Simple javascript validation example please

Acrobat does not use the Java Language but it uses the EMCA subset of JavaScript and has some modifications to this set of commands and those are documented in the Acrobat JS API reference, a free download from the the Adobe's Developer's section site for Acrobat.


The Acrobat documentation will also explain about the 'rc', return code, property of the event object.

I'm not thrilled about learning an API for this single piece that I need. Does anyone know of a web page with examples I can copy/paste for various validation types? Specifically: email address.

Verifying email addresses can be tricky. The rules to what is a valid email address are quite complicated and there's no built-in API in JavaScript that can do such validation. You can do it yourself with a regular expression, though. Have a look here for some more info about this subject:
http://www.regular-expressions.info/email.php

Oddly enough, Acrobat does have a two built-in Email test functions, at least in Acrobat 8 and 9, I haven't check the other versions. There are both unadvertised and undocumented because both are part of other built-in and undocumented functionality.

Just place this code in your the validation script for your email field

event.rc = CBIsValidEmail(event.value);

or

event.rc = eMailValidate(event.value);

Thom Parker
The source for PDF Scripting Info
[url=http://www.pdfScripting.com]pdfscripting.com[/url]

The Acrobat JavaScript Reference, Use it Early and Often
[url=http://www.adobe.com/devnet/acrobat/javascript.php]http://www.adobe.com/devnet/acrobat/javascript.php[/url]

Then most important JavaScript Development tool in Acrobat
[url=http://www.pdfscripting.com/public/34.cfm#JSIntro][b]The Console Window (Video tutorial)[/b][/url]
[url=http://www.acrobatusers.com/tutorials/2006/javascript_console][b]The Console Window(article)[/b][/url]

You learn something new every day, I guess... Thanks for the tip, Thom.

By the way, if anyone's interested here's the source code for both functions:

Getting closer - thank you!

But, the validation still is not kicking in. I've tested clicking submit with no input, garbage input, and an email address in the email field. Regardless, it just submits to the submit url action I have in place. No warnings or alerts.

I put the validation code you suggested into the email text field under the validation tab and picked the "run custom script" option. Did I miss anything?

You need to use a condition test for the 'submit' or 'email' button for a valid email address and if that test is passed then process the email.

A user can ignore the validation warning and any given field validation has no affect on any other field's validation, calculation, action, etc.

Alright, I think I have this figured out (due to the assistance of all you good folk). And here's the summary for those that need it in the future:

To validate email in a pdf form input in Acrobat 9 Pro, you can do the following:
- open the properties of the email field
- click the validate tab
- click "Run custom validation script"
- click "Edit..."
- and I used the following code:

if (! eMailValidate(event.value)) {
event.rc = false;
app.alert({
cMsg: "Invalid email address - Please try again",
cTitle: "Acme Testing Service",
nIcon: 0,
nType: 1
});
} // end if validation test

...for some reason, Acrobat will still allow the user to click "OK" when the error appears and the pdf form will still submit. The user would have to click "Cancel" instead of "OK" to update their email prior to submitting the pdf form. Sure wish this could be corrected.

Thank you VERY much to gkaiseril, try67 and Thom.

You can achieve that if you submit the form using a script instead of Acrobat's built-in functionality.
You can create a button that checks the validity of the input (using an adjusted version of the code above), and if all is well uses this.submitForm() to submit the form.

Ahh - understood. Thanks. I'll look into that.

What Try67 is saying is that there are 2 different kinds of validation. There's Field level validation and Form level validation. You put your email validate script at the Field Level so that the user can only enter a valid email. Then at the form level, when the user tries to submit, all the form has to do is see if the email field contains any data. If it does contain data it's guarenteed to be valid because of the field level validation script.

There are 2 ways to implement Form Level Validation. The first way is to mark the field as "required". This tells Acrobat that the field has to contain data before it allows the form to submit. The second way is to write a submit script that tests the fields of interest before submitting the data.

Take a look at this artcle, the example file covers exactly this issue:
http://www.acrobatusers.com/tutorials/dynamically-setting-submit-e-mail-address

On another note, in your "alert" box code do not include the nIcon and nType inputs. They are unnecessary and the "nType" input is causing the box to display both the "Ok" and "Cancel" buttons. You only need the "Ok" Button.

Thom Parker
The source for PDF Scripting Info
[url=http://www.pdfScripting.com]pdfscripting.com[/url]

The Acrobat JavaScript Reference, Use it Early and Often
[url=http://www.adobe.com/devnet/acrobat/javascript.php]http://www.adobe.com/devnet/acrobat/javascript.php[/url]

Then most important JavaScript Development tool in Acrobat
[url=http://www.pdfscripting.com/public/34.cfm#JSIntro][b]The Console Window (Video tutorial)[/b][/url]
[url=http://www.acrobatusers.com/tutorials/2006/javascript_console][b]The Console Window(article)[/b][/url]

Very good to know. Thank you for clearing that up, and the fix for the email validation. I'll read that article. Thank you.

One side note: the user is prevented from deleting what they've entered into a text input which has validation applied. You are only allowed to replace with another valid entry (or reload the form). A form reset button has the same effect (can't remove the input). I get that this is the field-level validation you mentioned, and while it bothers me a little, it fulfills the need for preventing invalid input, so I appreciate it.

Not true, it's all in how you write the script. Replace your email test with this.

if (!eMailValidate(event.value) && !(/^\s*$/.test(event.value)) {Thom Parker
The source for PDF Scripting Info
[url=http://www.pdfScripting.com]pdfscripting.com[/url]

The Acrobat JavaScript Reference, Use it Early and Often
[url=http://www.adobe.com/devnet/acrobat/javascript.php]http://www.adobe.com/devnet/acrobat/javascript.php[/url]

Then most important JavaScript Development tool in Acrobat
[url=http://www.pdfscripting.com/public/34.cfm#JSIntro][b]The Console Window (Video tutorial)[/b][/url]
[url=http://www.acrobatusers.com/tutorials/2006/javascript_console][b]The Console Window(article)[/b][/url]