Create .fdf file

[michaelv86677793]

Hi. I need to create a .fdf file with data from a .txt file or an excel file to allow me to import data into forms. The only joy I have had is being able to export the data from acrobat, but not creating a .fdf file from another source. Thanks for any light you can shine on this.

[Thom Parker · Accepted solution]

There is of course the Acrobat Forms Data Format (FDF) Toolkit

But there are no applications for just generating FDF files, except of course Acrobat. 

You could write an Acrobat script to read the data out of the text file and use Acrobat to create FDF files. This is exactly the type of thing I do, so send me a message if you're interested.  You can contact me by sending a message through www.pdfscripting.com

[try67]

FDF files are not easy to work with. You can import form data in the form of a tab-delimited text file, though. That's much easier.

[Thom Parker]

Here is another resource that shows how to import data into a PDF:

https://www.pdfscripting.com/public/ExcelAndAcrobat.cfm

[stanleydenman]

No this question was not solved, I don't think.  That is, suggesting someone buy your product is not answering the question.

[Thom Parker]

What do you mean? The FDF toolkit is free.

[ashleys@acumen2.net]

The link that you posted doesn't actually show you HOW to do it without a membership...

[Thom Parker]

The link I posted wasn't necessarily about FDF. There are many ways to move data in and out of a PDF in Acrobat:

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

You can create FDFs by simply exporting them from Acrobat.  Look at the "More" menu on Prepare forms mode. There there's and Export Form data option. 

If you want to use the FDF toolkit to to create an FDF 

https://www.adobe.com/content/dam/acom/en/devnet/acrobat/pdfs/FDFtkRef.pdf

If you want to write your own code you'll find the FDF specification as a chapter in the PDF Spec. This in an old one, but nothing about FDF, or really much about PDF, has changed:

https://www.adobe.com/content/dam/acom/en/devnet/pdf/pdfs/PDF32000_2008.pdf

[BwanaBawb]

I create them using a custom Java program.
The file format is text (i.e., readable), but is completely syntax specific - like all computer instructions.
Open one up and take a look at it.
For the most part it's copy/paste.
But, fieldnames and data fields are what get modified from one FDF to another, at least for a given PDF Form.
Within this page is the format for creating an FDF file.
https://appligent.com/docs-fdfmerge

[Abambo]

Is that a for free or for pay software.

[BwanaBawb]

It's a trivial piece of software embedded in a custom Java program.

e.g., LastName & FirstName refers to editable data fields in MyName.pdf.
(all other text remains the same):

%FDF-1.2
1 0 obj
<<

   /FDF
   <<

      /Fields
      [
         <</T(FirstName)   /V(Joe)>>
         <</T(LastName)   /V(Cool)>>
      ]
      /F(MyName.pdf)
   >>
>>
endobj
trailer
<</Root 1 0 R>>
%%EOF