JavaScript actions in Acrobat Reader

Hi,
Is it possible to create a bookmark with a form button and a javascript action in Acrobat Reader?
Is it possible to create a report with a form button and a javascript action in Acrobat Reader?
These actions are possible in Acrobat but in Acrobat Reader, I don't know.
Regards.
David

The JavaScript documentation tells you this information for each
method. Does the documentation seem to be wrong? (See the "quick bar")
Aandi Inston

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Acrobat Pro versus Acrobat Reader

Hi
I apologize about this very basic question. However, a Google search failed to return an answer, so I am asking it here.
I have Adobe Acrobat Pro 9 installed on my Windows 7 (64-bit) machine, as part of the Adobe CS4 package. I keep all Adobe products (including Acrobat) updated to the latest versions/patches.
My question concerns viewing PDF documents in my web browser, such as Firefox or Chrome. I am concerned about some of the vulnerabilities in Acrobat Reader (and Acrobat Pro), which allow the introduction of malware by viewing PDF documents on the web.
So, specifically, I would like to know:
1. Since I already have Acrobat Pro installed, I don't really need Acrobat Reader, do I? Under Control Panel > Installed Programs on my computer, I do not see Acrobat Reader installed, and yet I am able to view PDF documents in my browser. I am assuming this is because Acrobat Pro includes a reader, and this is what is invoked by the browser when it encounters a PDF document. Am I right in thinking this?
2. I wanted to turn OFF javascript in the Acrobat Reader. Again, since I don't seem to have Acrobat Reader installed, I turned it off in Acrobat Pro (this is again for security reasons, to avoid some exploits which use javascript inside the Acrobat Reader). Will turning off javascript inside Acrobat Pro also turn it off in whatever software my browser is using to display PDFs?
Thanks.

You seem to be covered.
No, if you have Acrobat, you don't need Reader plus, it is a non-recommended nor supported setup. They have issues with each other when they are both installed on the same machine.
Will turning off javascript inside Acrobat Pro also turn it off in whatever software my browser is using to display PDFs?
Thanks.
Yes. Your browser is using Acrobat Pro to view the PDF.

Acrobat X freezes when I run a JavaScript Action after about 200 files.

Acrobat X freezes when I run a JavaScript Action after about 200 files, batches with less than 200 files work well. I can watch the Acrobat.exe process in the resource monitor and when the Threads reach about 2000 and the Working Memory reaches 500mb, Acrobat freezes. The JavaScript creates 2 redaction areas, applies the redaction, then saves the file to another location. I've tested it on both Windows Server 2008 and Win7 32bit. I'm running Acrobat X Pro fully update to 10.1.10.

It is possible to have the Redaction tool search for a text string across multiple PDFs without using the "Action" wizard or batch processing. You will have to learn the exact steps to properly set the properties for each string of text. You can also review the items marked for redaction and either accept, remove or adjust as needed each one.
There are 3rd party tools that can also redact PDFs and they existed long before this feature was added to Acrobat. Appligent Document Solutions Redax..
Appligent even has a server based product for large amount of files or using watched folders.

Acrobat Reader X / 10 - javascript console problem / crash

Hi,
I develop adobe interactive forms and need javascript console badly!
My system:
Windows XP Prof.
Acrobat Reader 10 (free)
Internet Explorer 8
Adobe Livecycle Designer ES 9 (latest version)
The javascript console works just fine if I start an adobe form "native" = with Acrobat Reader X directly.
But if I use Adobe Livecycle Designer (latest version) [the issue also described here], the console just crashes / disappears right after it started.
The same happens if I open the pdf-file (adobe interactive form) with Internet Explorer.
E.G:
- When using Acrobat Reader "native":
console will open up on javascript syntax errors or by klicking a button ( javascript = console.show(); )
- When using Internet Explorer or Adobe Livecycle Designer:
the same pdf file cannot view the javascript console. it just "disappears immideatly" / crashes
There is any technical support for Acrobat Reader expect this forum - so I was told when I called adobe hotline.
I hope anyone could actually help me here.

Hi,
Don't open the console just the reader application. and then open the console from your script as you do.
I have noticed in the past that sometimes the console appears for a very short period of time and then vanishes and this appears to be caused by the console window being associated with the open Adobe Reader application ( when it has no documents open) rather than the open PDF file in the preview or browser.
Just a thought
Malcolm

In Acrobat Reader DC for Android, how do I prevent Verizon Cloud from launching when clicking the floating action button to retrieve files?

