Import XML data at load of PDF form

First you need to design your PDF form in LiveCycle/ Acrobat and bind the XML structure to each of the fields. Means when you import the data, the form needs to know which XML tag value to be displayed in which field.

After the form is developed, you can use Acrobat's Import data menu item to import the XML file..

Thanks

Srini

Thank you very much for your help! I got this far allready and that works fine. However, the end-user does not have Acrobat. And what we look for is that the end-user does not have to do a manual action to import the data. That should be automaticly done at startup of the pdf-form.

This is what we try to get:

1. The end-user opens a pdf form
2. When the pdf form is opened, the pdf form looks for a XML file in the same folder (XML file is created in a different proces)
3. When the XML file is available, the data in that XML file is imported automaticly
4. The end-user fills out the rest of the pdf-form
5. The end-user saves the form

We sure hope that there is a way to do this. In MS Excel there is, so we expect that Adobe can do at least the same

Thanks very much!

You have a method in host object that can import the data to the PDF form. You can call the method in the initialize event of any of the form controls.

xfa.host.importData("<XML File name>", true);

But this works with the certified forms only. You need to certify your form before you distribute to the users..

Thanks

Srini

Hi Srini,

thanks a lot for this help. This looks very good. So, I will try this.

One question: Do I need an extra license or software to certify a pdf document? Where can I do that?

Thanks in advance!

Erik

Erik,

   Check the below sample..

   https://acrobat.com/#d=iORvrl27geMudD0HrA7JBw

   Save the below XML as BookStore.xml in your local. After you open the form, Click on the Import Data button and select the XML file from your local.

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<bookstore>
<book lang="eng">
   <title>Harry Potter</title>
   <price>29.99</price>
</book>

<book lang="sp">
   <title>Learning XML</title>
   <price>39.95</price>
</book>

</bookstore>

     This is the simplest you can do without going for the Certified form.

     Certified forms can be done by using Certificates from Adobe. You need to purchase them separately.

    If you omit the arguments in the importData()method, then you do not need to certify the documents. But the user needs to choose the XML file from their file system.

     xfa.host.importData();

Thanks

Srini

Hi Srini,

thanks again for this great help! Certifying seems to be no option for us. So, I am working on the browse option. In addition to that I wonder if it is possible to set the default folder before showing the browse-screen.

So, when the user clicks the button, the screen that pops up should be already be browsing in the same folder as the PDF is located. This would make it very easy for a user to select the XML-file.

Please advise in this. Thanks again!

Regards,

Erik

Erik,

     I do not see that option available with the importData method..I will see if there is any alternative way..

Thanks

Srini

I have downloaded the file and did what you said but can not get the info to import.  Does this still work.

Do you have this working or still need help.. If so, please explain what you are trying to achieve and what is not working..

Thanks

Srini

Hi,

I still am working on this item. When I download your example, and open it with the reader, no browse-popup shows. When I open it with Acrobat, the popup does show. What is the difference?

Thanks,

Erik