Filling out a form programaticallty

[PaulT]

We were given a .pdf form. We would like to programatically fill out the form with user name, etc. from an oracle table, and email the form to the user. They will fill in the rest and send it back.

My thought was to just create a series of .fdf files and merge these in 1 at a time. Would that work?

What are some alternative choices? If I need the SDK, so be it.

Paul
(What has Clarion got to do with pdf files?)

[Tracker - Clarion Support]

Hi Paul!

If you can use the FDF format, go for it!

If you want to do it a bit more dynamically, please download the Viewer SDK from the Developer Downloads, and then check out demo pvxd2f20.app for an example of filling out a form programmatically.

[PaulT]

Ok thanks, I'll have a look at the SDK.

Is info avalable about the parts of the .fdf file that aren't intuitively obvious? (ie, the binary or encryppted fields)

Paul

[Tracker - Clarion Support]

Hi Paul!

Not from us. However, the FDF format should be documented by Adobe. I'd check their website for FDF documentation.

The example I recommended to you is a "database to form fields" using the Adobe Acrobat JavaScript extensions. It does not use FDF at all.

[PaulT]

Oh, I see! Thanks - Then I'm off to look at the sdk.

Paul
(I get the clarion reference now...)

[PaulT]

... the Viewer SDK from the Developer Downloads, and then check out demo pvxd2f20.app .

I don't have that available as a demo - Is it a language specific demo that I didn't install...?

Paul

[Tracker - Clarion Support]

Hi Paul!

It's Clarion-specific. This is posted in the Clarion forum.

What language are you developing this in?

[PaulT]

When I first showed up at the site, Clarion was the only forum visible. (I did ask right off the top what clarion had to do with the product - and I get that now)

I haven't settled on a language yet, but did install for c++ c# and both VBs.

Paul

[Tracker Supp-Stefan]

Do you see the other Forums now Paul?

As if not I can check your account's privileges and fix that.

Regards,
Stefan

[PaulT]

Stefan,

I'm good now, thanks.

Paul

[Tracker Supp-Stefan]

Ok so then this topic is in the wrong forums and the examples quoted by Craig are Clarion specific.
I will check now whether there are corresponding C++ examples.

Cheers,
Stefan

[Tracker - Clarion Support]

Hi Paul!

Glad to see you got that sorted!

If it's Visual C++ I can still help, but my C# and VB is weak.

[PaulT]

Thanks Stefan - that's all I need at this point.

(I didn't think anyone would want me to start over elsewhere.)

Paul

[Tracker - Clarion Support]

Hi Paul!

We can move this thread to another forum, so that's cool.

However, the internal basics of Viewer ActiveX JavaScript remain the same, so I'm posting the JS we use in the Clarion program:

Code: Select all

function loadfield( fldName, fldValue ) {
  var tst = fldName.toUpperCase();
  for ( var i = 0; i < this.numFields; i++ ) {
    var fname = this.getNthFieldName(i);
    var ft = fname.toUpperCase();
    if ( tst == ft ) {
      var f = this.getField(fname);
      switch( f.type ) {
        case "text":
          f.value = fldValue;
          break;
        case "listbox":
        case "combobox":
          for ( var j = 0; j < f.numItems; j++ ) {
            if ( fldValue == f.getItemAt(j) ) {
              f.currentValueIndices = j;
              break;
            }
        }
        if ( f.type == "combobox" )
          f.value = fldValue;
          break;
        case "checkbox":
          switch ( fldValue.toUpperCase() ) {
            case "OFF":
            case "NO":
            case "FALSE":
            case "0":
              f.checkThisBox(0, false);
              break;
          default:
            f.checkThisBox(0, true);
            break;
          }
          break;
        case "radiobutton":
          f.checkThisBox(fldValue - 0);
        case "button":
        case "signature":
          default:
          break;
      }
    }
  }
}
// Added by Calling Program:
loadfield("DATE","75546");
loadfield("TIME","7712827");
loadfield("EMAIL","craigr@docu-track.com");
loadfield("ACCOUNT","MyAccount");
loadfield("PASSWORD","MyPassword");
loadfield("FIRSTNAME","Craig");
loadfield("LASTNAME","Ransom");
loadfield("BIRTHDATE","09/11/1947");
loadfield("BOOKSCHK","Yes");
loadfield("MAGAZINESCHK","Yes");
loadfield("NEWSPAPERSCHK","Yes");
loadfield("COUNTRY","Germany");

function loadfield remains the same in all cases.

The lines that execute loadfield at the end are built by the calling program and then the whole thing is passed to the Viewer ActiveX. The first field in each call is the PDF Form field name; the second is the data to be inserted in that field.

[PaulT]

Stefan,

Thank you! Looks to be just what I need.

Move if you weill

Paul

[Tracker Supp-Stefan]

Well the kudos are for Craig - he is the one "hiding" behind Tracker - Clarion Support

As for the topic - moved it to the non Clarion Viewer SDK forum.

Cheers,
Stefan

[PaulT]

I'm working with the VB Full Demo at the moment, and pasted the JS code into the Java Script window - modifying the bottom bit for the correct field names - works like a charm.

This begs the question: does that mean the 'native' language for the active-x control is JS? Said another way - is there some other non-js way of filling in the fields? ...or... It just feels wrong somehow to come up with a basic VB app (no pun intended) at the heart of which is a bit of JS code to do the grunt work.

Paul

[Tracker - Clarion Support]

Hi Paul!

For the Viewer ActiveX, as far as I know, JS is the only way at the current time. I'll ask our Project Manager to be sure.

If not, they may add better form management in version 3, but that is no time soon. Don't ask for a time frame for 3; I have none.

[PaulT]

Craig,

Thanks for checking...

If any of the other SDKs have direct field support, them I'm all ears. I'll continue to have a look at the demo for now.

Paul

[Ivan - Tracker Software]

This begs the question: does that mean the 'native' language for the active-x control is JS?

No, it is not. JS is just one more way to do the job, or often only one possible way to do it when feature isn't supported directly by AX (like with forms - AX doesn't provide objects to work with form fields).

You can use JS not only from AX, but also in end-user viewer through JS console (use Ctrl + J shortcut to open it).

[Tracker - Clarion Support]

Hi guys!

You can use JS not only from AX, but also in end-user viewer through JS console (use Ctrl + J shortcut to open it).

Which is how I originally tested my script !

[PaulT]

JS is just one more way to do the job, or often only one possible way to do it when feature isn't supported directly by AX (like with forms - AX doesn't provide objects to work with form fields).

You can use JS not only from AX, but also in end-user viewer through JS console (use Ctrl + J shortcut to open it).

Ahh, I see now.Just a way of being 'future ready'. Cool.

Paul

[John - Tracker Supp]

[Tracker - Clarion Support]

Hi Paul!

Actually there's more to it than that.

The PDF specification supports inclusion of JavaScripts within PDF documents. They can be triggered in various ways, including buttons, mouse-over, links, etc.

Adobe publishes JS API documentation at their site:

http://www.adobe.com/devnet/acrobat/javascript.html

The various documents describe how to use JS and how to include it in PDF documents.

[PaulT]

Thanks for th elink - I've marked it to have a look at some point.

Paul

[John - Tracker Supp]