I have a Verizon-branded Samsung Galaxy S5, which means a lot of Verizon apps were added from the factory install.
Recently I upgraded Adobe Acrobat Reader to its most recent version.
When I clicked on the floating action button to open a PDF, it launched Verizon Cloud instead of showing my file directory.
Unless I disabled Verizon Cloud altogether, every time I did this, I would get the Verizon Cloud app instead of a file listing.
Reader DC is the only app that does such a thing. Is this a defect?

Thanks for the information.
To remove the Verizon cloud storage from Adobe Acrobat DC application, you can 'Turn off' the Verizon cloud application from 'Settings'-->'Application Manager'-->'All applications'. After doing this, every time you tap on the Floating Action button, you will be presented the list of all your pdf files on your device.
If you would like to view both the Verizon cloud based files as well as files from your internal memory/SD card, I would request you to download some file manager application from the Google Play Store such as And Explorer, ES File Explorer etc. After doing this, whenever you will tap on the floating action button, you will be provided an option to open the files either from the Verizon cloud or the files on your device.
Hope this helps. Please let us know if you observe any more issues.
Thanks.

How to allowed JavaScript in Acrobat Reader and make it default

Hei,
I want to allowed JavaScript my Acrobat Reader but I have to always go to edit->Preferences and so on... It has to be done all the time when i reboot my computer. Can I some how make default to my reader. (I know that it risk to allowed that but still I want to do it)
Thank you for your help!!

I would try the 'Repair" option, usually under 'Help", and then set the JavaScript option.
If this is an organization installation, check with your IT help desk to see if they have a policy about this issue.

Fraud? Action required : Upgrade New Adobe Acrobat Reader

Hello Folks,
Got this strange e-mail regarding an upgrade to Acrobat Reader, Adobe Inc., Canada? Looks fishy, DON'T CLICK [url deleted by host]
Anyone else see this in their inbox, or know if it's legitimate?
Text:
Just how much faster can you work with Adobe Acrobat PDF Reader
software? Fast enough to stay on top of last-minute changes, connect
with key decision makers, and share updates with co-workers.
You'll discover how easy it is to reuse content by exporting PDF files
to Microsoft Word or Excel formats. And how quickly you can automate
multi-step tasks with new, guided Actions. No wonder PC Magazine
says, "There's a lot to like in Acrobat X PDF Reader."
Bill Lomax

It's not legitimate, and we see this type of thing all the time. Delete the email, don't visit the link, it'll be dealt with by Adobe.
Aside from it being a fake URL, they can't even get the product name right! There is no such thing as "Adobe Acrobat Reader". We have "Adobe Acrobat" and "Adobe Reader".

Acrobat Reader installed detection via JavaScript

I am curious whether or not Adobe plans on using AcroPDF.PDF.1 as an indicator of the most current version of Adobe Reader (for activeXObjects in Internet Explorer). I know that this will work for detecting whether Reader 7 is installed but now that I think about it, when Reader 8 comes out, if a user already has Reader 7 installed, obviously AcroPDF.PDF.1 will be defined in their registry so eval("new ActiveXObject('AcroPDF.PDF.1')") will return true. Does anyone know, Adobe specifically, how the next version of Reader will be classified in the ActiveX list (or registry key). Will it be AcroPDF.PDF.2?
The reason why I am asking is because I need to detect whether or not our clients have the latest version of Acrobat Reader installed for printing documents from our site. I apologize in advance if the following code looks really messy. This is my first post and I just pasted my code directly into the textarea box. Here's what my detection code looks like and works fine for now (but when Reader 8 comes out....hmmmm):
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I am trying with Reader 9.
I am not trying to print from the server. The printing will happen on the client computers that is why I am trying to print using javascript from an html page. My clients do have different versions of Reader from 6 to latest
Is there any way to achieve it with out installing anything else on the computers?
Thanks,

