PDF: Working with actions of PDF document

In This Topic

A PDF document allows to define actions, which should be performed by application while PDF document is being viewed. The actions may be simple, e.g. go to a destination in the current document, or complex, e.g. launch an external application or JavaScript code.

Supported action types

PdfAction class is the base class for any action of PDF document.

Here is a list of actions supported by the SDK:

PdfGotoAction - jumps to the specified destination in the current document
PdfLaunchAction - launches the specified application, usually opens a file
PdfUriAction - resolves a uniform resource identifier
PdfJavaScriptAction - executes JavaScript code
PdfSubmitFormAction - sends data to a uniform resource locator
PdfResetFormAction - sets fields to their default values
PdfInteractiveFormImportDataAction - imports field values from the specified file
PdfAnnotationHideAction - defines a hide action that hides or shows one or more annotations on the screen

An action can be composite. To create the composite action is used PdfAction.NextActions property.

Each action must be associated with an element of PDF document. The action can be associated with a document, page, bookmark, annotation, interactive form etc.

Executors of actions

The executor of action contains a logic of performing an action of certain type. The base class for executors of actions is PdfActionExecutorBase class.

Here is a list of executors of actions supported by the SDK:

PdfActionCompositeExecutor - provides the ability to create compositions of several executors of actions
PdfActionExecutor - performs execution of PdfAnnotationHideAction and PdfResetFormAction
PdfJavaScriptActionExecutor - performs execution of PdfJavaScriptAction, i.e. compiles script and executes script using the JavaScript interpreter
PdfGotoActionExecutor - performs execution of PdfGotoAction, i.e. navigates in PDF document
PdfAnnotationToolResetFormActionExecutor - performs execution of PdfResetFormAction, i.e. resets interactive form fields
PdfAnnotationToolAnnotationHideActionExecutor - performs execution of PdfAnnotationHideAction, i.e. hides/shows an annotation

Here is a list of executors of actions implemented in demo applications (PdfDemosCommonCode):

PdfViewerNamedActionExecutor - performs execution of PdfViewerNamedAction, i.e. navigates in image viewer
PdfUriActionExecutor - performs execution of PdfUriAction, i.e. opens hypertext link in default browser
PdfLaunchActionExecutor - performs execution of PdfLaunchAction, i.e. launches an application
PdfSubmitActionExecutor - performs execution of PdfSubmitFormAction, i.e. transmits the names and values of selected interactive form fields to a specified URL

Here is an example that demonstrates how to configure the execution of all supported actions (incl. the execution of JavaScript actions) for the visual tool PdfAnnotationTool:

VB.NET

' The project, which uses this code, must have references to the following assemblies:
' - Vintasoft.Imaging
' - Vintasoft.Imaging.Pdf
' - Vintasoft.Imaging.Pdf.JavaScript
' - Vintasoft.Imaging.Pdf.UI

''' <summary>
''' Creates the PDF annotation tool with JavaScript support.
''' </summary>
''' <param name="viewer">The image viewer.</param>
Public Shared Function CreatePdfAnnotationToolWithJavaScriptSupport(viewer As Vintasoft.Imaging.UI.ImageViewer) As Vintasoft.Imaging.Pdf.UI.Annotations.PdfAnnotationTool
        ' create PDF JavaScript application
        Dim jsApp As New Vintasoft.Imaging.Pdf.UI.JavaScript.WinFormsPdfJsApp()
        ' add PDF documents, which are associated with images in viewer,
        ' to the document set of PDF JavaScript application
        jsApp.RegisterImageViewer(viewer)
        ' create PdfJavaScriptActionExecutor for PDF JavaScript application
        jsApp.ActionExecutor = New Vintasoft.Imaging.Pdf.JavaScript.PdfJavaScriptActionExecutor(jsApp, New Vintasoft.Imaging.Pdf.JavaScriptApi.PdfJsConsole())

        ' create Vintasoft.Imaging.Pdf.UI.Annotations.PdfAnnotationTool
        Dim annotationTool As New Vintasoft.Imaging.Pdf.UI.Annotations.PdfAnnotationTool(jsApp, True)
        annotationTool.InteractionMode = Vintasoft.Imaging.Pdf.UI.Annotations.PdfAnnotationInteractionMode.Markup

