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Open advanced search window with form button

Forum Index > JavaScript > Open advanced search window with form button
2011-11-10 10:16:50
tivofan
Registered: Nov 10 2011
Posts: 3
Answered

Hi all,
Forum newbie here, and javascript newbie too!
 
I am looking to set up a button on my PDF form that will launch the advanced search window when the file is viewed in AdobeReader.
 
Effectively what I am trying to do is to run some javascript from the button (which I know how to do) to send 'Ctrl'+'Shift'+'F' to open the window (which I dont know how to do) and allow the user to then enter their search terms and options.
 
Any help greatly appreciated.
Many thanks
TF

My Product Information:
Acrobat Pro 6.0, Windows
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2011-11-10 11:07:19
#1
thomp
Expert
Registered: Feb 15 2006
Posts: 4411
The "search" is a menu option. So take a look at this article:
http://acrobatusers.com/tutorials/2008/06/executing_menu_items_from_javascript

In Acrobat 8 most menu items are restricted, this may or may not be one you can run from a non-privileged script. However, an advanced search can also be setup and run using the Search object.

Thom Parker
The source for PDF Scripting Info
www.pdfscripting.com
Very Important - How to Debug Your Script

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2011-11-10 11:29:41
#2
tivofan
Registered: Nov 10 2011
Posts: 3
Hi,
Thank-you for your quick and informative response!

I already have the form button successfully launching the 'Edit>Search' menu option but in AdobeReader this gives a small search field in the top right by default. Yes, the user can then use Ctrl+Shift+F to opem am advanced search in a new window, but if they are not AdobeReader savvy (as a lot of my clients aren't) then I was hoping I could bypass that manual step and open the advanced search window for them automatically by using a script on the form button.??Thanks again.
TF
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2011-11-10 11:49:53
#3
tivofan
Registered: Nov 10 2011
Posts: 3
Accepted Answer
Thanks for all the help - if anyone else is interested after much digging, this does exactly what I wanted.
In the form button I run the following javascript when the button is clicked - in AdobeReader it opens the advanced search window as a pop-up - perfect!!

app.execMenuItem("FindSearch");

Hope this helps other users.
Cheers
TF
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