how do i populate a form with current date?

[rosemariem24343617]

I tried the instructions below but it does not work:

In Acrobat:

The script you create to display the current date when the document is opened is a document level script.

To create an automatic date field:1. Select Tools > Forms >. Edit > Add New Field > Text Field and create a text field. (For more infor-mation, see the section on Creating Form Fields in the Acrobat online help.) Select All Properties > General tab and name the field Today.

2. Select the Format tab, chooses Date for the format category, and chooses a month, day, and year format option (for example, “mmm d, yyyy”). On the General tab, make sure the field is read-only because it will be a calculated field, and click Close.

3. To create a document level script that is executed each time the document is opened, choose View > Tools > Document Processing > JavaScript > Document JavaScripts. Name the script Today, and click Add.

4. Delete the automatically generated text, defining a Today function, that is displayed in the script window. Type in the following text in the exact format (line wraps are OK) and click OK.

var f = this.getField("Today");f.value = util.printd("mm/dd/yyyy", new Date());

This script binds the Today field to the variable f, and then calculates the value. The newDate() ex-pression creates a new date object initialized to the current date and time. The util object is used to format the date into the month/day/year format.

5. Click OK in the JavaScript Edit dialog box, and then click Close in the JavaScript Functions dialog box.

[try67]

Try setting the value property as well.

[George_Johnson]

I'm not aware of a way to do that. The date picker has a mind of its own and it doesn't look like you can change it.

[try67]

I believe it does that by default when you click the empty field. Is that not the case?

[PWS2020]

No, it's empty at first. I want current date as default in date picker.

[gkaiseril]

If you look closely you will see you are trying to use a different character for the format of the date.

I would set the form field format to "None" or the same format that you are using in the document level script.

This can also be version dependent. I have found consistent formatting for dates is important. It reduces confusion.

Have you opened the Acrobat JavaScript console to see if there are any errors?

The "var f = " is not necessary.

[rosemariem24343617]

Thank you gkalserll. I'll try that and let you know.

[rosemariem24343617]

Hi gkalserll, I tried your suggestion but it didn't populate current date. Thank you though for your input.

[gkaiseril]

Autodate​ is a sample working form located on Dropbox that works and shows how the auto date field will not reset upon a form reset.

Note the use must be using a program, app, or web browser that can support JavaScript's date object, date formatting, document level scripts, etc.

[michaeln19305662]

can you help me set up an automated date form that will automatically fill it with the date 5 days from the current day?

[gkaiseril]

This question has been asked and answered many many times. Have you searched the forum for "adding days"?

Acrobat forms use JavaScript and you will use the Date object that has may properties and methods that can be used to manipulate the date, like getDate() and setDate() . These methods can be used to get the date of the month from the date object and then one can adjust that value as needed and then the adjusted value can be used to set the date object to that new date.

[michaeln19305662]

i am a noob when it comes to coding. can you please give me the exact code for this to work? this would be so much help ! thank you!

[Thom Parker]

Here is a tutorial that provides the code, and an example document

https://acrobatusers.com/tutorials/date_time_part1

[rosemariem24343617]

I'm using Adobe Acrobat DC.

[rosemariem24343617]

I can only share an image, video and link. There is no option for me to insert a file.

[Karl Heinz Kremer]

You cannot share a file directly here, you would need to make it available somehow, and then post the link here. The easiest way for you to share a file is using Adobe's Document Cloud service. See here for more information: Share Documents via Adobe's Document Cloud - KHKonsulting LLC

[CPSTM]

Found on this forum - works as a 'Custom calculation script'. 

// get current system date object

var oNow = new Date();

// set value to formatted date string

event.value = util.printd("mm/dd/yyyy", oNow);

Re: How to customize a date field as current day?

[Guest]

How do you do this in Acrobat Reader DC?

[Karl Heinz Kremer]

You cannot create forms or edit form field properties in the free Adobe Reader. This can only be done with Adobe Acrobat Pro or Standard.

[dawnborendesign]

worked perfectly, thanks!