Rotating pages in in Acrobat Reader using Javascript + AIR

Greetings,
Currently we're building an application to view pdf files in an AIR application.
We communicate with a javascript code, embedded in the PDF.
Now, we want to rotate the pages of the document, but we cannot get this to work...
Zoom, page up, page down, those work fine,
but when we try to set the rotation for the pages, nothing happens.
We also found rumours that rotating pages won't work in Acrobat Reader 9, but we need to be sure.
all the help is appreciated!
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Mario
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//<Document-Level>
//<ACRO_source>0000000000000000</ACRO_source>
//<ACRO_script>
/*********** belongs to: Document-Level:0000000000000000 ***********/
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                break;
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function myOnDisclose(cURL,cDocumentURL)
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function myOnError(error, aMessage)
    app.alert(error);
var msgHandlerObject = new Object();
msgHandlerObject.onMessage = myOnMessage;
msgHandlerObject.onError = myOnError;
msgHandlerObject.onDisclose = myOnDisclose; this.hostContainer.messageHandler = msgHandlerObject;
//</ACRO_script>
//</Document-Level>

We also found rumours that rotating pages won't work in Acrobat Reader 9, but we need to be sure.
A product with the name 'Acrobat Reader 9' doesn't exists.
With Adobe Acrobat you can rotate pages. Read the documentation in the Acrobat Javascript Reference.

Close both the PDF and Acrobat Reader from Javascript

Hello,
I'm working on a C++ project which at some point open a PDF (using the ShellExecute function).
I coded some javascript in this PDF with Life Cycle Designer to print its content and finally close it automatically using event.target.closeDoc().
The problem is that just the PDF is closed but not Acrobat Reader.
I need Reader to be also terminated, to catch the end of process signal in my C++ program and to continu the execution.
Do have any idea if there is a javascript function to close Reader?
Thank you very much!

Hi John,
After a lot of research and tests, I didn't find the solution. You can't close Acrobat Reader from a pdf. (for security reasons; It's like you are not allowed to closed a browser with a javascript function).
Finally we moved to the PDF library C++ SDK, so Reader is no more opening, but we had to pay for that...
Stephane

Launch acrobat reader from javascript

Hi Team,
Greetings!
Is it possible to launch Acrobat Reader from javascript?
Thank you.

hi, you can try to launch the pdf file in your server in other navigator window with Applet.getAppletContext.showDocument,
if the client have acrobat, the pdf file open in navigator window
take a look my linkOnApplet sample, but change myUrl for a url with a pdf file, like's this "http://mysite/file.pdf"
i hope it help you.
sorry but my site is in spanish.
http://www.sunflowermachine.com/recusos/java/linkOnApplet.html

Calling custom COM-based library from Acrobat/Reader javaScript

Hi All,
is ist possible to extend the javascript object model? For example, is it possible to call a custom COM-based library from Acrobat/Reader using javaScript. Or is their a diffrent way to call third part libs?
Thanks
CommanderPeek

I need a Reader Integration to a document management system (DMS). The user should interact from Reader GUI with the DMS.
Nobody is able to give me binding statement, if my customer (this company need plugin for internal use only) will get the Adobe Reader Integration Key License/digital certificate for such a Reader plugin and how high the costs will be. I wait and wait for Adobes’ Feedback :-(
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Acrobat Reader DC for Android &Javascripts in form cells

Acrobat Reader DC for Android is not taking in consideration most of the Javascripts in form cells ( scripts were all produced in Acrobat XI) Worked fine in Reader 11.7.2 pre-DC for Android... Do you have any suggestions? he issue seems to be fairly general, since only my most simple script for adding times together is working, none of the others, no matter what they do...
Sample already provided in one of my prev. posts, although the issue was different.
Regards: Robert Bartok

Hi Mevish,
I had this issue earlier also with Acrobat Reader 11.7.2 on Lollipop 5.02
but after a system component update the issue "sorted itself out"... right
now I tried to run this on a Galaxy s6 Android 5.02, Acrobat DC fails, and
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Android.
Regards: Robert

This.print(pp) with interactive type silent or automatic does not work after upgrade acrobat reader 9 to acrobat reader 11

