How to Convert Numbers to Words in an Acrobat PDF Form
Question details
The user needs to automatically translate numeric values entered in one PDF form field into written text strings in another field.
- Product
- Adobe Acrobat
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Creating or editing an interactive PDF form where currency or numerical values need to be spelled out automatically.
- Observed behavior
- The user wants the destination field to automatically populate with the text equivalent of a number entered in the source field, but cannot find a built-in feature to do this.
Ensure you have Adobe Acrobat Pro or an advanced PDF editor, as free PDF readers cannot add document-level JavaScript. You will also need to source a generic JavaScript code snippet designed for number-to-words conversion.
Use a Custom Calculation Script in Adobe Acrobat
Add a custom JavaScript function to your PDF document and trigger it from the destination text field's calculation properties.
Adobe Acrobat does not have a simple built-in number-to-words conversion tool. To achieve this, you must use a JavaScript function that parses numbers and outputs strings, and then call that function from a custom calculation script within the destination text field.
Search online for a generic JavaScript function (often named 'NumToWords' or similar) that handles number-to-text conversion. Ensure the script accounts for decimals and currency formatting if needed.
Open your PDF in Acrobat, go to 'Tools' > 'JavaScript', and select 'Document JavaScripts'. Enter a name for your script, click 'Add', delete the default generated code, and paste your conversion script.
Switch to 'Prepare Form' mode from the Tools pane. Right-click the destination text field (where the written words should appear) and select 'Properties'.
Navigate to the 'Calculate' tab in the Properties window. Select the 'Custom calculation script' option, click the 'Edit' button, and enter a script that calls your document-level function based on the source field's value (e.g., event.value = NumToWords(this.getField('NumberField').value);).
Create and Edit Interactive PDF Forms with WPS PDF
WPS Office includes a feature-rich PDF editor that allows you to effortlessly create, edit, and manage interactive PDF forms, supporting robust text fields and properties.
- 1. Open WPS PDF: Launch WPS Office and open your PDF document using the PDF editor.
- 2. Access Form Tools: Navigate to the 'Form' tab on the top ribbon to view the available interactive form controls.
- 3. Add Form Fields: Select 'Text Field' from the toolbar and drag a box on your document to place the interactive input area.
- 4. Modify Field Properties: Double-click the newly created text field to adjust its appearance, formatting, and calculation behaviors.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Acrobat automatically spell out currency values without JavaScript?
No, Adobe Acrobat does not feature a native, built-in tool to convert numbers to text or explicitly spell out currency. Implementing custom JavaScript is the only way to automate this process.
Why isn't my custom calculation script updating the destination field?
This usually happens due to incorrect calculation order. Ensure that your source field is set to calculate before the destination field. You can adjust the calculation order by going to 'Prepare Form' > 'More' > 'Set Field Calculation Order'.
Can users trigger this JavaScript calculation in the free Adobe Reader?
Yes. While creating the form and adding the document-level JavaScript requires Acrobat Pro or a similar advanced PDF editor, end-users can fill out the form and trigger the automated scripts using the free Adobe Reader.
How do I handle decimal points and cents in the conversion script?
Your custom JavaScript must be explicitly programmed to parse decimal values. Most comprehensive number-to-word scripts split the input at the decimal point and append text such as 'and XX/100 Dollars' to handle currency properly.
