How to Create a Dynamic Faxed Stamp with Date and Time in Acrobat
Question details
The user needs to create or modify a dynamic stamp in Adobe Acrobat that specifically displays the word 'Faxed' alongside the current date and time.
- Product
- Adobe Acrobat
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Reviewing, managing, and tracking processed PDF documents that require accurate timestamping for faxed files.
- Observed behavior
- Acrobat provides a built-in 'Received' dynamic stamp, but lacks an exact 'Faxed' equivalent with the necessary dynamic date and time functionality out of the box.
Ensure you have the desktop version of Adobe Acrobat Standard or Pro installed, as the free Adobe Reader lacks the necessary form preparation tools to add JavaScript for custom dynamic stamps.
Create a Custom Dynamic Stamp Using JavaScript
Design a base PDF for your stamp, import it into Acrobat's custom stamps library, and add a simple JavaScript calculation to generate the current date and time dynamically.
While Adobe Acrobat allows you to import standard image or text PDFs as static stamps, making them dynamic requires editing the source file in Acrobat's background system folder to include a text field with a calculated date script.
Create a blank document in any word processor, type the word 'Faxed' in your preferred font and color, and save or print the document as a PDF file.
Open Adobe Acrobat. Navigate to Tools > Stamp > Custom Stamps > Create. Browse your computer to select the 'Faxed' PDF file you just created and assign it to a new or existing category.
Acrobat stores custom stamps in a hidden system folder. On Windows, open File Explorer and navigate to 'C:/Users/[YourUsername]/AppData/Roaming/Adobe/Acrobat/[Version]/Stamps'. Locate the PDF file that Acrobat generated for your new custom stamp.
Open this generated stamp PDF file in Acrobat. Go to Tools > Prepare Form. Add a new Text Field and place it beneath or beside the 'Faxed' text where you want the dynamic date and time to appear.
Right-click the Text Field, select Properties, and click on the Calculate tab. Choose 'Custom calculation script' and enter the following code: event.value = util.printd('mm/dd/yyyy HH:MM', new Date()); Save and close the PDF.
Easily Manage PDF Stamps with WPS Office
WPS Office PDF Editor provides a user-friendly interface to quickly add, modify, and customize stamps for your document workflows. Add standard labels, personalized text stamps, and manage annotations without dealing with complex scripts.
- 1. Open your PDF: Launch WPS Office and open the PDF document you need to stamp.
- 2. Access the Stamp tool: Navigate to the 'Comment' tab on the top toolbar and click the 'Stamp' icon to reveal built-in templates.
- 3. Create a custom stamp: Select 'Custom Stamp' to design your own personalized text or image stamp quickly without complex scripting.
- 4. Apply to document: Click on the document page where you want the stamp to appear, resize it if necessary, and save your edited PDF file.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make a dynamic stamp using the free Adobe Reader?
While Adobe Reader allows you to apply existing dynamic stamps, creating or modifying a custom dynamic stamp with a calculated JavaScript field requires the form preparation tools only available in paid versions of Adobe Acrobat.
Why does my custom stamp not update the time when applied?
If the date and time remain static, the text field may lack the correct calculation script. Ensure you have added the JavaScript (e.g., event.value = util.printd('mm/dd/yyyy HH:MM', new Date());) to the 'Custom calculation script' area in the text field's properties.
Where does Adobe Acrobat store custom stamp PDF files on Mac?
On macOS, custom stamp files are typically located within the user Library. Navigate to /Users/[YourUsername]/Library/Application Support/Adobe/Acrobat/[Version]/Stamps to find and edit your source stamp files.
How do I change the font style of the dynamic date and time?
You must open the source stamp file from the system's Stamps folder, use the Prepare Form tool to right-click the date Text Field, select Properties, and change the text settings under the Appearance tab.
