, I am creating a PDF form with numerous fields including dropboxes and complimenting text fields,  I can work out the export value for most of the options, but I also have the option for people to enter custome text but cant figure out how to make the export option to be blank to corresponding text box.  I have attached some screenshots for explanation.  I want the blank field to export nothing to the text box. I am sure its probably easy to do but for the life of me I cant seem to work it out   

 

 

This topic has been closed for replies.
Correct answer Thom Parker

Thanks Thom,

Solution 2 seems to be the way I should go but I have no idea of the code that I would need to make it happen.  Any advice/example would be greatly apreciated.  

Cheers Paul


Unfortunately entries in a list field can't be acquired or searched with a single function.  Each item is acquired individually with field.getItemAt() function as you've already seen. The solution is to loop over all the items.

Here's a function that will do the trick.

 

function IsItemInListField(oLstFld, cTestItem, bExport){
    var bRtn = false;
    if((oLstFld.type == "list") || (oLstFld.type == "combobox")){
       for(var i=0;i<oLstFld.numItems;i++){
           if(cTestItem == oLstFld.getItemAt(i,bExport)){
                bRtn = true;
                break;
           }
       }
    }
    return bRtn;
}

 

Use this function in the Format Script for the dropdown

 

var oPostFld = this.getField("Text3aa");
if(IsItemInListField(event.target, event.value, false))
{// dropdown contains item, so set post code to export 
     oPostFld.readonly = true;
     oPostFld.fillColor = ["G",.8]; // a little color help to que the user
     oPostFld .value = event.target.getItemAt(event.target.currentValueIndices,true);
}
else
{// dropdown does not contain item, so clear post code and make editable 
     oPostFld.readonly = false;
     oPostFld.fillColor = ["G",1]; // a little color help to que the user
     oPostFld .value = "";
}

1 reply

ls_rbls
ls_rbls
Community Expert
October 15, 2022

Try it like this:

 

var f = this.getField("Dropdown3");
var g = f.getItemAt(0, false);

event.value = g;

 

P
Paul5D64Author
Known Participant
October 15, 2022

Thanks ls_rbls.  Not sure exactly where I'm meant to put this code.

I am attaching a pdf file to better expalin what I am trying to do.   

I appreciate your assistance very much in helping me with this.

Cheers  Paul 

Thom Parker
Thom Parker
Community Expert
October 15, 2022

You have both a format script on the dropdown and a calculation script on the text field that look like they are trying to do the same thing.  

Since the drop down is only affecting a single value, I'd suggest getting rid of the calculation script on the text field.

 

Now, to solve your issue you need to know when the user is entering custom text.  The user doesn't have to select the blank entry to enter custom text. So the current selection doesn't matter and you don't need a blank entry.

 

There are a couple of solutions:

1) Add a "Custom Entry" item to the dropdown. 

    When this entry is selected, show a text field for entering the custom data and write a blank to the PostCode field.

    You 'll also need to make the PostCode field writable. When the "Custom Entry" is not selected make the Post Code Read Only, so it can't be changed.

 

2) Keep it the way it is, with the custom text entered in the dropdown. Add code in the Format event for the dropdown to detect when the entered value is not in the list of provided items. Use this to control the readonly property of the Post Code field. 

 

 

Thom Parker - Software Developer at PDFScriptingUse the Acrobat JavaScript Reference early and often
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