PDF form with possible to save the user data
Printed From: Debenu Quick PDF Library - PDF SDK Community Forum
Category: For Users of the Library
Forum Name: I need help - I can help
Forum Description: Problems and solutions while programming with the Debenu Quick PDF Library and Debenu PDF Viewer SDK
URL: http://www.quickpdf.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=1249
Printed Date: 28 May 25 at 8:38PM
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 11.01 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: PDF form with possible to save the user data
Posted By: tukutt
Subject: PDF form with possible to save the user data
Date Posted: 17 Oct 09 at 5:02PM
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Hello everybody, Actually, I am searching a tool to generate some pdf file. I am interesting in your tool because it works nice with PHP. I search an exemple to generate a PDF file like this http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/fw4.pdf - file . This file contains some fields and it's possible to save the user data directly in the file. It's exactly what I want ! Before I buy your QuickPDF, I want to verify that it's possible to generate this type of file with your tool. Thank all. |
Replies:
Posted By: Shotgun Tom
Date Posted: 18 Oct 09 at 1:26AM
| The short answer to your question is "Yes". I developed a program for a law firm that populates IRS tax forms (they use several dozen) using data from their database. Then, depending upon the circumstances, the data is either flattened (made unchangeable) or left as editable. Works great with QuickPDF library. |
Posted By: tukutt
Date Posted: 18 Oct 09 at 9:50AM
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Can you post here some sample code ? Thanks |
Posted By: Shotgun Tom
Date Posted: 18 Oct 09 at 6:39PM
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This is not a trivial task where I can just post a single snippet of code. What I can tell you is the process and then you'll have to apply it to the programming language and data source you are using. In the case of the law firm, they use IRS estate PDF tax forms. There can be a single form or a dozen or more forms that need to be completed and then merged into a single PDF file.
1. In this case all data to be filled in is stored in an Access Database. I don't know where you are getting the user data from so you'll need to create code to store the user data in variables you pass to QuickPDF. Each field on the form has a name, so you simply need to match the data to the appropriate field. Here's a VB6 snippet:
For i = 1 To FieldCount
If ActiveFormField = QP.GetFormFieldTitle(i) Then ret = QP.SetFormFieldValue(i, ActiveFormFill) QP.UpdateAppearanceStream i DoEvents End If Next FieldCount is simply a variable that holds the number of fields in a form.
ActiveFormField is the name of the field that is to be filled
ActiveFormFill is the data that is to be written.
This code loops through all the fields in a form, if the ActiveFormField has data then it is written to the PDF. This loop is for a single form. If you are combining multiple forms you'll need to loop through each form and save them as a temporary file.
When you've created each form then you need to merge them into a single PDF file. I do this by creating a file list array that holds the names of each temporary PDF created. Then when all forms have been completed you merge them:
ret = QP.MergeFileList(FileListName, OutPDFFileName)
If you want to flatten the fields and data (make them uneditable) then you would need code similar to this:
Private Sub FlattenFields()
If QP.LoadFromFile(OutPDFFileName) = 1 Then Dim ProgCount As Integer ProgressBar1.Value = 0 'How many fields to fill? Dim FieldIndex As Integer FieldCount = QP.FormFieldCount()
ProgressBar1.Max = FieldCount Msg = Msg & "Fields to Flatten:" & Str(FieldCount) & "... " & Time & vbCrLf
txtLogFile.Text = Msg For i = FieldCount To 1 Step -1 QP.FlattenFormField i ProgCount = ProgCount + 1 ProgressBar1.Value = ProgCount DoEvents Next If QP.SaveToFile(OutPDFFileName) = 1 Then
'do nothing Else MsgBox "Error, file could not be written. - " & OutPDFFileName & vbCrLf Msg = Msg & "Field Flattening Failed!" & Time & vbCrLf txtLogFile.Text = Msg End If Msg = Msg & "Field Flattening OK: " & Time & vbCrLf txtLogFile.Text = Msg Else Msg = Msg & "Could not open merged file!" & Now & vbCrLf txtLogFile.Text = txtLogFile.Text & Msg MsgBox "Error, merged file not loaded.", vbCritical, "Flattening Error!" End If End Sub Like I said, not a trivial task. I hope this at least points you in the right direction.
