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Importing data into forms

Forum Index > Forms: Acrobat > Importing data into forms
2010-04-05 12:08:15
syappfolio
Registered: Apr 5 2010
Posts: 5

Hi all,

I'm looking to mass import data into fillable PDF forms to facilitate the creation of unique forms. Suppose I've got a CSV data set composed of 10 fields and containing 50 records. I've also got a fillable PDF form template. Rather than copy/paste the data field by field into the PDF template (shudder) or even import an entire record at once to create unique forms, I'd like to somehow combine the data set and the template and automatically generate 50 unique forms (one per record).

Is this achievable with Acrobat or am I wishing for the impossible?

Best,
Scott

P.S., Any video tutorials or relevant resources would be much appreciated.

My Product Information:
Acrobat Pro 9.3.1, Macintosh
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2010-04-06 07:08:19
#1
lkassuba
ExpertTeam
Registered: Jun 28 2007
Posts: 3636
If you're on the Mac, the options are somewhat limited. On Windows you could do a database connection with Excel but this is a Windows only feature. Another thing you can try is to export your data, in Excel, to a XML File and in Acrobat you can import that XML file. The name of the fields have to be the same of the items/tags in the XML File.

Lori Kassuba is an AUC Expert and Community Manager for AcrobatUsers.com.

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2010-04-06 12:23:24
#2
thomp
Expert
Registered: Feb 15 2006
Posts: 4411
You can write automation scripts using Acrobat JavaScript, or AppleScript, to import data into a form using one of the Acrobat data formats. Since you already have a CSV file you are close, but Acrobat can only import from a Tab delimited file. If you can convert the format you are in business. Look up the "doc.importTextData()" function in the Acrobat JavaScript Reference.

You'll find the Online reference here, it contains info on both JavaScript and AppleScript Automation:
http://livedocs.adobe.com/acrobat_sdk/9.1/Acrobat9_1_HTMLHelp/wwhelp/wwhimpl/js/html/wwhelp.htm?&accessible=trueThom 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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