Creating a date field that autogenerates when form is opened but the date is fixed upon signing.

Question

Hi,
I have been creating a series of PDF forms on Adobe XI Pro that are designed to be filled in using Adobe Reader (hence are saved as Adobe Reader Extended). Once the form is complete there are signature fields that the user digitally signs which then deactivates specific form fields from further editing. Alongside the signature field I have got a date field which, at the moment, is using JavaScript to auto-generate the current date upon opening. However, the issue I am having is that I want this date field to be fixed when the form is signed, rather than updating again when the form is next opened. Is this possible?
The document JavaScript that I am currently using to generate the date is as follows:
this.getField("PR_Date1").value = util.printd("dd/mmm/yyyy", new Date());
But obviously this is independent of the date field.
I am very new to Adobe in general so I don't have much of an idea about how to go about doing this. Could somebody please help me to do this if it is possible?
Thank you
KC

Answer 1

Hélène-
Thanks for the detail regarding validation script, but I still am having a problem with it.
I have tried what you told me (remove reset the value) the popup no longer appears when the form is opened. But the validation does not seen to be working. It is not working either in the validate or exit event. This is what I have now on that text field.
----- form1.#subform[0].Y::exit - (JavaScript, client) ---------------------------------------------
//Verify year is current or year+1
var today = new Date();
var year = today.getFullYear();
if (this.rawValue == year || this.rawValue == year+1)
app.alert("Year is invalid.\n\nOnly current or next year is valid.");
----- form1.#subform[0].Y::validate - (JavaScript, client) -----------------------------------------
//Final verification
ScriptObject.ValidateField(event.target, this);
This final verification script I have taken from the samples on the
LiveCycle Developer Center (Validating field content in a form hosted in Adobe Acrobat).
The alert only displays when 2007 or 2008 is entered. I am really confused now. I thought I had a handle on this with your explanation.
I do not know where to go now. The Object Pallet is setup as:
Field Tab
Allow Plain Text Only and Limit Length are checked with a Max Chars: 4. Edit Pattern: 99999
Value Tab
Type: User Entered - Required
Validation Pattern: 9999
Validation Script Message is checked - in Message box Invalid Year.
Binding Tab
Default Binding: Normal
Data Format: Plain Text
I am hoping that you can explain what I have wrong.
Thanks so much,
Confused Nancy