populating a pdf from database with ASP

Report · Mar 05, 2008

Hi,

I have been tasked to see if it is possible to fill in
http://www.uses.doleta.gov/pdf/eta9061.pdf this government form and
several others dynamically from a database.

Does anyone have an idea if it can be done via ASP or am I looking at
recreating each form with HTML and filling in that way.
My main issue with this is if the government will accept the generated
forms that way.

Any ideas would be helpful.

Thanks in advance

Report · Mar 06, 2008

garth25 wrote:
> Hi,
>
> I have been tasked to see if it is possible to fill in
> http://www.uses.doleta.gov/pdf/eta9061.pdf this government form and
> several others dynamically from a database.
>
> Does anyone have an idea if it can be done via ASP or am I looking at
> recreating each form with HTML and filling in that way.
> My main issue with this is if the government will accept the generated
> forms that way.
>
>
> Any ideas would be helpful.
>
> Thanks in advance

I have just got my head around using ASPPDF from www.asppdf.com. Its a
component you install on your server. You can then dynamically create a
PDF or put content onto an existing PDF.

Steve

Report · Mar 06, 2008

> Does anyone have an idea if it can be done via ASP or am I looking at
> recreating each form with HTML and filling in that way.
> My main issue with this is if the government will accept the generated
> forms that way.

As a .gover myself, I have to deal with thie all the time.

The core problem is that .gov is *still* run on paper-forms, and solutions
like these are nothing but gigantic hacks that don't actually solve the core
issue: distributing and collecting data electronically.

If you zoom into that particular PDF example, you will note that it is not
'electronic' at all.

It's nothing more than a scanned piece of paper.

So, to get this to where the client would be happy, you're going to have to
first add PDF form fields to this PDF. Then be sure to put in the
apporpriate labels and extra text to make it accessible. Then you need to
create the data-base back end. Then you need to create an interface to get
the data to and from the PDF.

Then you're done.

Until they decide to slightly change the form.

Then look out.

Ultimately, this is a really dumb way to go about it. Granted, it'll be a
big chore to convince them of that. ;o)

Ideally, you'd take the simple route, as simple is often better. Make a web
form. Let people fill it out online. Once filled in, give them a printable
HTML form back.

Adobe has done an AMAZING job of firmly getting their foot in the .gov door,
and it's going to be REALLY hard to pry that foot out, but hopefully we'll
get there some day.

-Darrel