Saving only the user input in a PDF as a separate data file

[ibgen]

Hello all,

I would like to know if it is possible for an end user to save the information he/she provided in a PDF as a separate file to be updload again in another pdf.

The reason I am asking is beacuse I created about a year ago a pdf with 12 pages where the end user fill in his information to keep for himself. This year I added new features to the same pdf to make it more user friendly adding a few more fields, but keeping most of the content as in the original file from a year ago. 

To avoid the end user to type everything again, is there a way for a user to save the info he typed in from one pdf to them transfer it to the new upgraded pdf? 

Thank you for your expertise, 

Isabella

[try67 · Accepted solution]

Depends. What application are they using?

If the free Reader there's no simple way of doing that, no. If they have Acrobat, though, they can export the form data to an external file (FDF or Text, for example) and then import it later on into a different file. If that file has form fields with the same names as those in the original ones, that data will get populated into them.

[ibgen]

Hi,

I use Acrobat DC, but I don't know what the end user will use, so I understand that there is no way to do it if its not Acrobat DC, right?

From what you mention, if I use Acrobat DC, I can export the form data to an external file to be imported into another pdf that has the same name form fields as the original file, and they will be populated. 

I want to run a test to see how it works. I looked at my DC and for Exporting it does not give me the option FDF, only Text. So I can use Text. But now here is the situation, how can I import the file I saved as *.txt into the new pdf? I don't see on my Acrobat DC the option to Import, only to Export. 

Thank you, Isabella

[try67]

Outside of Acrobat all bets are off. I can't help you with that, I'm afraid.

[ibgen]

All worked well, I found the Export and Import data. I did a test and it worked perfectly! Thank you!