Scientific notation in numeric fields

[UCAChemist]

I need to be able to input scientific notation in numeric fields for my adobe forms.  I can put the pattern to num{9.99E} and it will allow me to put positive exponents and negative exponents to -3.  However, I need to input the number 4.76E-19 and it always changes it to 0.00E0.  What kind I do to keep this small of a number as 4.76E-19?

[Paul_Butenko]

Hi,

I put pattern text{9'.'99'E-'99} to text field.

and now it displays in that style what you need.

See example.

Is it OK for you?

BR,

Paul Butenko

[UCAChemist]

Will putting it in a text field, though, allow it to do a calculation with that number?

[Paul_Butenko]

Hi,

You can covert it to number by using this script:

Number(TextField1.rawValue)

BR,

Paul Butenko

[KSliger]

I have a similar problem. I need a field where users can input regular numbers (.1234) or scientific notation. When I tried the number patter {9.99E}, I can only enter numbers larger than 1.0E-03. Anything larger and it changes them to 0. I tried the suggestion for text pattern and cannot get that to work. When I use it, the field just lets me input any text or number objects and displays just as entered.

I will appreciate any information.

Kellye

[Paul_Butenko]

Hi,

Unfortunatly in approach with text field numbers will not be formatted in scientific  notation, users will have to type numbers in correct format.

In approach with NumericField and patter {9.99E} i think there is some bug.

I can type this number:

After i lost focus from this field it will be formatted in tis style:

And sfter button click i will get this:

For big values everything working fine.

Is this bug!?

BR

[UCAChemist]

So, is there no way to enter a number such as 2.99E-8 where it will not show up as 0?

[Former Community Member]

Its not a bug. The 9.99E is indicating that you will only check the first three places hence the pattern is limiting you to .001 as the smallest number. If you want to display something bigger you will need more 9's. If the number is .0000000299 then the pattern woudl be 9.9999999999E. This will also cuase a number like .00123456 to be displayed as 1.23456E-3. Typically you want only three digits (two decimal places) so th epattern woudl be 9.99zzzzzzzzE.

So your 2.99E-8 will be:

9.99zzzzzzzzE

Are you using an edit pattern or just a display pattern?

Paul

[UCAChemist]

Should it be an edit, display, data, or all three patterns??????????????

[Former Community Member]

Display

Paul

[KSliger]

What should the edit pattern look like, so they could input as either scientific notation or regular (1.2E-5 or .000012)?

Thank you for the display pattern. It works!!

Kellye

[UCAChemist]

I can get the display to work for E-8. However, if I puti n a lot of z's for say, E-34, it still doesn't work.

[Former Community Member]

You need a 9 for each digit you want to display and a lowercase z for each position that you want. So in your case it woudl be 9.99zzzE

Paul

[Former Community Member]

The Javascript engine will have limits to the max and min size of a number. I do not have my references handy but I believe it is in the E-17 range.

Paul

[eddie_stern]

Yeah, you would think that E-17 would be enough for most situations

[UCAChemist]

Unless you're a chemist and need to use numbers around 10^-34 quite often. lol