Okay, I've just created a form using Adobe Designer, one that contains fields that someone can fill out when the form is open with Adobe Reader. The form I've created specifically is for a medical practice, and the first few fields are the doctor's last name, first name, and middle initial. Is there any way that, when I click Save As, a file name is automatically created in the Save As box that contains the last name, first name, and middle initial? I'd like the file name to look like this: LastName-FirstNameMiddleInitial.
Also, this is a form that the people who work at this practice will be using regularly. After the doctor's name fields are a few fields for the date, time in, and time out. Right now, we'd like the date to look like this: 07-16-2008. We'd also like the time in and time out to look like this: 12:00. I'd like it so that, if some data entry person at this medical clinic is tying in the date, and, say, they type in the date as 07/16/2008, it is automatically formatted to 07-16-2008 with the hyphens. Same with the time. Everyone types things in differently, and I'd love to know what I need to do so that it's automatically converted to the date/time design I listed above.
Help!

Brian,

What is the intended use of the file and form? I do use Acrobat files
and forms, however, it sounds like that your form should be used as the
front end of a database. It is harder to program a form to reformat the
data you want in a specific way. This is probably best handled within
the database.

Mike

Any help you could give would be appreciated. Simply put, my company does document imaging/scanning, meaning we help companies go paperless. We wants to expand the services we offer to our clients, and the first client we want to work with is a medical practice. They've been a client of ours for a while, and we want to help them stay paperless by eliminating the need to print more paper.
This particular document that I'm trying to create is basically a doctor's form-it includes the name of the doctors, date/time, a text box where the doctor can input any info they'd like, and then an electronic signature box.
Any ideas as to what I can do in regards to the questions above? Tell me more about this database, otherwise if there is a way to program the form, let me know, I'm sure it's difficult though. Thanks!

You would have to create a special button and provide the necessary JavaScript. This JavaScript may need to be located in a an Acrobat application JavaScript folder due to security restrictions being added by Adobe.

With LiveCycel Desinger one can create a connection to an SQL Database and information can be passed to and from the Database by executing SQL statements.

What is the purpose of the signature field? What happens to the pdf
after its created? Is is printed? Is it stored on disk? Do you have to
look up the data on the form for the future? Looking up information from
hundreds or thousands of pdfs that are updated constantly is a chore. It
is better to input the data collected in the form so that it can be
retrieved from a database and printed as needed. Acrobat is not the
creator of a paperless office. It can be used as part of a front end
when necessary.

Mike

Mike, in response to your questions:

The purpose of the signature field is mainly to expand on the services we offer in terms of going paperless. We want to help our clients STAY paperless, which means preventing the need to print off more paper. This form I'm working on is for a medical practice and is simply a doctor's form, with field for the doctor's name, date/time, a field for any info the doctor would like to input, and then the electronic signature field.
After the PDF is created, it is more than likely saved, which presents other problems, as I've now learned you can't save with Adobe Reader.
As far as looking up data on the form in the future is concerned, I'm pretty sure that's a big yes. I don't know that this particular PDF would be updated constantly, but I'm sure it will need to be retrieved at some point. How can the data be inputed so it can be retrieved from a database?

Geo, how exactly do I go about providing JavaScript? I know how to create a button in Designer, but I've had little experience with JavaScript. I've downloaded a program (PF Merge?) that might allow me to link the form I've created to a database, but I'm not sure how it works yet. :-) Is that what you were referring to as far as our comments about an SQL database is concerned? Is there another way I can create a connection to a database, say, a slightly easier way? :-)

Thanks!

Mike, in response to your questions:

The purpose of the signature field is mainly to expand on the services we offer in terms of going paperless. We want to help our clients STAY paperless, which means preventing the need to print off more paper. This form I'm working on is for a medical practice and is simply a doctor's form, with field for the doctor's name, date/time, a field for any info the doctor would like to input, and then the electronic signature field.
After the PDF is created, it is more than likely saved, which presents other problems, as I've now learned you can't save with Adobe Reader.
As far as looking up data on the form in the future is concerned, I'm pretty sure that's a big yes. I don't know that this particular PDF would be updated constantly, but I'm sure it will need to be retrieved at some point. How can the data be inputed so it can be retrieved from a database?

Geo, how exactly do I go about providing JavaScript? I know how to create a button in Designer, but I've had little experience with JavaScript. I've downloaded a program (PF Merge?) that might allow me to link the form I've created to a database, but I'm not sure how it works yet. Is that what you were referring to as far as our comments about an SQL database is concerned? Is there another way I can create a connection to a database, say, a slightly easier way?

Thanks!