About editors

The Layout Editor is the main area where you create and maintain the form design. It contains four tabs:

Design View tab

Displays the pages that make up the form design. The pages in Design View contain a form design’s content. The first time you start Designer or create a new form design, the Design View tab displays a page ready for objects to be added. Objects in the master page appear in the page but cannot be selected.

Master Pages tab

Displays the master pages that can be applied to pages in Design View. Master pages specify the layout and the background for the form design. You add objects that will occur in the same position throughout the form design on a master page. The Master Pages tab is hidden by default. Objects in the Design View page do not appear in the master page.

XML Source tab

Displays the XML source code that describes the structure of the form design and its objects. It is recommended that you do not edit the XML source code directly.

Preview PDF tab

Displays a PDF form based on the current form design. As you work, if you have Acrobat or Adobe Reader installed, you can preview the form in the Preview PDF tab. Use the Preview PDF tab to view and test the operation of a form or template as if it were a PDF file. You can set options for previewing interactive forms or printable forms in PDF by using the Form Properties dialog box (Preview tab).

Note: To preview a form in the Preview PDF tab, in Acrobat, ensure that the Edit > Preferences > Internet > Display PDF In Browser option is selected.

By default, not all the tabs are displayed. The Design View tab is displayed; however, the Master Pages tab and the XML Source tab are not displayed. The Preview PDF tab is displayed only when Acrobat or Adobe Reader is installed.

Tabbed palettes are arranged around the Layout Editor to provide easy access to the tools without cluttering your workspace.

For more information see To customize the Layout Editor.

The Script Editor is where you create, modify, and view the calculations and scripts of a particular form. For example, you can use the Script Editor to write a simple calculation that adds two numeric fields or complex scripts that alter the appearance of the form based on end-user actions. Designer supports scripting either in its own scripting language called FormCalc or in JavaScript.

By default, the Script Editor appears at the top of the Designer workspace, but you can dock it anywhere. It has both a single-line view and a multiline view that you can switch between, depending on your needs. Single-line view is designed to maximize the amount of space dedicated to the Layout Editor and other palettes. Multiline view is designed to maximize the amount of space for writing script.

Show

Lists all form design events that support user-defined scripting. Any events that do not apply to a particular object appear dimmed. Events that contain a calculation or script display an asterisk (*) beside the name of the event.

Show Events for Child Objects

Displays the event you have currently selected in the Show list for the current object and all of its child objects. If you select the uppermost object in the Hierarchy palette, this option displays the event you have currently selected in the Show list for all objects on your form.

Functions

Displays a list of available built-in FormCalc or JavaScript functions, depending on the scripting language you currently have selected in the Language list.

To place a function onto your script editing field, select a function from the list and press Enter.

Check Script Syntax

Checks all of the scripts in a form for correct syntax and reports any errors on the Warnings tab in the Report palette.

Language

Specifies the scripting language you want to use for the current calculation or script. Two options are available:

• FormCalc FormCalc is a native Adobe calculation language typically used for shorter scripts, such as simple calculations.

• JavaScript JavaScript is the default scripting language for new forms.

  The scripting language that is displayed in the Language list matches the scripting language option you select as the default for new forms in the Workspace panel in the Options dialog box. However, if you change the scripting language setting for the current form on the Defaults tab in the Form Properties dialog box, the scripting language that is displayed in the Language list changes similarly for any new scripts on new events. Changing the scripting language option in the Form Properties dialog box does not change the scripting language for existing scripts. If an event already contains script and that script is deleted, the Script Editor continues to use that same scripting language for the duration of your Designer working session.

Run At

Specifies where the calculation or script will execute. Three options are available:

• Client Calculations and scripts execute while the client application (for example, Acrobat, Adobe Reader, or a web browser) processes the form.

• Server Calculations and scripts execute while the server application (for example, Forms) processes the form.

• Client and server Calculations and scripts execute while the server application (for example, Forms) processes the form, except in cases where the HTML client application supports client-side scripting. For example, a script that accesses a database to prefill data on a form.

For more information, see Scripting Using Designer.