labreuer
asked on
Adobe PDF API's
I want to create a pdf file with "tags" of some sort in it. Then, I will populate those fields with a VB program from a SQL database. The goal is to have a sort of template that can be filled with data from the database and presented to the end user.
Has anyone here done anything with this? If the answer is complicated, I am willing to split up the questions, making each worth 500 points.
I've got to go now; I will fill in any gaps later.
Has anyone here done anything with this? If the answer is complicated, I am willing to split up the questions, making each worth 500 points.
I've got to go now; I will fill in any gaps later.
ASKER
This is designed to fill in form fields -- what sort of restriction does this place on the final format of the text? For example, if I want one field to be bold and a larger font, is that doable?
In Acrobat you can create a field on a document that can be formatted, yes.
I do a similar process but use an AxctiveX control called activepdf. It works great.
ampapa,
I do a similar process but use an AxctiveX control called activepdf. It works great.
ampapa,
ASKER
What are a few things you like better about activepdf, compared to Adobe Acrobat Professional? I understand the activepdf toolkit is required to do this -- you use activepdf's pdf maker as well?
I use toolkit from Access to populate Tax returns, it's a smooth setup and fairly seamless. Very little programming involved compared to some of the other attempts to create PDF documents with your data, then saving the PDF document with your data intact.
The essentials for my usage is to create a document in Acrobat with my fields specified (fonts, color, size, etc.) I save it as a template if you will then basically call ActivePDF and push my data from Access through to the template and save it as another PDF document, and rock on.
If your considering doing anything like what I described the cost is minimal to the amount of time it will save. I believe they have a full trial if your interested?
The essentials for my usage is to create a document in Acrobat with my fields specified (fonts, color, size, etc.) I save it as a template if you will then basically call ActivePDF and push my data from Access through to the template and save it as another PDF document, and rock on.
If your considering doing anything like what I described the cost is minimal to the amount of time it will save. I believe they have a full trial if your interested?
ASKER
This definitely looks like a solution -- how much research did you do into this (e.g. did you find/try any other products)?
No, once I found it I stopped looking. I'm sure there are some others available as always there's more than one way to skin a cat, but ActivePDF worked well for my situation.
ampapa,
ampapa,
ASKER
Do you have any examples of a pdf with forms, then after you've added the data and flattened the pdf?
Unfourtunately they are tax retuens and I can't supply those to you but I could probably send you a form ready to be populated with data?
ASKER
How complicated did your dynamic content get? It seems that you might have only done very simple things with ActivePDF. If I wanted to, for example, have a template that allowed for a table of dynamic size, it seems that ActivePDF would not be able to do this...
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ASKER
Ok, you've definitely answered my question if I just need simple single-format fields, so I'm going to give you an A. If I want more, I will probably have to look into dynamic PDF generation.
Thanks for the grade.
I hope things work out for you.
ampapa,
I hope things work out for you.
ampapa,
Let me know if I can fill in some more of the blanks...