Is it possible to connect a pdf to an access database?

With version 9, this feature is only avaiable with the creation of forms in LiveCycle Designer, part of Acrobat Professional. Prior to version 8 Acrobat had the ADBC, Adobe DataBase Connectivity, and with a registry change in version 8.

ADBC is available in Acrobat 9 (Pro, at least) with non-XFA forms. You do still need to make a Windows registry edit to enable it.

George

George, do you mind explaining how to enable ADBC in Adobe 9?

Thank you,
Chris.

These instructions apply: http://forms.stefcameron.com/2007/03/07/adbc-now-disabled-by-default/

making the obvious modifications.

George

I've been trying to do something similar between 9.0 and Paradox, and while I tried to follow the instructions in the link provided, this location does not exist on my computer: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Adobe\Adobe Acrobat\9.0\ADBC. I created it and then created the appropriate registry key inside that folder, but the ADBC connection still isn't working.

In the JavaScript Console, for:
var databaseList = ADBC.getDataSourceList();

I get undefined as the result.

For:

var conn = ADBC.newConnection( "Excel Files" );
if (conn == null)
throw "Null Connection Object";
var stmt = conn.newStatement();
if (stmt == null)
throw "Null Statement Object";
stmt.execute( "SELECT * FROM DBexp1" );

I get:
GeneralError: Operation failed.
Statement.execute:8:Console undefined:Exec

undefined


Could someone explain to me why? Thanks, sorry!

Did you change “bJSEnable" key to 1?

Did you run the following command in the Dos Command Window?

reg add “HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Adobe\Adobe Acrobat\9.0\ADBC” /v bJSEnable /t REG_DWORD /d 1

You will also need to create a Windows ODBC connection through your systems control pannel.

You would be better off using the LiveCycle Designer form.

Have you set up any data sources on your system?

I've set up the DSNs for Excel and Paradox/gone to control panel and set up ODBC connections there (in Administrative tools under Data Sources(ODBC, yes?).

When I went to the registry key described in the set-up instructions and here, there was no ADBC folder or bJSEnable key in HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Adobe\Adobe Acrobat\9.0 . I made one, and set its value to 1, but I'm not at all sure that that will have the desired effect (sorry, I'm new to this, so bear with me if my understanding of how this works is a little lacking).

I ran the command on the Dos Window and got: Error: Invalid key name.

I wouldn't be surprised that LiveCycle would be superior, unfortunately we don't have that program and don't have the budget to buy it right now.

I also have a copy of Acrobat 6--and in theory my understanding is that ADBC shouldn't even be automatically turned off in that edition--but I'm having the same problem with it. Any idea what could cause that?

George and George,

A question - OP indicates Acrobat Standard is used - does Standard support use of ADBC?

Same with Acrobat 6. If it is Standard vice Pro, would Standard support use of ADBC?

Dave,

I'm pretty sure it does, though I have never used Standard. ADBC was introduced with Acrobat 5, and the less capable Acrobat Approval supported ADBC, which itself was less capable than Acrobat Business Tools (a version 4 product).

Acrobat Pro > Acrobat Standard > Acrobat Business Tools > Acrobat Approval > Acrobat Fill-in > Adobe (Acrobat) Reader (w/o usage rights)I still don't understand why ADBC represents enough of a security risk that it gets banished entirely but the same type of database connectivity with an XFA form doesn't. WTHeck?

I realize I forgot to clarify, but both the 9 and 6 versions that I'm using are Pro.

It sounds like you set the registry key correctly, otherwise you'd be getting a different error when you execute the getDataSourceList statement.

FWIW, if you have Acrobat 9 Pro then you also have LiveCycle Designer, unless you chose not to install it along with Acrobat.

When you set up the ODBC data sources, did you set up System DSNs or File DSNs? Do you have information for setting up an Excel file so it can be accessed via ODBC/ADBC?

Fair--the Acrobat 9 is on a remote desktop connection and I couldn't find LiveCycle on there, but I'll check with IT about it.

Actually, I originally set User DSNs, because setting both File and System DSNs didn't work. I take it that User DSNs are inadequete for this? I think with the System DSNs it's just that I don't have admin privileges, but for the File DSN I get most of the way through setup then get an error saying that the 'database engine cannot open or write to this file'.

I'm sorry, I did not mean to imply that a user DSN would necessarily not work, it should. I've not used Paradox, so I don't know what issues may be involved, but I do know that an Excel file has to be specially configured to work as an ODBC source. If you're able to test with an Access database, I'd suggest trying to get it to work first and go from there.