What makes a form slow?

[Eli-zabelle]

Hi,

I have a document with 120 similar text fields + 20 dropdowns. There is mainly two simple action Javascript  + 1 format script per field. I have a button to reset all fields and it takes up to 20 seconds on a regular performing computer. The action scripts weren't absolutely essential so I've tested the document without them, but nothing changed in the time it took to reset.  Also, when I open the document, it takes quite a while for all the fields to appear.

What are the reasons that can make a document so very slow? Do I have too many fields? Are there other reasons that maybe I could correct? Thank you.

I have Adobe Acrobat Pro DC.

[Joel_Geraci]

You haven't posted the for so this is only a guess but I'll bet the code isn't optimized and there are a ton of string literals in it.

Add the line...

this.delay = true;

... at the top of your reset script and then.

this.delay = false;

... at the end of your reset script.

This will stop the form from redrawing the fields as it's being reset. That may give you a performance boost.

[Eli-zabelle]

Hi Joel,

On my reset button properties, I used the command Reset form and checked the fields I wanted to reset.

Now, to use what you suggested, I wrote a script instead of the command using this.resetForm with each of the seven parent fields.

Example :

this.delay = true;

var a= this.getField("Ville4L");

this.resetForm(a);

this.delay=false;

Is this how I'm suppose to write it? Because it did reset my form, but took even much longer!

thanks.

[Joel_Geraci]

Did you want to reset the form or just a few fields?

[Eli-zabelle]

Initially, I had pretty much all the fields checked on the reset command. I only unchecked a few fields that were static and had no special function, in case it would help.

[Joel_Geraci]

Ok - then my guess is that there's something very inefficient in the JavaScript in the fields. I can't diagnose that without the form though.

[Eli-zabelle]

In almost every field, I have them three script

Under action tab :

• On mouse down :
  var f = this.getField("Ville4L.0.0"); //get the text field
  if (f.value == f.defaultValue) f.value = ""; //if field value = the default, then clear it

• On deactivate field (?english) :
  var f = this.getField("Ville4L.0.0"); //get the text field
  if (f.value == "") f.value = f.defaultValue; //if field value = empty, then restore the default

Under format tab :

• Custom format :
  // If field is blank, do not print this field 
  event.target.display = event.value ? display.visible : display.noPrint; 
  
  // If field is blank, display this text 
  if (!event.value) event.value = "Ville", event.target.textColor = color.gray;
  else
  event.value = event.value.toUpperCase(), event.target.textColor = color.black;

It all works perfectly to clear default value as we click on field, and format in capitals what is entered as we leave. The form is great for the simple task I want it to do.  But is this too heavy that it causes all the delay?

I made a test by erasing the first two scripts and leaving only the uppercase &black text color under custom format, and saw no improvement in the lag.

Thanks!

[Joel_Geraci]

Try combining the two settings into one if statement. Modify the value first, then set the display property.

[Eli-zabelle]

Are you talking about the two scripts under the action tab? How do I do this when the first if statement is on focus and the second is on blur?

Thanks!

[Bernd Alheit]

Eli-zabelle  wrote

In almost every field, I have them three script

Under action tab :

• On mouse down :
  var f = this.getField("Ville4L.0.0"); //get the text field
  if (f.value == f.defaultValue) f.value = ""; //if field value = the default, then clear it

• On deactivate field (?english) :
  var f = this.getField("Ville4L.0.0"); //get the text field
  if (f.value == "") f.value = f.defaultValue; //if field value = empty, then restore the default

...

At almost every field you change the field "Ville4L.0.0" ?

[Eli-zabelle]

Yes. I could have worked with just event.value as I now see. Maybe I had tried at first and something didn't work quite right. I will make the changes, it might make a difference.