PDF files are a popular way to share documents online. They are widely used for their ability to maintain formatting and layout across different devices and operating systems. However, what if you need to change the source of a PDF file dynamically? This is where JavaScript comes in.
JavaScript is a programming language that is commonly used to add interactive features to web pages. With its powerful capabilities, it can also be used to manipulate PDF files on the fly. In this article, we will explore how JavaScript can be used to change the source of a PDF object or embed file dynamically.
First, let's understand the difference between a PDF object and embed file. A PDF object is an HTML tag that embeds a PDF file directly into a web page. On the other hand, an embed file is an HTML tag that links to a PDF file and displays it in a separate browser window. Both methods have their advantages and limitations, but for the purpose of this article, we will focus on changing the source of a PDF object.
To change the source of a PDF object dynamically, we will need to use the JavaScript method, 'setAttribute'. This method allows us to set the value of any attribute of an HTML element. In our case, we will use it to set the 'data' attribute of the PDF object to the new source.
Let's take a look at an example. Say we have a PDF object on our web page with the following code:
<object data="old_source.pdf" type="application/pdf" width="500" height="600"></object>
To change the source of this PDF object, we will need to first select it using JavaScript. We can do this by giving the object a unique ID and then using the 'getElementById' method. Our updated code will look like this:
<object id="pdfObject" data="old_source.pdf" type="application/pdf" width="500" height="600"></object>
Now, let's say we want to change the source of this PDF object to a new file, 'new_source.pdf'. We can do this by using the following JavaScript code:
var pdfObject = document.getElementById("pdfObject");
pdfObject.setAttribute('data', 'new_source.pdf');
This code will change the source of the PDF object to 'new_source.pdf' dynamically. It is important to note that the new source file must be in the same location as the old source file for this to work.
But what if we want to change the source of the PDF object based on user input or some other condition? In such cases, we can use a function to handle the change. Let's see how this can be done.
First, we will create a function that takes in the new source as a parameter and sets it as the data attribute of the PDF object. Our code will look like this:
function changeSource(newSource) {
var pdfObject = document.getElementById("pdfObject");
pdfObject.setAttribute('data', newSource);
}
Next, we can call this function whenever we want to change the source of the PDF object. For example, if we have a button on our web page that, when clicked, should change the source to 'new_source.pdf', we can use the following code:
<button onclick="changeSource('new_source.pdf')">Change Source</button>
This will execute the 'changeSource' function and change the source of the PDF object to 'new_source.pdf' when the button is clicked.
In conclusion, JavaScript can be a powerful tool when it comes to manipulating PDF files on a web page. By using the 'setAttribute' method, we can dynamically change the source of a PDF object and provide a seamless user experience. This can be especially useful when dealing with large documents or when the source needs to be changed frequently. So, the next time you need to change the source of a PDF object dynamically, remember to turn to JavaScript for a quick and efficient solution.
