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Calculation error--"field does not exist"

Forum Index > Forms: Acrobat > Calculation error--"field does not exist"
2007-11-05 11:17:15
MReyesBDI
Registered: Nov 5 2007
Posts: 2

I am creating a form in Acroforms and am trying to do a simple calculation adding several fields together. I'm using the "value is the sum+" function to do this. I keep getting the message "the (field name) field does not exist, please re-enter."

My Product Information:
Acrobat Pro 8.0999999999999996447286321199499070644378662109375, Windows
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2007-11-06 13:06:32
#1
pddesigner
Registered: Jul 9 2006
Posts: 858
Check the formats of the fields you are adding.

They should be formated as numbers with the proper number of decimal places, not locked or set as ready only (unless it's the sum field).

My favorite quote - "Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm.

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2008-10-01 11:19:30
#2
purchasects
Registered: Oct 1 2008
Posts: 1
I'm sure you've already found a solution for your problem as this post is rather old, but I just experienced the same error and figured my input may be useful to other users.

I had allowed Acrobat to automatically detect and name forms (Advanced > Accessibility > Run Form Field Recognition). The field names chosen by Acrobat all included "," commas. Unfortuantely, the sum calculation uses commas to separate each field name, so Acrobat only sees the part of the field name before the comma and thus gives the aforementioned error. Of course, the solution is to remove any commas from the field names.For example, the following field names will present the error if selected for the sum (+) function:
Field Name 1 = ABCD, Row 1
Field Name 2 = ABCD, Row 2

However, these alternative names will work without error because they don't contain commas:
Field Name 1 = ABCD_Row_1
Field Name 2 = ABCD_Row_2
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2008-10-02 03:30:30
#3
maxwyss
Registered: Jul 25 2006
Posts: 255
I think you uncovered a fundamental flaw... I am not sure where it is. Whether it is the automatic field naming, or the simple calculation... Although I am tended to go towards automatic field naming...

A general suggestion would be to very carefully look at the result of the automatic field naming (also when doing automatic field recognition), and change field names. Also consider doing logic "the right way", using Acrobat JavaScript... it will be way more reliable.

Max Wyss.
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2009-02-23 08:06:10
#4
teledu
Registered: May 10 2007
Posts: 42
purchasects
Thanks for your post: hit the same problem and luckily good 'ole Google found the 'field does not exist' string from here.
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