|
Decimal
fields are very similar to numeric fields. The following table describes
the differences between decimal and numeric fields.
Field
|
Description
|
|---|
Decimal field
|
Displays numbers in decimal format.
You
can set the maximum number of leading and trailing digits.
You
can set a display pattern to restrict the formatted value with the
leading and trailing digits.
You cannot specify a data format
for a decimal field; it is always stored as decimal.
By default,
the formatted value includes two digits following the radix character.
|
Numeric fields
|
Displays numbers in float or integer format.
You
cannot set the maximum number of leading and trailing digits.
You
can set a data pattern and data format (either float or integer).
The
formatted value includes only two digits following the radix character.
|
Use the decimal field in the following cases:
If you want to set the number of leading or trailing
digits
If you want the precision of decimal or integer data to be
shown exactly as it is entered (by ensuring the Limit Trailing Digits
option is deselected) without any truncating
For example, a field called Qty is located within a repeating
subform. In the first instance of the subform, the Qty field may
have the value 3, and in the second instance of the subform, the
Qty field may have the value 3.123:
If the Limit Trailing Digits option is set to a maximum
of 2, the first number is stored as 3 (because trailing 0s are removed)
and the second number is stored as 3.12 (because the number is truncated).
If the Limit Trailing Digits option is deselected, both numbers
are stored exactly as they are entered (the first number is stored
as 3 and the second number is stored as 3.123).
To learn more about the options for decimal fields, see the section
on numeric fields because many of the options are identical.
Note: To use the decimal field object in an interactive
form, you must have Adobe Reader 6.0.3 or later.
About numeric fieldsIf
you want to support the collection or display of float or integer
data, including currency, add a numeric field to the form. The value
in a numeric field can be formatted and displayed according to predefined
patterns and according to the locale specified for the field.
After you add a numeric field to the form design, you can edit
the caption text and manipulate the object’s properties in the Field,
Value, and Binding tabs of the Object palette. You can define these
properties:
Change the caption for the field. See Formatting captions.
Set a border style for the field. See To set the border style.
Define the field as visible, invisible, or hidden. See Making objects visible, invisible, or hidden.
Specify a locale for the field. See To specify a locale (language and country or region) for an object.
Specify the comb format for the field. See Using text fields.
Specify that Designer use the horizontal length of the text
field to determine how many numbers to allow.
Define the display pattern.
Define the edit pattern.
Specify an initial value to display.
Define a run-time property (for example, insert the number
of a rendered page).
Define the validation pattern.
Choose whether the field will support floating point or integer
values.
Specify a data-binding pattern.
Specify a binding method for storing and retrieving bound
data.
Numeric fields support scripting and calculations. If a user
is to supply data, you can define whether the input is recommended
or required, and you can set up messages to prompt users appropriately.
All user input may be validated through scripting.
Note: Numeric fields have a maximum user-entered or
calculated value of 2,147,483,647. This number is the largest number
that can fit into a 32-bit signed integer on a computer.
To define a radix (decimal point) alignment for numeric valuesIn
the Paragraph palette menu, select Edit Value.
Click Radix Alignment  .
In the adjacent box, type the amount of space to create between
the radix point and the right edge of the fillable area.
Press Enter.
Important: Acrobat 6.0.2 and
Adobe Reader 6.0.2 do not support the radix alignment setting. If
you intend to save the design as an Acrobat 6.0.2-compatible PDF
form, do not use radix alignment. If you do, users cannot edit the
values.
To define the behavior of decimal or numeric fieldsIn the Object palette,
click the Value tab and select one of these options from the Type
list:
To allow users to choose whether to enter data,
select User Entered - Optional.
To prompt users to enter data and make the field recommended,
select User Entered - Recommended and type a custom message in the
Empty Message box.
To prompt users to enter data and make the field required,
select User Entered - Required and type a custom message in the
Empty Message box.
To make the field read only and display a data value that
is calculated and displayed through an attached script, select Calculated
- Read Only. Users cannot edit the calculated value.
To make the field editable and display a data value that
is calculated and displayed through an attached script, select Calculated
- User Can Override. Users can edit the value if the calculation
script has been written to accept the input. If a user does edit
the calculated value, the custom message you specify in the Override
Message box appears.
To make the field read only and display a data value that
is merged or calculated and displayed at run time, select Read Only.
Users cannot edit the value.
If the value is recommended or required, type a prompt in
the Empty Message box.
If the value will be calculated, attach the calculation script
to the object by using the Script Editor.
(Optional) If a calculated value can be overridden, type
a message in the Override Message box.
To define custom data-binding properties for decimal or numeric fieldsBinding options enable you to build
a form that captures data for enterprise infrastructures and/or
use an external data source to populate a form at run time. Set
data-binding properties in the Binding tab of the Object palette.
Select the field.
Enable the form to connect to the data source when the form
is opened.
Bind the field to its corresponding data node. For information
about how to bind objects to a data source, see Binding fields to a data source.
To specify the data format for numeric fieldsNumeric fields
can save data in Float or Integer format. The default is Float.
By default,
numeric data in a Decimal Field will only save a maximum of two
digits after the decimal. Data beyond the second decimal place will
be rounded.
In the Object palette, click the Binding tab.
Select the appropriate format from the Data Format list:
To specify the number format as a three-part representation
of a number that contains a radix character, select Float.
To specify the number as any sequence of the digits 0 through
9, possibly preceded by a minus sign, select Integer.
To limit the numbers entered in decimal and numeric fieldsYou can limit
how many numbers may be entered in decimal and numeric fields by
specifying that Designer use the horizontal length of the decimal
or numeric field to determine how many numbers to allow.
 In the Object palette, click the Field tab and select
Limit Length to Visible Area.
To perform a calculation with decimal fields by using JavaScriptYou
can perform calculations with decimal fields by using FormCalc.
However, if the Limit Trailing Digits option is deselected, and
you want to use JavaScript to perform a calculation with decimal
fields, you must use a script. To maintain a high degree of precision,
Designer stores the value of decimal fields as a string. The script
indicates to the decimal field that it is a number.
For example, you have three decimal fields in your form design.
The first is named a, the second b,
and the third Total. You want to perform a calculation
that adds a and b.
If the Script Editor is not already displayed, select
Window > Script Editor.
(Optional) Drag the Script Editor palette bar until the palette
is larger.
Select the decimal field that you want to use in a calculation.
Select Calculate from the Show list, JavaScript from the
Language list, and Client from the Run At list.
In the Script Source field, type the following script:
Total.rawValue = Number(a.rawValue) + Number (b.rawValue)
Total is the name of the decimal field that you want to use
in a calculation.
a is the first decimal field.
b is the second decimal field.
View the form in the Preview PDF tab.
To specify the comb format for decimal and numeric fieldsUse the comb
format when you want to separate characters and numbers added to
decimal and numeric fields by border lines.
In the Object palette, click the Field tab.
Select Comb of Characters to includes border lines that separate
each number within the decimal or numeric field.
Enter how many numbers will be separated by border lines
within the decimal or numeric field.
|
|
|
