THIS PAGE IS A WORK IN PROGRESS – FROM OLD WIKI

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Javascript

Add a date in a field:

On the document level add this script outside a function:

getField(“date_field”).value = util.printd(“yyyy-mm-dd”, new Date()); //”date_field” is the name of the field you want to fill in

If you copy and paste that exactly, it will work!

If you want to protect the date so people don’t change it, make the field read only and then clear the form to get an updated date.

Same as Above

In the Day 2 activity there is a checkbox for the shipping address being the same as the billing address.  You can automatically fill in the shipping address when that box is marked by applying the following Javascript on the shipping address calculate fields:

if(this.getField(“SameAsAbove”).value==’Yes’) { event.value = this.getField(“BillingFullName”.valueAsString } //The “SameAsAbove” is the name of the checkbox and “BillingFullName” is the name of the field that you want to copy into the one we are putting this on.

Repeat the process and put this adapted code on each field that you want to copy.  When someone has the checkbox marked, they won’t be able to change the data in it.  They can unmark the box and make any changes but once they mark it again, Acrobat will refill the fields.

Certificate Security

Certificate security isn’t really part of the class; however, there are some people who like to know how to use it. So here’s a little tutorial on how to create security.

Security certificates are files that validate who you are. Think of them as a Driver’s License for the web. If you have a Driver’s License, people can verify that you are who you claim you are. Very important when making purchases with a credit card, right? The initial problem with digital forms, especially legal or important documents that need a signiture, is that there was really no way to tell if the person who typed in the signiture field was really the person he/she claimed to be. Enter security certificates.

Security certificates are a type of file generally created by yourself to help prove to others on-line that you are who you say you are. They generally include some information about yourself as well as a uber-long hexidecimal code that is unique to you and almost impossible to crack.

This is how they work. First you create a security certificate something that you will use to conduct your buisness for a long time (generally 3-5 years). Then when you first do buisness with other people, they will request that you send them your security certificate (or at least a version that they themselves can’t use) that way thier computer will be able to recognize and verify any document created with your certificate was indeed created by you. If thier computer can’t recognize the certificate, then it will tell the user that it can’t verify the author of the document.�

Creating a new Security Certificate in Adobe Acrobat

In Acrobat 9, in the Advanced menu choose “Security Settings…” From the hierarchy on the left make sure that “Digital ID’s” is selected. You should get a window like this:

From here click on “Add ID”

From this wizard you can add a precreated ID, or you can crate a new one. Choose the option to craete a new digital ID. then click next. Next you can choose how you like to store the Digital ID. I generally choose PKCS#12 since all the computers are public. I (Jordan Huey) really don’t know how the Windows Certificate Store works. Click Next.

On the Next window type in all of your information. Then click next. Unicode suport is for forigen languages.

On the next window choose where you want to save your PKCS#12 Digital ID and choose a password to protect it. Click Finish.

Congrats! You’ve created a new ID.

Requsting ID’s from others

Before you create documents to be signed or opened using Digital ID’s you need to request digital ID’s from other people, so that your computer can verify the identity of those with whom you do buisness.

In Acrobat 9, go to the Advanced menu and select “Manage Trusted Identites…” You should get a window like this:

From this window select “Request Contact.” When you request a contact you will not only request someone else’s Digitl ID, but you will also have the option to send your own ID. Type in your name and information. make sure that the “Include my Certificates” is checked if you want to also include your certificate in the email. Check the “Email request radial button” then click “Next”.

Next select which certificate you wish to send then click “Select”

Type in the email address of the person you are requesting an ID. You can edit the default message here, too. Click email when you are done.

The email that you send out will will similar to this:

All they have to do is open up the attatchment then choose to send thier certificate back. When you do get a certificate back, open up the attatchment. Then click on the “Set Contact Trust” button.

From here you can choose what times of rights you what to give this person when they open up your documents.

Securing a document with a certificate

Choose encrypt with certificate from the security menu.  Follow the wizard.

Extra – Bugs and other Fixes

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Found a weird bug with Acrobat today with a client. It seems that if you’re adding a bookmark to the bottom 25% of a page, Acrobat will automatically snap the bookmark to the top of the next page. To fix this bug (or rather a VERY inelegant work around) is to shrink the window so you can only see the line that you want to bookmark. Then add a bookmark from the document menu. I just thought you guys should know in case anymore ETD’s come in with a similar problem. [Jordan Huey]