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Forms Fields and layers?

Forum Index > Forms: Acrobat > Forms Fields and layers?
2007-06-14 09:50:17
smith4925
Registered: Jun 14 2007
Posts: 10

This is going to sound stupid but that's what the client wants...

I have a document with a bunch of fields that will be printed in the end. The client however wants a red border around the necessary fields but doesn't want to print the border only the text. So to get around this issue I have 2 fields for every 1 field on top of each other. One is set to have a border to view and not print, and the other is set to print with no border. This option was working until a couple of days ago when the border fields started ramdomly appearing in front of the text printable fields. There doesn't seem to be a way to set a layer for the printable fields or at least tell the border fields to go to the bottom of the stacking order.

Does anybody have a solution for my problem?
Almost forgot, I'm using the lastest version of 7 on lastest version Mac OSX.
Thanks in advance, Shane

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2007-06-14 10:09:48
#1
gkaiseril
Online
Expert
Registered: Feb 23 2006
Posts: 4307
With Acrobat forms you can use the 'Will Print" action to execute a JavaScript that will change the "strokeColor" of a field to tranparent. You can then use the "Did Print" action to restore the border.

George Kaiser

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2007-06-14 10:22:11
#2
smith4925
Registered: Jun 14 2007
Posts: 10
Sounds good, except I have no idea how to do this? Also does the end user have to have java for this to work?
Thanks for your advise, Shane
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2007-06-14 11:50:35
#3
gkaiseril
Online
Expert
Registered: Feb 23 2006
Posts: 4307
The Java that is needed is part of Acrobat and Reader products. Since you have referred to layers, I can only assume you are dealing with Acrobat forms and not LiveCycle Designer forms. The only ways I have seen for manipulating layers was through the layer navigation panel or using JavaScript to manipulate the OCG object in JavaScript. You would also have to code the print layer for form fields without the box and transfer the values to those fields, if you gave the fields the same name they would have all the same properties, that is the colored box. And you would have to create the layer and all users would need version 7 or above.

George Kaiser

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2007-06-14 12:14:19
#4
smith4925
Registered: Jun 14 2007
Posts: 10
Actually I don't need to use layers if I can turn off the border line on the form fields through the "will print" but like I said before I don't know how to do this? I would also need them to reappear after with "did print". I have never written java script before, I'm not even sure if I have to. Also if I do end up using "will print" what version Acrobat would the end user need? I'm assuming the pdf also needs to be saved in whatever that version is.

Any help on the matter is greatly appreciated.
Thanks again
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