RE: PDF Documents

The only caveat to this scenario which Len shared with me offline is that they would like the response data to go back into the database on the iSeries after the recipient fills it out.

<Verndor Response>

With our web forms software, he can generate XML form documents on the iSeries, send them out as unique dissolvable URL email links, let the user fill in the response data via the web form, automatically update database on the iSeries with the response data when it's submitted.

This could also be done via a web application, but I mocked up his form as a web form in 20 minutes.

To be fair there's probably a couple days of RPG integration programming needed to generate his XML documents, but that's not rocket science nowadays.

</Verndor Response>

The other seemingly valid alternative would be to write his own web application to accomplish the same which is also doable, but could be time consuming.

I think PDF forms are out as it looks like Len has some interesting forms that can span multiple pages with individual lines that each need a response.

Regards,
Richard Schoen
RJS Software Systems Inc.
Where Information Meets Innovation
Document Management, Workflow, Report Delivery, Forms and Business Intelligence
Email: richard@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Web Site: http://www.rjssoftware.com
Tel: (952) 736-5800
Fax: (952) 736-5801
Toll Free: (888) RJSSOFT
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message: 2
date: Wed, 17 Nov 2010 20:27:11 -0800
from: "Craig Pelkie" <craig@xxxxxxxxxx>
subject: Re: PDF Documents

Having read through the rest of this thread, and learning that the document needs to include customer-specific data related to orders, Rob's suggestion of a Word form sounds like a workable solution.

1. Design Word mail-merge form, get data from IBM i into form for each customer.

2. Include Word form fields in the doc for the data you want the customer to enter.

3. Use Word "print to email" feature to send each generated doc to the customer, using their email address as supplied from the mail-merge step.

4. Customer can open the Word doc (which can be protected), they can only enter fields that you allow (text boxes, check boxes, drop-down list items).
Customer saves Word doc, sends it back to you.

PDF forms would be OK if you want to go to the work of putting together the process on your i to generate them. But if most/all of your customers have Word, that might work. Word forms / mail-merge have been around for a long time, it will work with Word 2003.

Craig Pelkie