Export fdf using a button javascript

[adamsski168]

Hi,

I have no javascripting knowledge, is it possible to add an export .fdf javascript to a button in a pdf form?

seems simple but i can't seem to find an example?

Thansk

Adamsski168

[George_Johnson]

There are some built-in possibilities (e.g., doc.exportAsFDF), but they don't work with Reader. With Reader you can use JavaScript to build a string that's a complete FDF, but the user would have to somehow copy and paste it into a file.

[adamsski168]

Hi George,

thanks for the response. I am using Acrobat Pro and creating my own forms. I just wanted to add an export data button for the users so we can start to build on the data entered.

Thansk

Adam

[Thom Parker · Accepted solution]

.You can use this script in a Button MouseUp Action:

this.exportAsFDF();

This displays a file Save As dialog for saving the FDF file. There is an input parameter for setting the file path. This won't work from a button script because specifying a path is a privileged operation. But it would work from an Acrobat DC Command. Look on the Actions panel. There is a feature for creating a new command. You can use this script with an input for saving the file to a specific name and location. Makes it a bit easier on the user, and make the functionality available to any open form.

[adamsski168]

Hi Thom,

Thats really helpful thank you.

I just need to find the next part lol

[George_Johnson]

I may not have been clear, but the doc.exportAsFDF method will only work with Acrobat, so if any of the form users will be using Reader, then this approach won't work.

[sever_s_]

Hey George,

I tried your suggestion with the string that contains FDF ...

I used this code and it worked ... not saying that it's optimized but the idea was great.

To mention that the script is sending this to a web-service I created that wraps just final terminators...

For more details I can be contacted ...

Code:

var all = "";

var fld = "";

var d = this.dataObjects;

var dn = this.numFields;

for (var i = 0; i < dn; i++) {

    if (this.getNthFieldName(i) != null) {

        fld = this.getNthFieldName(i);

        val = this.getField(fld).value;

        all = all + "<</T(";

        all = all + fld;

        all = all + ")";

        if (val != null) {

            all = all + "/V(";

            all = all + val;

            all = all + ")";

        }

        all = all + ">>";

    }

}

var contstr = "<</FDF<</F(" + this.path + ")/Fields["

contstr = contstr + all;

// this I got them from a file ... not sure how to create them

var footer = "]/ID[<960596C7FECA907F3E2BB93B81F03C30><08B586C4C0EF3DF1D2490646D78F587B>]/UF(" + this.path + ")>>/Type/Catalog>>"

// the string is now ready ... although there are some more lines to wrap in the web-service

// fix-header and footer also added in web-service, but all fields were added in the content

// according to FDF synthax

// prepare call for web-service

var err;

var err2;

var wsaddr = "http://localhost:59843/Service1.asmx?WSDL";

var wsaddrfld = "WSAddr";

var wsaddrfromfld = "";

// filter the characters for SOAP call

contstr = contstr + footer;

contstr = contstr.replace(/</g, "&lt;");

contstr = contstr.replace(/>/g, "&gt;");

// call the web-service

try {

    var myURL = wsaddr;

    try {

        wsaddrfromfld = this.getField(wsaddrfld).value;

        myURL = wsaddrfromfld;

    }

    catch (err2) {

        app.alert("JSErr.ToGetWebService:" + err2.message + " - at URL:" + myURL);

    }

    SOAP.wireDump = true;

    var myProxy = SOAP.connect(myURL);

    var testString = "<docbinary>This is test</docbinary>";

    var myStringObject = {

        soapType: "xsd:string",

        soapValue: "<docbinary>" + contstr + "</docbinary>"

    };

    var result = myProxy.SaveDocument(myStringObject);

}

catch (err) {

    app.alert("JSErr.:" + err.message);

}

// finally - done ...

app.alert("File was SENT - JS");

// **** EOJ ****

.......

Happy coding,

Sever

svr@rogers.com