After an upgrade of acrobat reader 9 to acrobat reader 11 the automatic printing of a pdf. The pdf is opened, but the print does not happen. With acrobat reader 9 it works. But with acrobat reader 11 the printing does not happen.
I discovered when you specify pp.constants.interactionLevel.full it works on acrobat reader 11. But when you specify pp.constants.interactionLevel.silent or pp.constants.interactionLevel.automatic it does not work on acrobat reader 11. But with the full option we have a dialog print box
we do not want.
In our jsp we load a pdf document and create a message handler to detect the print events of a pdf document that is in an <object> tag.
In the pdf document we add
package be.post.lpo.util;
import org.apache.commons.lang.StringEscapeUtils;
import org.apache.commons.lang.StringUtils;
public class AcrobatJavascriptUtil {
    public String getPostMessageToHostContainer(String messageName, String messageBody){
        return "var aMessage=['"+messageName+ "', '"+ messageBody+"'];this.hostContainer.postMessage(aMessage);";
    public String getAutoPrintJavaScript(String interactiveType, String printerName,String duplexType) {
        String interactiveTypeCommand = "";
        if (StringUtils.isNotBlank(interactiveType)){
            interactiveTypeCommand = "pp.interactive = " + interactiveType + ";";
        String duplexTypeCommand = "";
        if (StringUtils.isNotBlank(duplexType)){
            duplexTypeCommand = "pp.DuplexType = " + duplexType + ";";
        return "" + // //
                "var pp = this.getPrintParams();" + // //
                // Nointeraction at all dialog, progress, cancel) //
                interactiveTypeCommand + //
                // Always print to a printer (not to a file) //
                "pp.printerName = \"" + StringEscapeUtils.escapeJavaScript(printerName) + "\";" + //
                // Never print to a file. //
                "pp.fileName = \"\";" + //
                // Print images using 600 DPI. This option MUST be set or some barcodes cannot //
                // be scanned anymore. //
                "pp.bitmapDPI = 600;" + //
                // Do not perform any page scaling //
                "pp.pageHandling = pp.constants.handling.none;" + //
                // Always print all pages //
                "pp.pageSubset = pp.constants.subsets.all;" + //
                // Do not autocenter //
                "pp.flags |= pp.constants.flagValues.suppressCenter;" + //
                // Do not autorotate //
                "pp.flags |= pp.constants.flagValues.suppressRotate;" + //
                // Disable setPageSize i.e. do not choose paper tray by PDF page size //
                "pp.flags &= ~pp.constants.flagValues.setPageSize;" + //
                // Emit the document contents. Document comments are not printed //
                "pp.printContent = pp.constants.printContents.doc;" + //
                // printing duplex mode to simplex, duplex long edge, or duplex short edge feed //
                duplexTypeCommand +
                // Print pages in the normal order. //
                "pp.reversePages = false;" + //
                // Do the actual printing //
                "this.print(pp);";
snippets for java code that adds
package be.post.lpo.util;
import org.apache.commons.lang.StringUtils;
import com.lowagie.text.Document;
import com.lowagie.text.DocumentException;
import com.lowagie.text.pdf.PdfAction;
import com.lowagie.text.pdf.PdfDestination;
import com.lowagie.text.pdf.PdfImportedPage;
import com.lowagie.text.pdf.PdfName;
import com.lowagie.text.pdf.PdfReader;
import com.lowagie.text.pdf.PdfWriter;
import java.io.IOException;
import java.io.InputStream;
import java.io.OutputStream;
import java.util.ArrayList;
import java.util.Iterator;
import java.util.List;
public class PdfMergerUtil{
    private static final PdfName DID_PRINT = PdfName.DP;
    private static final PdfName WILL_PRINT = PdfName.WP;
    private List<PdfActionJavaScriptHolder> actionJavaScripts = new ArrayList<PdfActionJavaScriptHolder>();
    private class PdfActionJavaScriptHolder{
        private final PdfName actionType;
        private final String javaScript;
        public PdfActionJavaScriptHolder(PdfName actionType, String javaScript) {
            super();
            this.actionType = actionType;
            this.javaScript = javaScript;
        public PdfName getActionType(){
            return this.actionType;
        public String getJavaScript(){
            return this.javaScript;
    public void writePdfs(OutputStream outputStream, List<InputStream> documents, String documentLevelJavaScript) throws Exception {
        Document document = new Document();
        try {