        ' create an application action executor
        Dim applicationActionExecutor As New Vintasoft.Imaging.Pdf.PdfActionCompositeExecutor()
        ' add executor for PdfJavaScriptAction to the application action executor
        applicationActionExecutor.Items.Add(jsApp.ActionExecutor)
        ' add executor for PdfGotoAction to the application action executor
        applicationActionExecutor.Items.Add(New Vintasoft.Imaging.Pdf.UI.PdfGotoActionExecutor(viewer))
        ' add executor for PdfNamedAction to the application action executor
        applicationActionExecutor.Items.Add(New Vintasoft.Imaging.Pdf.UI.PdfNamedActionExecutor(viewer))
        ' add executor for PdfResetFormAction to the application action executor
        applicationActionExecutor.Items.Add(New Vintasoft.Imaging.Pdf.UI.Annotations.PdfAnnotationToolResetFormActionExecutor(annotationTool))
        ' add executor for PdfAnnotationHideAction to the application action executor
        applicationActionExecutor.Items.Add(New Vintasoft.Imaging.Pdf.UI.Annotations.PdfAnnotationToolAnnotationHideActionExecutor(annotationTool))
        ' add executor for PdfUriAction to the application action executor,
        ' executor is located in WpfPdfDemosCommonCode
        'applicationActionExecutor.Items.Add(new PdfUriActionExecutor());
        ' add executor for PdfLaunchAction to the application action executor,
        ' executor is located in WpfPdfDemosCommonCode
        'applicationActionExecutor.Items.Add(new PdfLaunchActionExecutor());
        ' add executor for PdfSubmitFormAction to the application action executor,
        ' executor is located in WpfPdfDemosCommonCode
        'applicationActionExecutor.Items.Add(new PdfSubmitActionExecutor(viewer));
        ' add the default executor (for PdfResetFormAction and PdfAnnotationHideAction)
        ' to the application action executor
        applicationActionExecutor.Items.Add(New Vintasoft.Imaging.Pdf.PdfActionExecutor())

        ' set the application action executor as action executor of PDF annotation tool
        annotationTool.ActionExecutor = applicationActionExecutor

        ' create a document-level actions executor
        Dim documentLevelActionsExecutor As New Vintasoft.Imaging.Pdf.PdfDocumentLevelActionsExecutor(jsApp)
        ' set the application action executor as action executor of the document-level actions executor
        documentLevelActionsExecutor.ActionExecutor = applicationActionExecutor

        Return annotationTool
End Function

// The project, which uses this code, must have references to the following assemblies:
// - Vintasoft.Imaging
// - Vintasoft.Imaging.Pdf
// - Vintasoft.Imaging.Pdf.JavaScript
// - Vintasoft.Imaging.Pdf.UI

/// <summary>
/// Creates the PDF annotation tool with JavaScript support.
/// </summary>
/// <param name="viewer">The image viewer.</param>
public static Vintasoft.Imaging.Pdf.UI.Annotations.PdfAnnotationTool CreatePdfAnnotationToolWithJavaScriptSupport(Vintasoft.Imaging.UI.ImageViewer viewer)
{
    // create PDF JavaScript application
    Vintasoft.Imaging.Pdf.UI.JavaScript.WinFormsPdfJsApp jsApp = 
        new Vintasoft.Imaging.Pdf.UI.JavaScript.WinFormsPdfJsApp();
    // add PDF documents, which are associated with images in viewer,
    // to the document set of PDF JavaScript application
    jsApp.RegisterImageViewer(viewer);
    // create PdfJavaScriptActionExecutor for PDF JavaScript application
    jsApp.ActionExecutor = new Vintasoft.Imaging.Pdf.JavaScript.PdfJavaScriptActionExecutor(
        jsApp, new Vintasoft.Imaging.Pdf.JavaScriptApi.PdfJsConsole());

    // create Vintasoft.Imaging.Pdf.UI.Annotations.PdfAnnotationTool
    Vintasoft.Imaging.Pdf.UI.Annotations.PdfAnnotationTool annotationTool = 
        new Vintasoft.Imaging.Pdf.UI.Annotations.PdfAnnotationTool(jsApp, true);
    annotationTool.InteractionMode = Vintasoft.Imaging.Pdf.UI.Annotations.PdfAnnotationInteractionMode.Markup;

    // create an application action executor
    Vintasoft.Imaging.Pdf.PdfActionCompositeExecutor applicationActionExecutor = 
        new Vintasoft.Imaging.Pdf.PdfActionCompositeExecutor();
    // add executor for PdfJavaScriptAction to the application action executor
    applicationActionExecutor.Items.Add(jsApp.ActionExecutor);
    // add executor for PdfGotoAction to the application action executor
    applicationActionExecutor.Items.Add(new Vintasoft.Imaging.Pdf.UI.PdfGotoActionExecutor(viewer));
    // add executor for PdfNamedAction to the application action executor
    applicationActionExecutor.Items.Add(new Vintasoft.Imaging.Pdf.UI.PdfNamedActionExecutor(viewer));
    // add executor for PdfResetFormAction to the application action executor
    applicationActionExecutor.Items.Add(
        new Vintasoft.Imaging.Pdf.UI.Annotations.PdfAnnotationToolResetFormActionExecutor(annotationTool));
    // add executor for PdfAnnotationHideAction to the application action executor
    applicationActionExecutor.Items.Add(
        new Vintasoft.Imaging.Pdf.UI.Annotations.PdfAnnotationToolAnnotationHideActionExecutor(annotationTool));
    // add executor for PdfUriAction to the application action executor,
    // executor is located in WpfPdfDemosCommonCode
    //applicationActionExecutor.Items.Add(new PdfUriActionExecutor());
    // add executor for PdfLaunchAction to the application action executor,
    // executor is located in WpfPdfDemosCommonCode
    //applicationActionExecutor.Items.Add(new PdfLaunchActionExecutor());
    // add executor for PdfSubmitFormAction to the application action executor,
    // executor is located in WpfPdfDemosCommonCode
    //applicationActionExecutor.Items.Add(new PdfSubmitActionExecutor(viewer));
    // add the default executor (for PdfResetFormAction and PdfAnnotationHideAction)
    // to the application action executor
    applicationActionExecutor.Items.Add(new Vintasoft.Imaging.Pdf.PdfActionExecutor());

