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juliag84492269
juliag84492269
Participant
February 17, 2020
Question

Change PDF Form template but keep the data

  • February 17, 2020
  • 3 replies
  • 1543 views

Hello,

 

We are using a specific PDF templates for many years. 

Approx. 300 files has been filled to present models. 
Everything the file is manually filled with 10 differents values (text).

 

Today we would like to adapt that template. Not only change the background, as it should be easier, but the entire template should be changed. (background, disposition, font-family and font size...)

I checked the old files I have...
And figured out that the fields have corerected configured on the template but there are no tracking or notihng setup on those files.

 

Do you have clues for me? Or process to follow?

That can allow me to update all those files without having to filled them again.

 

First thought was to combine them all in a bundle, that export the data contents in fields. 

But when I do it.... all the fields get updated by the data from the 1rst page.

 

How will you deal with that kind of problematic?

 

Thnak you in advance for your ideas,

Kind regards,

 

This topic has been closed for replies.

3 replies

JR Boulay
Community Expert
JR BoulayCommunity Expert
Community Expert
February 17, 2020

"Is there a way to automatize the export to FDF step?"

Do as shown in my previous post, you can create a spreadsheet in a wink from 300 or 500 PDF files.

 

"after testing it, I even realized that I was not possible to import a .csv into my file."

Not only you can manually import a row from a CSV file into a PDF form, but you can also use Acrobat Pro to automatically import 500 rows and generate the corresponding 500 forms.

How to do: https://community.adobe.com/t5/acrobat/importing-from-csv-file/m-p/8045973?page=1#M158222

Acrobate du PDF, InDesigner et Photoshopographe
JR Boulay
Community Expert
JR BoulayCommunity Expert
Community Expert
February 17, 2020

1. Merge data of the 300 PDF files into an Excel spreadsheet

2. Import the spreadsheet data into the new form (search in this forum to automate this task).

 

Acrobate du PDF, InDesigner et Photoshopographe
juliag84492269
juliag84492269Author
Participant
February 17, 2020

Hello,

 

So far I will try like that:

- going to form settings,

- exporting the data into a .fdf file,

- merge them all into a .xls file.

 

Then I guess I can create a new template with same name fields and parameters, 

Or simply adapt the actual one.  Then importing the data from the .csv file. 

 

Thank you,

Kind regards, 

 

T
Test Screen Name
Legend
February 17, 2020

Simpler:

- Export to FDF

- Open the changed file

- Import the FDF

No need to complicate things by adding a CSV step unless you also need to manipulate the data or field names.

juliag84492269
juliag84492269Author
Participant
February 17, 2020

Thank you.

Indeed, after testing it, I even realized that I was not possible to import a .csv into my file.

 

New question: 

It is not 300 files but 500...
Is there a way to automatize the export to FDF step?

 

As I cannot join them into a single file without loosing the data....

I thought maybe a JavaScript or even a Windows batch can help me.

 

Probably a nice hint over here:
https://community.adobe.com/t5/acrobat/batch-export-to-fdf/td-p/9183896?page=1

 

Have a good day,

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