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jwpotter
Participating Frequently
April 14, 2020
Question

Transferring Data from one PDF directly to another PDF

  • April 14, 2020
  • 1 reply
  • 4289 views

I am trying to create a folder  that people can use in completing numerous individual forms either for themselves or others. The folder contains  a PDF memo with instructions and blank copies of the various fillable PDF forms.

Typically each type form must be comleted several times with different information. However, all forms contain some identical data.

I would like the user to be able to enter the common information once, and for it to be transfered into all the  forms. 

The best I have come up with is to put the common  fillable blanks at the end of the introductory memo with an export button. The button exports the data in an FDF file to a location in the same folder as the  memo. The user than has to accept the preselected  location for the FDF file by hitting "save," and if the memo has been used previously hit "replace"  to overwrite the data from the last use. The user then opens the PDF form that he/she intends to use and hits an import button.

 

Is there a way to make the data go directly from the introductory memo to the forms?

If that's not possible, is there a way to eleminate the necessity of hitting the "save" and "replace" choices?

 

Thank you.

This topic has been closed for replies.

1 reply

Thom Parker
Thom Parker
Adobe Expert
April 14, 2020

You want to reduce the number of clicks?  Yes this is possible. There are several ways to move data in and out of PDFs. Not so much with Reader, but it is still usable.  If everyone using the forms has access to a shared drive, then you could write an automation script (installed on each user's system) to import and export data in an organized way, such as having a drop down menu for selecting the specific data to import.   

 

You'll find some information on this topic, and several (paid for) automation tools for moving data here:

https://www.pdfscripting.com/public/Form-Data-Handling.cfm

Thom Parker - Software Developer at PDFScriptingUse the Acrobat JavaScript Reference early and often
J
jwpotterAuthor
Participating Frequently
April 14, 2020

Thanks

 

Unfortunately my potential users are  not known to me (the would get the forms hopefullly from the web, or if that isn't possible, from an email request) and most will only have Reader.

I had  tried it with a memo and attachments, but as far as I can tell, even with Reader Extended attachments you can't save the the filled in form if you open it with reader. Perhaps incorecctly  I assumed that exporting data to an attachment would be harder than to a separate file in the same  folder.

 

Thanks again,

 

I'll have to think a lot more.

 

Thanks again

K
KYJud
Known Participant
April 22, 2020

It would be much easier to save the data on a common PDF. Actually, any PDF file the user has already filled out. Have them open both files, then push a button on the empty form that fills with common data fields from the other.  


This is precisely what I want to do.

 

How do you do it?

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