All automation scripts built with JavaScript will only work when placed in one of the Acrobat/Reader JavaScript folders. If Acrobat and Reader are installed on the same system then they will share the same local "user" folder, but each will have its own "app" folder. Execute each line of the following code in the Acrobat JavaScript Console (Ctrl+J on Windows, Command+J on Mac) to find the location of the JavaScript folders on your system:

On Windows, the application JavaScript folder is usually located at:

C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 8.0\Acrobat\JavaScripts

On Mac, the application JavaScript folder is in the configuration file inside the Acrobat Application Package.

The script file can be placed in either the "User" or "App" JavaScript folder.

Many automation scripts will create a toolbar button. In Acrobat/Reader 9 and earlier, JavaScript toolbar buttons are placed on the "Add-Ons" toolbar (Figure 1). If this toolbar is not visible then Right Click on an empty part of the Acrobat toolbar area and select "Add-Ons." In Acrobat/Reader X, JavaScript toolbar buttons are placed in the "Plug-In Add-on Tools" Pane in the Tools Panel (Figure 2).

JavaScript toolbar buttons were added to Acrobat/Reader in version 6. However, most of the automation scripts that can be downloaded from this site are intended to be used with Acrobat 7 or later. There are some differences in the DOM function that adds toolbar buttons, app.addToolButton().

Some scripts may contain functionality that prevents it from being used in Adobe Reader, on a Mac, or in a particular version of Acrobat. When writing, or using, a folder level automation script always be aware of the environment, and the version and variation of Acrobat the script is intended to be used with.

Figure 1 - JavaScript Toolbar Button location for Acrobat versions 6 to 9.

Figure 2 - JavaScript Toolbar Button location for Acrobat version X.