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Can you collect data from pdf and automate data entry?

Forum Index > Forms: Acrobat > Can you collect data from pdf and automate data entry?
2010-02-28 16:59:45
Connect1
Registered: Feb 28 2010
Posts: 2

Would like to convert existing pdf's to interactie forms which my customers fill out on line and submit. Then, collect the data somehow in a data base and/or export to a csv file. Then creat a macro that would allow that collected data to populate the fields on a web based data entry portal that we currently enter by hand. Anyone have any thoughts on the best way to do this? I have a few dozen forms to create. Would also like to create mouse over, or audio explaining how to fill in certain fields my customers continuously ask us about.

Thanks for your help.

PS if anyone is efficient doing this, I'd be happy to pay a contracted rate as it would probably take me a while to learn and do it myself.

Thanks

siegelt1 [at] yahoo [dot] com

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2010-03-02 00:52:54
#1
Gotla
Registered: Mar 2 2010
Posts: 1
Hello Sieglet!
You can have a look at www.re-pdf.com. It's a service we have built for colleting data from pdf's.
Gotla [at] tc [dot] se
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2010-03-02 18:08:44
#2
thomp
Expert
Registered: Feb 15 2006
Posts: 4411
There are many ways to collect data from a PDF. Acrobat professional comes with a built-in Form distribution and collection tool. You have your choice of submitting data through email or by using the Acrobat.com service. You don't need this though, you can put your own submit button on a form and just use the data merging service in Acrobat. There are other 3rd party data services like www.formrouter.com.

Or if you want to do it yourself you can roll your own data handling, which it seems is more what you're after because you mentioned transfering data to a web based data entry portal. If you have the skill set it's easy enough to create a server side script (php, .Net, perl, etc.) to capture submitted data and then do something else with it. But you will probably need some help. I'd suggest posting this on the Job forum.

Thom Parker
The source for PDF Scripting Info
[url=http://www.pdfScripting.com]pdfscripting.com[/url]

The Acrobat JavaScript Reference, Use it Early and Often
[url=http://www.adobe.com/devnet/acrobat/javascript.php]http://www.adobe.com/devnet/acrobat/javascript.php[/url]

Then most important JavaScript Development tool in Acrobat
[url=http://www.pdfscripting.com/public/34.cfm#JSIntro][b]The Console Window (Video tutorial)[/b][/url]
[url=http://www.acrobatusers.com/tutorials/2006/javascript_console][b]The Console Window(article)[/b][/url]

Thom Parker
The source for PDF Scripting Info
www.pdfscripting.com
Very Important - How to Debug Your Script

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