How To Articles
WindJack Solutions founder and President Thom Parker is an avid fan and well known guru in Acrobat JavaScript and PDF Development. On this page you will find a wealth of information about Acrobat JavaScript, the PDF format, and articles on using WindJack Solutions' own Acrobat plug-in products. This is an growing library so check back often to see what's new.
In addition, Adobe Systems, Inc invited Thom to be the host of JavaScript Corner at the Acrobat Users Community web site (www.acrobatusers.com). JavaScript Corner is another place you should visit often for helpful tips and articles on Acrobat JavaScript.
PDF CanOpener
- Create OCG (Layers) in Acrobat
- Navigate a PDF Document
- Explore Annotations in a PDF Document
- Create an Acrobat® JavaScript Icon Stream
AcroButtons
- AcroButtons Quick Start
- Turn Any Acrobat Menu Item into a One-Click Operation
- AcroButtons Usage Example Video Part 1- Automating Acrobat (2.8MB Flash ~6 min.)
- AcroButtons Usage Example Video Part 2- Using Embedded toolbar buttons (4.8 MB Flash ~ 5 min)
- Increased Accuracy and Efficiency in a Document Workflow (21KB PDF)
Increased Accuracy and Efficiency in a Document Workflow (HTML)In this Use Case article, AcroButtons and AcroDialogs are used to improve a document workflow, increase accuracy, and un-clutter forms by using dialogs to collect user information for an abstracting company serving the Real Estate industry.
- User Interface Improvement Speeds Up Document QC Tasks (17 KB PDF)
User Interface Improvement Speeds Up Document QC Tasks (HTML)Noah Katz of Aspen Systems explains how AcroButtons can be used to perform complex operations without the end user having to go into, or even know about the Acrobat interface- one click does it all.
- Using AcroButtons in a Collaborative Process (HTML)
Joel Geraci of Adobe Systems describes how he uses AcroButtons to make it easy for his customers to add review and approval stamps to PDFs.
AcroDialogs
- Increased Accuracy and Efficiency in a Document Workflow (21 KB PDF)
Increased Accuracy and Efficiency in a Document Workflow (HTML)In this Use Case article, AcroButtons and AcroDialogs are used to improve a document workflow, increase accuracy, and un-clutter forms by using dialogs to collect user information for an abstracting company serving the Real Estate industry.
- Accessible Forms White paper (440 KB PDF)
Bryan Guignard, aka The PDF Expert, has authored this white paper describing a new model for accessible electronic forms using Acrobat's Dialog Object. Bryan uses AcroDialogs to help save time and money in creating the dialogs for his forms. More information and discussion can be found in this Adobe forums posting
- User Interface Improvements (PDF)
Shawn Altorio has created a truly innovative, hyper-interactive PDF- it's really more of an application than a document. Shawn uses AcroDialogs for adding a variety of cool features to his PDF. Visit Shawn's site, SSA-X2 and check out this PDF yourself!
Designer Examples
- Dynamic Form with Line Numbering (PDF 110kb)
JavaScript
Extreme JavaScript for Acrobat
- Form Filling Wizard (PDF 124k)
Also called Form Guides. In this example a Dialog Wizard is used to guide the user through filling out a complex form. The Form and Wizard are structured to demonstrate how Wizards can be used to present the user with options and information differently than it is presented on the form.
- 3D PDF Robot Arm Game (PDF 317 k)
Demonstrates the limits of what can be done with Acrobat 3D annotation scripting, plus it's a lot of fun!
Requires Acrobat or Adobe Reader 7.08 or later
- Bouncing Button (398 KB PDF)
Catch a button that bounces around inside of a square. This example demonstrates using page geometry and timers.
- Swat the Fly Game (PDF 354k)
Variation on the Bouncing button. Each button click leaves behind a dead fly. The live moving fly avoids the Dead Flies. Game is timed. Most dead flies in 60sec wins.
- Web pages and PDF files by Shawn S. Altorio
Here are a couple of web pages where you will find examples of two very complex forms used as applications.
- Multimedia XFA (10 MB PDF, Acrobat 7 or later)
Thought you couldn't use multimedia in a LiveCycle Designer PDF? Think again. This sample demonstrates how to use a multimedia player in an XFA document. Because of the embedded AVI file this PDF is very large. Download it rather than trying to display it in the Browser.
- 2D Matrix Calculator (1.1 MB PDF)
All graphics operation in a PDF rely on 2 dimensional matrices. This matrix calculator helps you to understand how these matrices are formed, combined, and affect drawn objects on the page. This document is an example of how a PDF can be a software application.
- IE Browser/Acrobat Intercommunication
This is a link to a framed web page. PDF documents can be loaded into either of two frames from an URL. If the documents contain the correct JavaScript, the browser and the PDF page can send messages to one another. An example PDF is provided. Messaging is done with the "HostContainer" Object in Acrobat 7.05. Requires Internet Explorer (Windows only) and Acrobat 7.05 (Reader or Professional).
Updated for Acrobat 8.1!!
This functionality now works with Firefox and Safari. Other problems with the message handler setup have also been fixed. All thanks to Rudi Shari at Adobe, who took a serious interest in and then straightened out this convoluted technology, Thanks Rudi!! - XML Parsing and Manipulation
This example PDF demonstrates using the XMLData Object to create, add nodes to, modify nodes, and delete nodes from an XML file stored as a file attachment to the PDF.