          // Create a writer for the outputstream
          PdfWriter writer = PdfWriter.getInstance(document, outputStream);
          document.open();
          // Create Readers for the pdfs.
          Iterator<PdfReader> iteratorPDFReader = getPdfReaders(documents.iterator());
          writePdfReaders(document, writer, iteratorPDFReader);
          if (StringUtils.isNotBlank(documentLevelJavaScript)){
              writer.addJavaScript(documentLevelJavaScript);
          addAdditionalActions(writer);
          outputStream.flush();
        } catch (Exception e) {
            e.printStackTrace();
            throw e;
        } finally {
            if (document.isOpen()){
                document.close();
            try {
                if (outputStream != null){
                    outputStream.close();
            } catch (IOException ioe) {
                ioe.printStackTrace();
                throw ioe;
    public void addAdditionalDidPrintAction(String javaScript){
        actionJavaScripts.add(new PdfActionJavaScriptHolder(DID_PRINT, javaScript));
    public void addAdditionalWillPrintAction(String javaScript){
        actionJavaScripts.add(new PdfActionJavaScriptHolder(WILL_PRINT, javaScript));
    private void writePdfReaders(Document document, PdfWriter writer,
            Iterator<PdfReader> iteratorPDFReader) {
        int pageOfCurrentReaderPDF = 0;
          // Loop through the PDF files and add to the output.
          while (iteratorPDFReader.hasNext()) {
            PdfReader pdfReader = iteratorPDFReader.next();
            // Create a new page in the target for each source page.
            while (pageOfCurrentReaderPDF < pdfReader.getNumberOfPages()) {
              document.newPage();
              pageOfCurrentReaderPDF++;
              PdfImportedPage page = writer.getImportedPage(pdfReader, pageOfCurrentReaderPDF);
              writer.getDirectContent().addTemplate(page, 0, 0);
            pageOfCurrentReaderPDF = 0;
    private void addAdditionalActions(PdfWriter writer) throws DocumentException{
        if (actionJavaScripts.size() != 0 ){
            PdfAction action = PdfAction.gotoLocalPage(1, new PdfDestination(PdfDestination.FIT), writer);
            writer.setOpenAction(action);
            for (PdfActionJavaScriptHolder pdfAction : actionJavaScripts ){
                if (StringUtils.isNotBlank(pdfAction.getJavaScript())){
                    action = PdfAction.javaScript(pdfAction.getJavaScript(), writer);
                    writer.setAdditionalAction(pdfAction.getActionType(), action);
    private Iterator<PdfReader> getPdfReaders(Iterator<InputStream> iteratorPDFs) throws IOException {
        List<PdfReader> readers = new ArrayList<PdfReader>();
          while (iteratorPDFs.hasNext()) {
            InputStream pdf = iteratorPDFs.next();
            PdfReader pdfReader = new PdfReader(pdf);
            readers.add(pdfReader);
        return readers.iterator();
JSP code
<script type="text/javascript" src="<bean:message key="scripts.js.internal.jquery" bundle="app"/>"></script>
    <script language="javascript">
    function goToDidPrintUrl(){
        var url = "<%=didPrintUrl%>";
        window.location.assign(url);
    function createMessageHandler() {
        var PDFObject = document.getElementById("myPdf");
        PDFObject.messageHandler = {
            onMessage: function(msg) {
                 if (msg[0] == "WILL_PRINT"){
                    $("#printingTransitFeedBackMessage").text('<%=willPrintMessage%>');
                 if(msg[0] == "DID_PRINT"){
                    $("#printingTransitFeedBackMessage").text('<%=didPrintMessage%>');
                    setTimeout('goToDidPrintUrl()',4000);
            onError: function(error, msg) {
                alert(error.message);
    </script>
</head>
<body onLoad="createMessageHandler();">
<div id="printingTransitFeedbackArea">
<div class="info" id="printingTransitFeedBackMessage"><%=documentOpenMessage%></div>
</div>
<object id="myPdf" type="application/pdf" width="100%" height="100%" data="<%=toBePrintedUrl%>">
</object>
</body>

From the JS API Reference of the print method:
Non-interactive printing can only be executed during batch, console, and menu
events.
Outside of batch, console, and menu events, the values of bUI and of interactive are ignored
and a print dialog box will always be presented.

Assemble PDF documents in Acrobat Reader

Hi,
In Acrobat, I create a button with a JavaScript Action to assemble two PDF documents.
This action can be done in Acrobat reader ?
Regards
David

No, that action can NOT be done with Reader.
Leonard

JavaScript actions in Acrobat Reader

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