How to Create a PDF Submit Email Button with JavaScript
Question details
The form creator needs to implement a custom confirmation popup before a PDF form is submitted via email, bypassing the default mailto button action.
- Product
- Adobe Acrobat Pro DC
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Creating an interactive PDF form where users must confirm their submission before their default email client is triggered to send the document.
- Observed behavior
- The user wants to use JavaScript in Acrobat Pro DC to trigger a confirmation message instead of a direct mailto link, and needs to ensure this script executes successfully for end-users opening the form in Acrobat Reader DC.
Ensure you have Adobe Acrobat Pro DC installed to author and edit form fields, as the free Acrobat Reader DC only allows users to execute JavaScript, not create it.
Add Custom JavaScript to the Submit Button in Acrobat Pro DC
Use the Prepare Form tool to replace the standard Submit action with a custom JavaScript snippet that triggers a confirmation alert before generating the email.
By default, a 'Submit a form' action immediately prompts the user's email client. To intercept this with a confirmation popup, you must remove the default action and use the Document Object Model (DOM) JavaScript methods `app.alert` and `this.mailDoc`.
Open your PDF in Adobe Acrobat Pro DC, navigate to the 'Tools' menu, and select 'Prepare Form' to enter form editing mode.
Right-click on your existing Submit button and select 'Properties'. If you don't have a button yet, use the top toolbar to add a new 'Button' field to your document.
Navigate to the 'Actions' tab within the Button Properties window. Under 'Select Action', choose 'Run a JavaScript' from the dropdown menu, and click the 'Add' button.
In the JavaScript Editor, enter a script that prompts the user. For example: var cResponse = app.alert({cMsg: 'Are you sure you want to submit this form?', nIcon: 2, nType: 2, cTitle: 'Confirm Submission'}); if (cResponse == 4) { this.mailDoc({cTo: 'your-email@example.com', cSubject: 'Form Submission'}); } Click 'OK' to save.
Close the Prepare Form mode by clicking 'Preview' at the top right. Click your newly configured button to verify that the confirmation message appears before opening your email client.
Easily Fill, Edit, and Share PDF Forms with WPS PDF
While authoring complex JavaScript actions requires advanced, expensive tools, WPS Office provides a highly intuitive and user-friendly PDF editor. You can easily fill out interactive forms, add electronic signatures, and share documents directly via email without needing complicated scripting.
- 1. Open your PDF form: Launch WPS Office and open your interactive PDF form using the built-in WPS PDF tool.
- 2. Fill and sign the document: Use the 'Form' tab to easily input your data into text fields, checkboxes, and dropdowns, then use the 'Fill & Sign' feature to securely add your signature.
- 3. Share via Email directly: Once the form is complete, click the 'Menu' button in the top left corner, select 'Share and Send', and choose 'Email' to instantly attach the filled PDF to your default email client.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can end-users submit a PDF form using the free Acrobat Reader DC?
Yes, as long as the form creator has correctly configured the submit button using a standard mailto action or supported JavaScript (like this.mailDoc), users can submit the form using the free Acrobat Reader DC.
Why is my PDF submit button not opening the email client?
This typically occurs if the user does not have a default desktop email client (such as Outlook or Apple Mail) configured on their operating system. Webmail users may need to save the PDF manually and attach it to an email.
Can I use a standard mailto link without JavaScript?
Yes. In the button properties under the Actions tab, you can select 'Submit a form' instead of JavaScript, and enter 'mailto:your-email@example.com' in the URL field. However, this method will not provide a custom confirmation popup.
