These forums are now Read Only. If you have an Acrobat question, ask questions and get help from one of our experts.

Calculated fields, numeric vs. text, validation pattern error messages

dobernesser
Registered: Jun 22 2007
Posts: 2

Hi- I'm a newbie so bear with me please!

I'm working on a form in LiveCycle Designer that is basically a budget worksheet. I want my users to be able to enter dollar values and have the form sum for them.

My problem is setting up error messages to communicate to my users what format the numbers must be entered in.

If I set the fields to text fields and choose 99999 for the validation pattern, the user gets an error message if the number they put in does not have five digits. I want them to be able to put in as many digits as they want. But if I put in the pattern $zzz,zzz,zz9.88 or even zzzz9 I get a message that this is not a valid pattern for a text field.

If I set the fields to numeric fields, I can put in $zzz,zzz,zz9.88 as a pattern. It works fine unless the user puts in a $ or comma. Then the field goes to $0 and no error message pops up, even though I have it sent to give an error message for a validation pattern error.

What am I doing wrong? Help please!

Thanks in advance :)

jmason
Registered: Jun 22 2007
Posts: 73
Hello dobernesser, I am also somewhat new to LiveCycle, but was recently creating a form with fields similar to this. I have three Numeric Fields that are set up to calculate dollar amounts on a fourth line below them. I felt like I tried every setting imagineable to get it to work...it also took me a while to figure out the formcalc scripting that makes them calculate.

Anyhow, we figured out through much research through this website and the Designer Help that the user cannot enter commas in these calculating fields. I then tried to find a way to inform the user of this, and after going back and forth with this, I finally decided to just say "Do not use commas" in red letters next to these fields. It should work. I hope this helps...=) Happy 4th of July!