Portable Document Format

Portable Document Format (PDF) files are accessed through a web browser with the free Adobe Acrobat Reader software. PDF allows web publishers to convert electronic documents such as Word, Excel, or PageMaker files and hard copy documents into web ready files.

PDF files retain the original layout and appearance of the document as it was intended by the author. Brochures, travel expense forms, check requests and Human Resources forms are only a few examples of how PDF is used at KUMC.

If you'd like to read more about the Adobe Acrobat format we recommend you visit the Acrobat web site at Adobe.

Some examples of PDF forms use at KUMC:

• Human Resources Online Forms
• KU Topics Magazine

To Disable the Caching in PDF Forms

Forms saved in PDF format with form fields that may be completed online are sometimes cached by the browser. That is, when a user completes a PDF form online, the information entered in the form will appear the next time the form is opened in that browser. The information should be cleared the next time the form is opened for information privacy, especially if the form might be completed at a public workstation. Using Adobe Acrobat 6.0 Professional, follow the steps below to disable caching (storing) of information entered on the form.

i. Add a Document-Level JavaScript:

1. Click Advanced, point to JavaScript, and then click Document JavaScripts. A Java Script Functions dialog box will open.
2. In the Script Name field type init and click the Add button.
3. Delete the automatically generated text that is displayed in the script window, and copy and paste or type the following code in the exact format (line wraps are fine), click OK, then click Close:
   
   var bReset = false;
   var url_re = /^http:\/\/|^ftp:\/\//i;
   var isInBrowser = false;
   if (this.external && url_re.test(this.path)) isInBrowser = true;

ii. Add a Page Open JavaScript action:

1. Click View, point to Navigation Tabs, and then click Pages.
2. Select a page thumbnail then click the Options button.
3. Click Page Properties from the Options menu.
4. In the Page Properties dialog box, click the Actions tab.
5. From the Select Trigger drop down list select Page Open.
6. From the Select Action drop down list select Run a JavaScript.
7. Click the Add button.
8. A JavaScript Editor dialog box will open, copy and paste the following code in the exact format (line wraps are fine), click OK, then click Close:
   
   if (!bReset && isInBrowser)
   { this.resetForm();
   bReset = true; }

In addition, because a user may have Javascript disabled on their browser, you may want to add a button on the form so a user may manually clear all the form fields.