Export fillable PDF field properties

[rcshelto]

I am looking for a way to export the field properties of a fillable PDF. Not the actual data within the fields, but the information about the field itself (X/Y location, field type etc). Ideally this would come out as a CSV, but XML or other format would also be acceptable.

Theoretically, I would like to be able to take this exported data, and apply the same fields to a different PDF document.

Thank you

[try67]

You'll need to use a script, and study the various methods and properties of the Field object, in order to be able to do it.

For example, a field doesn't have a "width" or a "height" property. Its location is described by the "rect" property, which defines the top-left and bottom-right corners in an array of 4 numbers. From that array you can deduce the width, height, exact location on the page, etc.

And some things a script doesn't have access to at all. For example it can't know anything about the Format, Keystroke, Validation, Calculation or Actions associated with the field.

[rcshelto]

Thanks for the info try67. Do you know of an example script floating around? This is a relatively new area for me, and I'm not sure where the methods/properties of the Field object actually live, or how to get to them outside of Acrobat DC.

[try67]

All of this information is available in the JavaScript for Acrobat API Reference document, which is a part of the Acrobat SDK, which can be found here: https://www.adobe.com/devnet/acrobat.html

I've created similar tools in the past for my clients, so if you're interested in someone creating it for you (for a fee, of course), feel free to contact me privately via [try6767 at gmail.com].

[Bernd Alheit]

When you want use the same fields in a other document you can use replace pages.

[rcshelto]

Thanks for this tip. My current use case involves an outside software that is similar in some ways to Adobe, but not Adobe itself.