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Posted By: tukutt
Date Posted: 29 Oct 09 at 2:38PM
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Hello, Thank for your answer. I'm desesperating because I can do a form (see sample code) but I don't find any function in QuickPdf to activate the mode in acrobat reader to save the date into the pdf. Have you an idea ? // Set the paper size $qp->SetPageSize('A4'); // Set the origin to the top-left corner $qp->SetOrigin(1); // Set the measurement units to millimetres $qp->SetMeasurementUnits(1); // Add the heading font $qp->AddStandardFont(5); // Helvetica bold $qp->SetTextSize(10); $qp->DrawText(10, 28, 'Name:'); $qp->DrawText(10, 48, 'Surname:'); // Add the font to use for the form fields $FontID = $qp->AddStandardFont(0); // Courier $FieldIndex = $qp->NewFormField('Name', 1); $qp->SetFormFieldBounds($FieldIndex, 10, 30, 50, 10); $qp->SetNeedAppearances(0); $qp->AddFormFont($FontID); $qp->SetFormFieldFont($FieldIndex, $qp->GetFormFontCount); $qp->SetFormFieldTextSize($FieldIndex, 12); $qp->SetFormFieldBorderColor($FieldIndex, 0.5, 0, 0); $qp->SetFormFieldBorderStyle($FieldIndex, 1, 0, 0, 0); $qp->SetFormFieldBackgroundColor($FieldIndex, 0.8, 0.8, 0.5); $qp->SetFormFieldValue($FieldIndex, edtName.Text); $FieldIndex = $qp->NewFormField('Surname', 1); $qp->SetFormFieldBounds($FieldIndex, 10, 50, 50, 10); $qp->SetFormFieldFont($FieldIndex, $qp->GetFormFontCount); $qp->SetFormFieldTextSize($FieldIndex, 12); $qp->SetFormFieldBorderColor($FieldIndex, 0.5, 0, 0); $qp->SetFormFieldBorderStyle($FieldIndex, 1, 0, 0, 0); $qp->SetFormFieldBackgroundColor($FieldIndex, 0.8, 0.8, 0.5); $qp->SetFormFieldValue($FieldIndex, edtSurname.Text); $perm = $qp->EncodePermissions(1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1); $result = $qp->SaveToFile($fileName); |
Posted By: Shotgun Tom
Date Posted: 29 Oct 09 at 3:08PM
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Hi:
Unfortunately, to save form field data in Adobe Reader the PDF Form has to be flagged with Extended User Rights. These are called Live Cycle Reader Extensions (RE). This can only be accomplished by setting those rights in Acrobat Pro (versions 8 or 9 I believe). Even using Acrobat, Adobe's EULA only allows 500 instances of a form.
Adobe has made Reader Extensions proprietary for one reason. Money. Applying these extensions may only be done in Acrobat.
There are alternatives. Other free PDF viewers such as FoxIt, PDF-XChange viewer, etc. allows the user to save the PDF form data. Also, you can create your own form field saving routines using QuickPDF.
The biggest problem is that Reader is so ubiquitous it creates a problem for a PDF Form application that is developed for the general populus. If you have control over who is entering the data then your answer is to have them use something other than Adobe Reader.
Tom
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Posted By: Ingo
Date Posted: 29 Oct 09 at 3:19PM
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Hi! Like Tom told already ... It's the money-machine for Adobe ;-) Take Foxit ... The problem is: If you've filled out formfields and saved the form with Foxit the Adobe Reader will tell you that the form isn't in the original condition anymore - so if you're using Foxit for the form you can't change later 'cause the internal adobe protection is broken. Cheers, Ingo |
Posted By: jpschubbs
Date Posted: 02 Nov 09 at 4:31AM
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Hi Tom, I'm new to the forum, and only registered when I saw your comment about building a program to merge data from a database to pdf forms. I own a financial company, and have been looking for exactly that. We use Filemaker Pro and have about 5-10 pdf forms to merge for each client. I'd like to have something that allows me to merge either directly from the database or to import the database file. Is that something your current program would do? If not, would you be interested in doing it for us? I'm not very familiar with forums, so if I've broken some rule by asking for services, I'm sorry. thanks, Jordan |
Posted By: Shotgun Tom
Date Posted: 02 Nov 09 at 2:26PM
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Hi Jordan:
Yes, I believe the program essentially matches your needs. I may need to make some minor modifications depending upon your requirements.
I would like to discuss this further with you and get some samples of the data and PDF forms involved.
The best thing is to do this directly and not on the Forum. Please email me your contact information and the best time to contact you and we can discuss this further. Email me at mailto:tmoran4511@hotmail.com - tmoran4511@hotmail.com
Thanks, Jordan!
Tom
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Posted By: DELBEKE
Date Posted: 04 Nov 09 at 5:00PM
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Hi Tom
If you don't like spam, avoid giving your email in a clear way.
 |
Posted By: dsola
Date Posted: 10 Nov 09 at 2:40PM
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Hi In company where I work we had the similar problem. Our wish was to enable user to fill pdf form, on save to extract data from form and save data in DB. We couldn't use local webserver because this vailots Adobe EULA. So we render image of PDF form, create form with that image, and create controls for text input.... Regular user won't notice difference and our app has full control. It's win32 app so I don't know if You can use this idea in php. D. ------------- registered QuickPDF user |
Posted By: tukutt
Date Posted: 11 Nov 09 at 2:26PM
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Finally, we choose QuickPDF to create and read data information and Adobe Pro to enable the advance function for adobe reader. We haven't a lot of form to create but our file contains over 300 questions. Now, I am searching to insert a table in my pdf. Thanks to all. |