Does anyone know if you can have a computational calculator functional in an Adobe PDF file? I am trying to create an electronic form, that includes on one page a list of supplies from an Excell file that has computational values. Ultimatly, what I would like to display is a "Total Cost" field at the bottom of the form that is summed by the single item value multiplied by the quantity selected of various supplies.
For example
TEST FEE CALCULATOR
Cost Per Hour Hours Required
DVD Player 50 1
Laptop 100 0
IT Support 150 2
--------------> TOTAL: $350
Thanks for the help!
I suspect that that functionality isn't possible with a pdf.
But I'm far from an authority on pdf....
Are you trying to distribute a pdf document that other people will 'fill in the blanks', and it will then total things up as you describe?
You can do that with an excel file, and have most of the file 'locked' so those end users can only fill in the blanks.
I'm no excel guru either.
There's folks here who should know.
Quote from: Speeddog on February 04, 2009, 08:54:03 AM
I suspect that that functionality isn't possible with a pdf.
But I'm far from an authority on pdf....
Are you trying to distribute a pdf document that other people will 'fill in the blanks', and it will then total things up as you describe?
You can do that with an excel file, and have most of the file 'locked' so those end users can only fill in the blanks.
I'm no excel guru either.
There's folks here who should know.
It's a form that we (my office) has in several locations so that users who are requesting resources can fill out the (nice looking) pdf electronically and then email it directly to our office using an intergrated email feature as part of the form that automatically loads and attaches it to a new email message.
You can do that easily in excel of course, but not everyone has excel. Word also can do this.
I have never seen a pdf file with embedded math. Doing a google, I don't see it either.
Let us know what you find.
OK, your 'application' was what I suspected.
Didn't know Word could do that. Thanks, mitt. :)
Excel files can be made to be very nice looking, I've seen 'em, and excel can be made to do some amazing stuff.
But as mitt said, not everyone has excel.
Quote from: Speeddog on February 04, 2009, 09:27:31 AM
OK, your 'application' was what I suspected.
Didn't know Word could do that. Thanks, mitt. :)
Excel files can be made to be very nice looking, I've seen 'em, and excel can be made to do some amazing stuff.
But as mitt said, not everyone has excel.
It is best to build a table first in word, then use table->formula ;D Not as easy to write formulas as excel though.
mitt
Quote from: Speeddog on February 04, 2009, 09:27:31 AM
OK, your 'application' was what I suspected.
Didn't know Word could do that. Thanks, mitt. :)
Excel files can be made to be very nice looking, I've seen 'em, and excel can be made to do some amazing stuff.
But as mitt said, not everyone has excel.
Ultimatly that's why I designed the form in Adobe because I was able to extend the usage rights into adobe reader and everyone can easily download reader and use the form.
...I may have found something and am trying to build the tool now. If it works (or not) I'll let you know!
Quote from: mitt on February 04, 2009, 10:05:45 AM
....then use table->formula ;D Not as easy to write formulas as excel though.
mitt
Yeah....that's why I do prefer Excell over Word, and why before becoming an electronic form it started in Excell, was moved into Word for futhrer formatting, and then saved as an Adobe PDF and converted to an electronic form....
...a relativly cumbersome process, but it works pretty well.
It is doable in PDF format. You have to make an interactive PDF, but the only way I know how to do that is with Adobe Acrobat Professional. If it is pretty basic, you could send it to me and I could play around with it. I'm not saying my skills are basic, I'm just saying I'm lazy. PM if interested.
Thanks for the offer. I am working with CS4 and am thinking that I may have begun to figure it out. I've got the first set of fields added for the cost, next is the computational piece.
I may take you up on your offer if I can't figure it out - I do enjoy the learning process, and don't really want to over burden anyone else with my work.
Thanks again! [thumbsup]
you are on the right track....
acrobat professional can calculate text fields
under text field properties... [thumbsup]