Assessing Viewer Versions
Worried about your PDF recipients using the proper version of an Acrobat viewer? If you use some of the new features in Acrobat such as creating PDF Packages, enabling PDF forms, etc., you’ll want to make sure that anyone viewing your PDF or filling out a form uses Adobe Reader or Acrobat version 7 or above.
To give a heads up warning to your PDF recipients, create an application alert dialog box that opens when a user opens your file in a version that won’t support some of the document features. Here’s how to do it:
Open a PDF document and select Advanced > Document Processing > Document JavaScripts . The JavaScript Functions diaog box opens. Add a script name such as viewerVersion and click the Add button and the JavaScript Editor opens.
Delete the default text in the JavaScript Editor and type the following code:
if (app.viewerVersion <7.0)
{
var msg = "An Acrobat viewer version 7.0 or above is required to fill in this form."
app.alert (msg);
}
Note that you can change the text within the quote marks to any text you want to appear in the alert dialog box.
Click OK in the JavaScript Editor and click Close in the JavaScript Functions dialog box and save the file with your new edits.
Each time a user opens your file in an Acrobat viewer less than version 7.0 an alert dialog box opens displaying the message you typed within the quote marks. If users open your document in a version 7.0 or greater the dialog box won’t open.
Make a habit of alerting your PDF recipients before they start working on a file.
January 30th, 2007 at 8:17 pm
Thanks for this helpful information but when I enter the code exactly as shown in your message I get a syntax error stating: missing ; before statement.
I have tried to place the ; in several different places at the beginning of the statement with no luck. Am I overlooking something? Thanks
January 31st, 2007 at 12:10 am
If you just copy the code from this page and paste in the JS editor, it works as written above.
Where are you adding the code? Be sure to choose Advanced > Document Processing > Document JavaScripts to open the JavaScript Functions dialog box. Type a name for the function in the Script Name text box, then click the Add button. DELETE all the default text and paste the code above into the JavaScript Editor. Click OK, then click Close. Save your file and the script should work fine.
Let me know if you encounter any problems after double checking these steps.
ted
July 10th, 2007 at 2:06 pm
Is there anyway to include a clickable link in the message box to direct users to Adobe’s page for Reader downloads?
Does Reader already have a built-in function to check versions? I think I’ve received messages asking me to upgrade my Reader version but the PDF didn’t have message code added to it by a designer (I could be wrong).
Thanks for your help and I enjoy learning from your blog.
Charlie
charlie6067
July 10th, 2007 at 4:30 pm
Hi Charlie.
You can add a JavaScript to either show a button that opens Adobe’s Web site for the Reader download area or automatically take the user to Adobe’s Web site if the viewer version is less than a specific version number.
I know of no built-in function that checks versions. Messages you may have seen may be related to the update checks that all Acrobat viewers perform based on the frequency the user sets in the Preferences.
ted
August 18th, 2007 at 3:38 am
Accessibility problem with small size architecture of menubar toolbars icons
Hi Ted I am trying to find way to resolve something basic
I have problems with small architecture of icons on menubar - toolbars or other icons that apear in reader window, just because I’m using big screen resolution 1280×1024 on my computer.
So I’m wondering if there is plugin like that for InDesign - CTBar 2 (Andromeda software) or there is way to configure the icon size in main architecture of the program, I beleave that is possible by changing parameters in java script file (glob.settings.js) which is in application data folder > adobe > acrobat > 8.0 > javascripts… , but when I change the file to txt file there are no parameters listed at all.
I dont no any other way to find solution to my problem with the small icons.
In addition I now about AcroButtons plugin which is OK but still doesn’t change the main menu bar icons which I intent to change.
I hope that you can help me with my accessibility problem.
Thanks in front, Ni ko la.
August 18th, 2007 at 3:43 am
Gee… I’m sorry but I can’t tell you the answer. I just don’t know if it’s possible. The person who would know is Thom Parker. Log on to his blog at: http://www.acrobatusers.com/blogs/thomp/. Post a question to Thom. If anyone can answer the question Thom can.
—ted
August 19th, 2007 at 11:51 am
Hi Ted and thanks for directions, I will post my problem to Thom.
Ni ko la
May 4th, 2008 at 12:16 pm
Disabling version alert in Acrobat–How?
How do I do the opposite, i.e., stop Acrobat from displaying the alert “this document was created in a newer version of Acrobat…” when a file created in an older, but readable version of Acrobat is opened?
May 4th, 2008 at 3:10 pm
As far as I know, you can’t. It’s an application issue and you have no controls for displaying the dialog box. You may try to export to PDF with an earlier compatibility (say Acrobat 7 compatibility when using Acrobat
. Haven’t tried it, but that may resolve the problem.
ted
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