Script to batch import xml into Livecycle Designer form

So you want to use a LiveCycle Form in a variable data operation? Batch is the wrong way to go. You're better off using an OLE Database connection on the form, and then controling it from a folder level script.

But you can import XML data with:

xfa.host.importData();

However, this function is heavily restricted. Read about it in the XFA Object Reference.

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,

Thanks for your reply.
I am very new to this, but do I still need a human to open up the Acrobat to invoke the folder level scripts?

Hi,

i have the same problem. I want to open a pdf file that loads automatically data from a xml file without human interaction.
I used the xfa.host.importData() and works, but doesn't load the xml file automatically when a user opens the pdf file.

How can i load a xml file in opening moment of a pdf file?

Thanks.

jyyming,
Yes, you still need to open acrobat and invoke the script. The reason for this is that Acrobat is not a Server and is not supposed to be used as one.

But there are a couple of ways around this. First, you could use the Acrobat IAC (Inter Application Communication) API to control the opening a PDF and running the automation script. Basically you write a VB app to perform the bit that cannot be done from JavaScript. Second ,you could use Cold fusion 9 to perform exactly this same process, i.e. automatically merge data in to a PDF form without Acrobat at all. But that is a different can of worms.

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]

Thomp,

Thanks for your reply.

What I am trying now is i use the Acrobat IAC to open the pdf file. Within that pdf file i have a javascript that actually loads the data to each field by performing database call. I tried to open the pdf manually, trigger the javascript function (as an event on the click of a button), it is able to fill in all the pdf fields correctly.

Then, I see that Acrobat IAC is able to perform javascript function call by calling this method ExecuteThisJavascript in the Fields class. More testing is still needed, but I am not sure am I on the correct path? Hopefully this will work.

Thanks

-jyyming

The best way to get access to scripts in the IAC is with the JSObject. What I usually do is write folder level functions and then run them through the JSObject. This is much better then invoking scripts on the document because 1) you don't need to put any scirpts in the documents and 2) folder level scripts can be trusted, which gets around all kinds of issues.

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]

In the end i found the solution, i use the ExecuteThisJavascript to call xfa.host.importData("filename.xml") which will help me import the data into the pdf, and lock the necessary fields.

By doing this also it will not ruined the reader enabled thingy.

Thanks a lot Thomp for your prompt response.