HTML inside PDF form ... crazy possibility

Report · Oct 13, 2022

I would like to ask about a rather crazy possibility (it is also an idea for development).

As we all know, PDF documents are not responsive, they are always (well, almost always :-)) displayed in the same form, which was a huge advantage at the time of creating the format. New needs are emerging at the moment. It would be a pity to lose the ability to use such a popular format in the world.
Such a new expectation is the WCAG standard regarding document features to ensure digital accessibility (for people with various limitations or disabilities) , where there is a requirement for responsiveness (adapting the interface, document appearance, to the type, size and screen resolution of the device on which it was opened).
And since I deal with it myself, as the creator of PDF forms in the city hall, the following thought arose in my head.
1. I create an active PDF form with all the functionalities I need (a lot of JavaScript code),
2. Inside the form is sewn (in the form of a script) HTML code which is the equivalent of the form,
3. When opening the PDF form, a macro is run which, at the user's request:
3.1 Creates an HTML file corresponding to our form, of course already pre-filled with the data downloaded from our form,
3.2 The HTML form allows you to fill it in further
3.3 After completing the form, the data from this form are saved in the appropriate fields of the PDF form from which it was called,
4. The PDF form, if the user so wishes, enables its further editing, of course maintaining the full functionality of PDF documents.

Probably there will be doubts "why" such acrobatics.
I answer:
1. The PDF format is damn popular and there are free tools to use it (creating is a different matter),
2. The PDF format natively supports electronic signatures, which is essential in communication with government institutions,
3. The PDF format in the file contains all the information necessary for its presentation (e.g. fonts), and the ISO standards seem to mention this requirement,
4. Supports a scripting language also supported by web browsers,
5. The only reason why I would have to give it up is the lack of responsiveness,
6. I don't know any other format that has features 1-4 and is responsive.

I am counting on an answer, especially from Adobe 🙂

Report · Oct 13, 2022

Highly unlikely. Adobe is not in charge of the PDF format (any longer). It's controlled by an international committee, a part of the ISO organization. They decide which new features to add to the PDF specifications, and how. This is a very long process (for example, version 2.0 was released more than a year ago, and it's not even fully supported yet by Acrobat) and implementing such a change as the one you described will take years, if they even decide to go for it (which I doubt, as I don't really see the benefits of doing so).

Report · Oct 13, 2022

Interesting idea. A couple of thoughts

1. PDF display is now largely handled by web browsers, plus email apps, mobiles etc. So the implementors of all those apps would need to do this. But, decades after PDF forms were introduced, the creators of browsers have done patching, incomplete jobs of PDF form support - or none at all, leaving them inactive. I can't see them rushing to embrace any new PDF standard for forms.

2. To get a change to PDF, you need to convince the people in charge of it ISO, specifically the ISO 32000-1 committee. To do this you need to start by convincing your national standards body (ANSI, BSI, DIN etc.) that you are an international expert, and belong in their national delegation to ISO 32000-1. Then you can present it to the committee, who will vote. If approved for discussion they will spend many years debating the paragraph structure and antecedents of your proposal. You will need behind-the-scenes lobbying to the countries there, and the companies who actually pay for them to go. No web browser companies are represented, interestingly enough...

Report · Oct 13, 2022

OK, so I can see that the official new version of the format would have been obtained, under favorable circumstances, at the time of my retirement (I am 52 years old).
I don't care much about the official format. It's enough for me to make it work. In my forms I have, among others macros run when opening a document, which, if the document is opened with an application other than Acrobat Reader, informs about it and asks to open it in Reader in order to maintain full functionality. So far these macros work properly in all browsers I have come across.

I imagine my idea that this macro run when opening PDF creates the appropriate HTML file on the device on which it was launched and opens it with the default application for HTML, which is set on that device. HTML does what it needs to do and when close (or call a macro) it updates the fields in the PDF itself, which is the active form. That's all.

And here are my questions:
1. Is it possible to create any text file (HTML here) from a macro of a PDF form?
2. Is it possible to call from the macro level the action "open X document with the default application for this type of document"?
3. Is it possible to open (in Acrobat Reader) a document with parameters, which are the contents of form fields, or to fill them with an action initiated from outside Acrobat Reader? This can be omitted, because from the HTML level I can generate the appropriate file, which I will then import using a macro in the PDF form.

And let the committees hold their meetings for the next 50 years, this is no matter for me. As for the benefits you are asking for, any change that provides responsiveness can guarantee that such a format will be a staple standard for all institutions that must adhere to WCAG, i.e. government and local government. And this is already a cosmic achievement for the standard.

Report · Oct 17, 2022

I will repeat the question, it is enough for me to answer "possible" or "impossible" indicating the method will be a great possible addition.
1. Is it possible to create a text file with any name and extension from the script code (Reader)?
2. Is it possible to call the operating system action "open file X" from the script (Reader)? Open means either open with the default application or open with the Y application.
3. Is it possible to open a PDF file with Reader (must be Reader) with text parameters or parameter? Needed to pre-complete the form.

Report · Oct 17, 2022

2. Absolutely not.

3. It used to be possible to create an FDF or XFDF file, listing field values and the name of the original PDF, and open that in Reader. This would find the original file, open it, and fill it.