    // set the application action executor as action executor of PDF annotation tool
    annotationTool.ActionExecutor = applicationActionExecutor;

    // create a document-level actions executor
    Vintasoft.Imaging.Pdf.PdfDocumentLevelActionsExecutor documentLevelActionsExecutor =
       new Vintasoft.Imaging.Pdf.PdfDocumentLevelActionsExecutor(jsApp);
    // set the application action executor as action executor of the document-level actions executor
    documentLevelActionsExecutor.ActionExecutor = applicationActionExecutor;

    return annotationTool;
}

Actions of document

An action that have to be performed when opening a PDF document can be defined using PdfDocument.OpenAction property.
The PdfDocument.AdditionalActions property allows to define additional actions for PDF document, notably the actions which have to be performed before the document is saved or printed, and the actions which have to be performed after the document is saved, printed or closed.

Actions of page

The PdfPage.AdditionalActions property allows to define additional actions for PDF page, notably the actions which have to be performed when the page is opened or closed.

Actions of bookmark

The PdfBookmark.Action property allows to define an action which have to be performed when the bookmark is becoming active.

Here is an example, that demonstrates how to change an action which have to be performed when a bookmark becomes active:

VB.NET

' The project, which uses this code, must have references to the following assemblies:
' - Vintasoft.Imaging.Pdf

''' <summary>
''' Changes action of the first bookmark of PDF document.
''' </summary>
''' <param name="pdfFilename">The filename of PDF document.</param>
Public Shared Sub ChangeFirstBookmarkAction(pdfFilename As String)
        ' open PDF document
        Using document As New Vintasoft.Imaging.Pdf.PdfDocument(pdfFilename)
                ' create goto action to the last page of PDF document
                Dim dest As New Vintasoft.Imaging.Pdf.Tree.PdfDestinationFit(document, document.Pages(document.Pages.Count - 1))
                Dim newAction As New Vintasoft.Imaging.Pdf.Tree.PdfGotoAction(dest)

                ' get the first bookmark of PDF document
                Dim bookmark As Vintasoft.Imaging.Pdf.Tree.PdfBookmark = document.Bookmarks(0)
                ' change the action of bookmark
                bookmark.Action = newAction

                ' save changes to a file
                document.SaveChanges()
        End Using
End Sub

// The project, which uses this code, must have references to the following assemblies:
// - Vintasoft.Imaging.Pdf

/// <summary>
/// Changes action of the first bookmark of PDF document.
/// </summary>
/// <param name="pdfFilename">The filename of PDF document.</param>
public static void ChangeFirstBookmarkAction(string pdfFilename)
{
    // open PDF document
    using (Vintasoft.Imaging.Pdf.PdfDocument document = 
        new Vintasoft.Imaging.Pdf.PdfDocument(pdfFilename))
    {
        // create goto action to the last page of PDF document
        Vintasoft.Imaging.Pdf.Tree.PdfDestinationFit dest = 
            new Vintasoft.Imaging.Pdf.Tree.PdfDestinationFit(document, document.Pages[document.Pages.Count - 1]);
        Vintasoft.Imaging.Pdf.Tree.PdfGotoAction newAction = 
            new Vintasoft.Imaging.Pdf.Tree.PdfGotoAction(dest);
        
        // get the first bookmark of PDF document
        Vintasoft.Imaging.Pdf.Tree.PdfBookmark bookmark = document.Bookmarks[0];
        // change the action of bookmark
        bookmark.Action = newAction;

        // save changes to a file
        document.SaveChanges();
    }
}

Actions of annotation

PdfAnnotation class is a base class for any annotation of PDF document. PdfAnnotation.ActivateAction property allows to define an action, which have to be performed when annotation is activated.
PdfAnnotation.AdditionalActions property allows to define additional actions, e.g. an action which have to be performed when an annotation is clicked on by a mouse button or an action which have to be performed when a page with annotation has become visible.

Actions of interactive form field

PdfInteractiveFormField class is a base class for any field of interactive form of PDF document. PdfInteractiveFormField.AdditionalActions property allows to define actions connected with a form field.

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