Technique PDF22:Indicating when user input falls outside the required format or values in PDF forms

Example 1: Providing validation for an input field format using Adobe Acrobat Pro

This example is shown with Adobe Acrobat Pro. There are other software tools that perform similar functions.

Many fields, for example: telephone number, postal code, and dates, must have data entered in a specific format or pattern.

1. Access the context menu for the form control that requires a specific format.
2. Select Properties...
3. In the Format tab, select the Format Category (in this case, Date). The Date Options appear.
4. Select the format for this form control (in this case, mm/dd/yyyy).
5. In the General tab, specify "Date (mm/dd/yyyy)" for the Name and Tooltip for the control.

When a user types a recognized date format, it is converted automatically to the specified format. If the date format or value is not recognized, an error alert appears and provides further information

This example is shown in operation in the working example of Required Fields in Acrobat (PDF).

Example 2: Validating a required date format in a PDF form using JavaScript using Adobe Acrobat Pro

This example is shown with Adobe Acrobat Pro. There are other software tools that perform similar functions.

The following JavaScript illustrates the use of a script to validate form fields, in this case, a date field. To add this script to the form field, open the Text Field Properties dialog and select Edit in the Validate tab.

// JavaScript code for date mask format MM/DD/YYYY
var re = /^[mdy0-9]{2}\/[mdy0-9]{2}\/[mdy0-9]{4}$/
//Allow blank space in field
if (event.value !="") {
  if (re.test(event.value) == false) {
    app.alert ({
       cTitle: "Incorrect Format",
       cMsg: "Please enter date using\nmm/dd/yyyy format"
    });
  }
}