Slow PDF due to number of prepare form calculations

[Kimberlationism]

Hi, All!

Below I have provided context before asking my question. Any help, suggestions, or feedback would be greatly appreciated.

CONTEXT: Recently I created a 25-page PDF that contains a ton of calculations (at least 8 pages of that are prepare form calculations). The first 2 pages with calculations are generated and then copied or ported down to the next 2 pages worth of calculations (because they're used to provide a baseline value vs. where are we now value). I also have the PDF set up to copy/port notes down from one section to each following section, where applicable. Because of this, there are a lot of prepare form calculations and duplicate text fields (with the same name to allow copying/porting).

QUESTION: Because the number of calculations and ported text fields is high, this PDF is heavily bogged down and is a little "slow" (e.g., there is a slight delay when you click on a checkbox before the checkmark will show, or a slight delay for the calculated number to generate in the appropriate field after filling in the fields it is calculating). Is there any way to speed up this document?

Thanks-a-million in advance!

Kimberly

[Bernd Alheit]

Use validation scripts (not calculation scripts) where it is possible.

[Kimberlationism]

I've never used validation scripts, can I use them with any kind of calculation (+, -, average, etc.)? I had to use Javascript for some of my calculations (using division or combining calculations, such as adding and dividing). Does the validation scripts feature allow this?

[Bernd Alheit]

Calculations are possible as validation script of e.g. dropdown lists.

[try67]

The best way to do it, in my opinion, is to perform all calculations from a single field. Then you will be able to check the name of the field that triggered the calculation (by looking at event.source.name) and decide which ones to perform. For example, if field C has the value of A+B and field F has the value of D-E there's no reason to update field C if D or E are updated.

Doing it like that will also make it easier to control the order of the calculations, as you won't have to deal with the cumbersome Fields Calculation Order dialog. It will all be determined by the order of the code under your one calculated script.

[Kimberlationism]

Interesting. So, enter all of my calculations under the "custom calculation script" section using Javascript? If not, what is considered the "single field' in this scenario?

[try67]

It can be any field with a calculation event. I like to use a (hidden) text field just for this purpose, but it can by anything, really.

[Kimberlationism]

Do you use Java Script only when you do this, or will simplified field notation language also work?