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dickt92158504
Participant
September 10, 2016
Answered

Feasibility question: extracting information from fields in PDF

  • September 10, 2016
  • 2 replies
  • 502 views

I'm exploring options for gathering responses to a PDF form.  User-entered fields are created, the user saves the completed form as a PDF, and emails the form back.  Can the user-entered data entered into the fields be extracted into an electronic format?  I hate the very idea of retying the user-entered data to get it into electronic form.  For now, the question is "can this be done - extract the user-entered data into an electronic format?"  If possible, then I can start exploring format, etc.

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Correct answer Test Screen Name

It's worth mentioning since you stevat an early stage that it can be problematic to rely on email. Much better to submit the form just like an HTML form. This needs a professional web programmer to provide web scripts however. Also PDF forms won't work on certain browsers and in phones.

It's easy to assume that the big deal is designing the form. But that's just the 10% above the water. Personally I wouldn't consider PDF forms any more because of the browser issues. Even Adobe are moving towards dynamic conversion to HTML forms so why not start with one? There are full service form providers who provide tools to collate and analyse. For instance Google Forms - create and analyze surveys, for free.

2 replies

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Test Screen NameCorrect answer
Legend
September 10, 2016

It's worth mentioning since you stevat an early stage that it can be problematic to rely on email. Much better to submit the form just like an HTML form. This needs a professional web programmer to provide web scripts however. Also PDF forms won't work on certain browsers and in phones.

It's easy to assume that the big deal is designing the form. But that's just the 10% above the water. Personally I wouldn't consider PDF forms any more because of the browser issues. Even Adobe are moving towards dynamic conversion to HTML forms so why not start with one? There are full service form providers who provide tools to collate and analyse. For instance Google Forms - create and analyze surveys, for free.

try67
Community Expert
try67Community Expert
Community Expert
September 10, 2016

Of course it can be done.

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