Format users date and repopulate

Question

Hi, I've been having a lot of trouble with what is probably a very easy solution. What I am trying to do is create a function which reads a passed in date and either alerts the user with an error message saying the format is wrong, or (preferably) reformats the date and replaces the original.
ie;
Textbox1 : user enters 10/11/2008
Script: converts to dd/mmm/yyyy
Textbox2 now reads 11/OCT/2008
the other format I want to allow is mmm//yyyy (where a month is known but a specific day of the week is not)
only requirement is to check for those 2 formats. I know Adobe allows for validation of a single date format, but unfortunately, I need 2.
please help if you can. thanks

Answer 1

To get some flexability in the validation and formating you definately need to use JavaScript.
To check for three date formats, one correct formats and two for conversion, you'll need to first write Regular Expressions for all three. After this it's a matter of figuring out if the input matches any of these and then applying the appropiate action, either converting, complianing, or doing nothing. All of this can be done from the validate event.
As an alternative, you could use the keystroke event to limit the kinds of input the user can type into the field in the first place.
Here are some articles that are relavant to your task:
http://www.acrobatusers.com/tech_corners/javascript_corner/tips/2006/date_time_part1/
http://www.acrobatusers.com/tech_corners/javascript_corner/tips/2006/formatting_text_field s/
http://www.acrobatusers.com/tutorials/2008/04/text_match_reg_exp/
http://www.acrobatusers.com/tech_corners/javascript_corner/tips/2006/scripts_form_fields/
You'll also find detailed tutorials on using the Validate and Keystroke events at www.pdfscripting.com
Thom Parker
The source for PDF Scripting Info
www.pdfScripting.com
The Acrobat JavaScript Reference, Use it Early and Often
http://www.adobe.com/devnet/acrobat/