Validate Text Field

You want to validate input against several different possible formats? This is a bit difficult for the default options. The only way that you can do this is by using a regular expression in a script. Are you familiar with Regular Expressions?

There is an article on this topic here:
http://www.acrobatusers.com/tutorials/text-matching-regular-expressions

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]

Sorry, I should have explained that I realize this validation can not be done using default options and I am not familar with validating dating using scripts. I can accomplish this using VBA but obviously that is not the same.

I was hoping someone could pass along a script that would accomplish the validation.

Thank you

We'll pass along very simple scripts and samples to help users solve there issues, and provide direction, but the forum isn't for providing free custom development. If you can program in VBA then JavaScript should not be too difficult.

So you created this form in Acrobat 9. Did you also use LiveCycle Designer in the process? Acrobat has two different forms technologies. They have very different scripting models. If you've created a LiveCycle form then you may have a simpler option for field level validation.

To get a better view of the Acrobat forms environment you may want to watch the free videos at this site:
http://www.pdfscripting.com/public/34.cfm#FirstForm

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]

This appears to me to be more than just basic scripting. Livecyle did not appear to be any more helpful for this type of validation. I am not asking anyone to custom develop my form I am simply asking those more talented than me in this area to help with one aspect. An aspect I have never had the need to use and probably won't again as the forms I typically create are much more simple and usually are just a fillable version of a word doc. Having a script that accomplishes this validation would go allow way to helping me understand a small portion of what is actually possible

If anyone out there can help, i would very much appreciate it.

Thank you

To perform this validation you're going to need to use a a set of regular expressions to describe the different formats. Unless I know the form technology you're using I can't give you any more specific advice. But These articles might help:

http://www.acrobatusers.com/tutorials/text-matching-regular-expressions

Here's a general article on validation:
http://www.pdfscripting.com/public/department46.cfm

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]

LiveCycle Designer ES 8.2 / Windows XP Pro 2002 SP3

That Basic Acroforms Toolset is pretty cool, but none of the types works for this porpose. I can definately use them for the more simple forms I create.

In a LiveCycle for the last value evaluated in the validate event script is the value of validation. A false value causes the validation message to be displayed, but does not automatically affect the value. If you need something else to happen you have to put it into script. For example deleting the current value or forcing the user to enter a valid value before moving on.

But just to use the basics you might want to do something like this:
/^\d{5}$/.test(this.rawValue) || /^\d{7}\w$/.test(rawValue) || ... other acntNum tests ... ;
Just write one regular expression for each valid format, or for a group of related formats. The code returns true if the field input matches any one of the valid formats.

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]

/^\d{5}$/.test(this.rawValue)
can you explain what this means...what is it actually doing? where can I find what the characters mean?

Thank you

test the 'this.rawValue' for being 5 numeric digits.

[url=http://www.w3schools.com/jsref/jsref_obj_regexp.asp]JavaScript RegExp Object[/url]
[url=https://developer.mozilla.org/en/Core_JavaScript_1.5_Reference/Global_Objects/RegExp]RegExp[/url] Mozilla

If you can find a copy of John Deubert's Extending Acrobat Fromm's with JavaScript, you might want to purchase it. It is written for Acrobat forms but has a number of chapters about using the RegExp for keystroke, format, and validation.

There is a link to an article on using regular expressions in my previous post.