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Sharing Data from pdf to different pdf - Most Transparent method?

1stSniff
Registered: Jun 23 2009
Posts: 10

Howdy All ...

Hopefully I can accurately communicate my question because I have been running in circles on this for a while now.

myScenario:
I have a standard form/series of forms that are purely for data collection purposes. As an example, one form simply collects the most basic information about an individual (ie. name.first, name.last, address.street, address.city, address.state, phone.office, phone.mobile, etc ... ). Some additional fields perform basic calculations with the data (ie. calcAddress.full, calcAddress.citySTZip, calcFullName, etc... ) These forms typically include options to Save the PDF, ExportTXT, ExportFDF, ExportXML, etc ...)

I have a second set of pdfs that rely upon the data from the forms to generate a wide variety of documents that display the collected data in various deliverables.

myChallenge:
Everyone reading this will naturally understand that the user needs to simply import the data from the appropriate data collection documents or even simply append the completed pdf form within the "deliverable" to apply the appropriate data to the template. However, how would you suggest doing this in the most transparent manner possible that requires little more from an end user than pressing a button that says ... LOAD MY DATA.

End users may be on Reader, Standard, or Professional ... ideally, the solution is workable on all ... intent is Acrobat 8+. I am somewhat beyond beginner level of javascript, but am certainly not an expert. I am curious about the function of "disclosure" within multiple pdf documents and how I can specifically reach out to a data field in another pdf from a calculation script within current pdf. It seems like it is very simple, but I'm not certain that I am interpreting correctly. One more note, I should be able to specify the location of each document relative to others, but not necessarily the full device independent path.

I hope that I have communicated this clearly and any input will be greatly appreciated. If I am being really dense and missing something very basic and simple ... please feel free to slap me in the forehead with a "DUH!"

Cheers!
-Scott

My Product Information:
Acrobat Standard 9.2, Windows
pddesigner
Registered: Jul 9 2006
Posts: 858
Ted Padova's 101 eForm Tips has an example in the JavaScript section (tip # 80) that could help you solve your problem.

Download and open his tips from this link:

http://www.box.net/shared/static/qf402snmhl.pdf

This link will expire in 30 days (12/4/2009)

My favorite quote - "Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm.

try67
Online
Expert
Registered: Oct 30 2008
Posts: 2399
In short: global variables.

- AcrobatUsers Community Expert - Contact me personally at try6767 [at] gmail [dot] com
Check out my custom-made scripts website: http://try67.blogspot.com