Batch import for Combo and List Boxes for PDF

[campbellma]

Hello all, does anyone know of a way to import a CSV or Excel sheet into a Combo or List box in Acrobat for an interactive PDF. I found a post about here here then mentions a handy script but the links have expired. Anyone know of any other scripts? 

[try67]

You can do it using this (paid-for) tool I've created: https://www.try67.com/tool/acrobat-import-items-from-a-text-file-to-a-combo-box-or-list-field

[hammer0909 · Accepted solution]

I found this on the forums years ago and I use it all the time. I was unable to find it again but here's a link for you to download it. It will automatically populate a drop-down list with whatever you paste into the form. https://1drv.ms/b/s!AsOY4oj7seXTgaMhBAxO_bqsZSkaPA?e=r7cs8b

[campbellma]

Awesome thanks I may even be able to modify it to works for list boxes as well.

[campbellma]

I modified it to do both combo and list box if anyone else wants to do both.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1_rydswIrMdTv1fwSVk9M1wkYudB_qbWk/view?usp=sharing

[Thom Parker]

There is literally no difference between setting the items on a listbox and a combobox, they are identicle. So what exactly did you change? 

[campbellma]

They are basically the same thing, but under the hood they dont exactly work the same because there is no way to convert a list box to a combo box. It may have something to do with the fact that list box can do things like allow for multiple select, which combo boxes cannot. 

I duplicated the button and made a list box, called it list one and changed the script to apply the effect to the list box instead of the combo box. then I duplicated the clear command in the rest button and applied it to the list box.

This is necessary since you cannot convert one into another in Acrobat. And even in Adobe Indesign, when you change one to another it deletes all of your list items so you have retype everything. 

[Thom Parker]

You'll find an example file here that shows how to fill a list from pasted text:

https://www.pdfscripting.com/public/Free-Sample-PDF-Files-with-scripts.cfm

And you'll find info and some paid-for tools for importing data into PDFs from various data formats. 

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