Javascript Acrobat Needed - Must work without net

February 11, 2007 12:31 PM

I'm looking for some Acrobat Javascript help, dealing with inserting a line of text into a bunch of PDF documents...

I'm fairly tech-savvy, but I couldn't program my way out of a paper bag.

I need to figure out a way to insert a line of text as a semi-transparent header to a few hundred PDF documents. The text will be basically the same on each document, except that I need the file name to be part of the text. Something along the lines of:

CREATED BY GWENZEL - DOCUMENT NUMBER XXX

...where XXX is the PDF filename (minus the PDF extension).

I have the full version of Adobe Acrobat, and I know that it's possible to run a javascript against a folder of PDF documents as a batch command. What I don't know is how to put together the javascript code to do this.

I don't necessarily need somebody to write the code for me (although that'd be awesome) - I'm just trying to find pointers to some online script libraries that will give me enough of a starting point to put the script together myself.

Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated!

posted by gwenzel to computers & internet (2 comments total)

Well, there's reference material in the Adobe SDK, e.g. Developing Acrobat Applications Using JavaScript (PDF, 2.7M) and JavaScript for Acrobat API Reference (PDF, 7.4M). There are some samples here and some tutorials here, and it looks like if you search around a little you could find some more.
posted by Rhomboid at 3:14 PM on February 11, 2007

You cannot modify the base PDF with JavaScript. You can only modify form fields which are layered onto a PDF. So you're going about it in the wrong way.

PlanetPDF is the place where Acrobat and PDF experts hang out. You should ask your questions in the forums/mailing lists there.

For the simplest solution to your particular problem, Appligent has a PDF stamping and server application. It can either run as a plugin or via command line. (Disclaimer: Appligent are my clients and friends.)
posted by derMax at 5:30 AM on February 12, 2007