Using custom objects

In addition to the objects in the Standard category of the Object Library palette, Designer includes some predefined custom objects, which are configured to provide functionality that form authors frequently need in a form solution. These custom objects have properties and scripts that you can adjust to suit your requirements.

The following predefined custom objects are located in the Custom category of the Object Library palette.

Object

Description

Address Block

Accepts and displays addresses in United States Postal Service format. The Address Block is a group of text fields that lets users enter their name, address, city, state, zip code, and country.

Designed for any type of form.

Process Fields

A block of objects designed for Process Management forms. It includes a submit button, an action drop-down list, and other hidden fields used to transport data needed by Process Management to route the form data correctly.

Countries

Displays a drop-down list populated with country names. You can add, move, and delete any country from the list.

Designed for interactive forms.

Current Date

A date/time field with a script that displays the current date according to the viewer’s system locale.

Designed for any type of form.

Data Drop-down List

A drop-down list with a script that populates the list from an OLEDB data source.

Designed for interactive forms.

Data List Box

A list box with a script that populates the list from an OLEDB data source.

Designed for interactive forms.

Email Address

A text field that captures and validates an email address.

Designed for interactive forms.

Form Bridge

A hidden object that enables communication to the PDF outside of Acrobat.

Name

A group of text objects that accepts and displays name information. End users can enter their last name, first name, and initial.

For any type of form.

Page n of m

A text field with a script that displays the current page and total page count of the form at run time.

Example: Page 1 of 30

For any type of form.

Page Navigation

A group of buttons with scripts to navigate to first, last, previous, and next pages.

Designed for interactive forms.

Phone Number - UK

A text field that formats input as a United Kingdom (UK) telephone number.

Designed for interactive forms.

Phone Number - North America

A text field that formats input as a North American telephone number.

Designed for interactive forms.

Sheet n of m

Displays a text object that indicates the value of the current piece of paper (sheet) within the range of sheets required for a form.

Example: Sheet 1 of 5

For any type of form.

Signature - Print and Sign

Displays a space on a printed form where a user can provide a signature.

Designed for print forms.

Survey Question

A text object for a survey question and a group of radio buttons for selecting the answer.

Designed for interactive forms.

U.S. Social Security Number

A text field that lets a user enter a United States social security number.

Designed for interactive forms.

U.S. States

Displays a drop-down list populated with U.S. state names. You can add, move, and delete any state from the list.

Designed for interactive forms.

Most of the custom objects are ready-to-use, requiring only minor changes such as changing the captions, formatting numbers, or changing the font type to meet your requirements. Simply drag the custom objects onto the form design and make the changes. When you place a custom object on the form design, notice that it also appears in the Hierarchy palette. For custom objects that consist of several standard objects formatted in a particular manner and grouped together, such as the address block custom object, you will see the individual text field objects (Name, Address, City, State, Zip Code, Country) in the Hierarchy palette.

Two of the custom objects, the data drop-down list and the data list box, consist of a single object that has a custom script associated with it. That script enables you to populate two columns with data from an OLEDB data connection. When you place the object on the form design, you can see the script in the Script Editor. The script includes comments that explain which modifications are needed to make the script compatible with your particular run-time environment. For more information, see Dynamically populate a drop-down list or list box from an OLEDB data connection.

The Process Fields object is a special object that is designed strictly for use with Adobe® LiveCycle® Process Management 11.

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