Getchar() and putchar() in adobe javascript

Question

One of the simplest programs that are written in C for newbies is pure input  and output of characters from pressed keys in succession (with some max  repetition allowed by the operating system settings for key pressed for extended  period).
#include <stdio.h>
main(){
int c;
while ( (c=getchar()) != EOF)
     putchar(c);
I want to write a similar minimal program in acrobat  javascript.
The script may be document/application level ... most preferably not attached  to any specific field on any page and listens for the Keystroke ... ie a pressed  key.
However, if it MUST be attached to a field ... then that field would be a  button field which is on the current page and in focus ... but this will take  away the simplicity I desire and as exhibited in the C program above which  compiles and works.
I want to print the letter corresponding to the key pressed on the console  using this statement or another ...
console.println(c);
[QUESTION] How do I read the key pressed ?
Thanks,
Francis Fukuyama
Re: getchar() and putchar() in adobe  javascript
as a newbie i did lots of search in the sdk and guide before asking this  question.
i need acrobat to do events globally irrespective of page based on what key  is pressed in certain contexts so it should not interfere with other normal  operations.
alternatively, i need three of four modifiers of mouse events but  nothing is more convenient on the fingers than pressing a key like y/n for  yes/no .
Are there any non-reserved keys or non-reserved clicks events that can be  recorded at the global, application or document level, or else be intercepted by  a button and then recorded in some kind of file or hidden field for that button  and then automatically "recorded or downloaded" into a text file as a data ?
Thanks again for any help.
Francis
George Johnson
1,505 posts since 
Aug 11, 2002
2. Dec 17,  2010 11:03 PM in response to: FrancisFukuyama
Re: getchar() and putchar() in adobe  javascript
You would have to create a custom plug-in to have any hope of accomplishing  this. JavaScript cannot do what you describe. You might want to pose this  question in the Acrobat SDK forum here if you haven't already.

Answer 1

Francis,
The SDK documentation is sufficient, I learned plugin development just from reading all the relevant documents. The SDK comes with sample plugins that you can use to start your own project.
However, your development environment will not be sufficient to develop Acrobat plugins: you need Visual Studio on Windows and XCode on the Mac. Which version is necessary depends on which version of the SDK you are using.
The PDF reference is the document that describes The PDF file format, and is necessary if you want to access information in a PDF, add to, or modify a PDF. Since the PDF format is no longer owned by Adobe, but is now an international standard, that document is available as ISO32000 through ISO, but you can still find the previous version on Adobe's web site.
Plugin development is complicated, don't expect to learn it in an afternoon or a week or even a month.
Karl Heinz Kremer
KHKonsulting LLC
PDF Acrobatics Without a Net
[email protected]
http://khkonsulting.com