Reading from a file into a PDF

[jasotastic81]

I'm really just looking for a tutorial, but I can't seem to find one when I search--maybe my query is incorrect.

I want to use LiveCycle to create a PDF that I can use to read information from a file, and that I can also use to write new information to that same file.

Since I'm starting from nothing, the data file type is irrelevant (XML, CSV, TXT). Of course, I'm sure some types will be easier to use than others.

I want to have two buttons at the top that will allow me to choose the task (either read from a file or add new information).

I can make the form do everything I want it to do until I need to read from the associated file or write to the same. I can make the screen change to hide or present the parts of the form I need to fill out or view the data stored in the PDF (dummy data that I give variable names to).

The problem comes when I'm wanting to send that data to an external file.

Can someone point me to a tutorial for this process?

I would imagine that there are better approaches to what I'm trying to do, but this is the one that will most easily fit into our infrastructure.

"Make fifty PDFs for the company and nobody bats an eye. Make ONE VB app and IT loses their minds!"

[Former Community Member]

If you need a tool to parse, populate, or merge acrobat or static XFA and you are using VB.net or C#, then check out:

FDFToolkit.net:

http://www.fdftoolkit.net

Free Open-source edition:

http://fdftoolkit.codeplex.com

FDFToolkit.net Examples & Tutorials:

http://www.fdftoolkit.net/examples/

http://www.nk-inc.com/blog/

[jasotastic81]

My question is, since JavaScript itself cannot do fileIO without help, can I presume that JS within a PDF cannot perform those functions? Is there not an extension already included in LC or Acrobat to do the job? I'd rather involve as few new programs as possible.

[radzmar]

Since Acrobat/Reader 9.2 you have the API method importFileIntoStream() to load external data into a form from a button event.

Here's a sample:

http://blogs.adobe.com/formfeed/2009/10/new_reader_92_api.html

[jasotastic81]

Thanks, Radzmar. I'm halfway there with this. Now, to figure out how to get what users add back into the file...