× The internal search function is temporarily non-functional. The current search engine is no longer viable and we are researching alternatives.
As a stop gap measure, we are using Google's custom search engine service.
If you know of an easy to use, open source, search engine ... please contact support@midrange.com.


  1.  Home
  2. JAVA400-L
  3. March 2007

Creating PDF with Variable Fields for FDF Downloads

I'm looking for pointers on the best approach to the following goal:
We want to allow end users or power users the ability to create a Web "form" such as a purchase order or invoice using an easy to use WYSIWYG builder such as MS WORD. Many WORD templates already exist for various forms and people know WORD. So users create WORD forms and THEN generate PDF from the WORD forms. The power user then places their newly created custom form on our Web server. Our code will then allow the users to extract data from DB2/400 and generate a FDF file using Java which will populate the PDF VARIABLE fields. Ideally users with basic WORD skill are now able to create dynamic web pages/forms. We have prototype code working for the FDF to PDF generation but the problem is:
What is the best way to have WORD or alternate solution create VARIABLE fields thus allowing a FDF to supply dynamic real time as400 data? When ever we save a WORD .DOC using any PDF writer creation software we are unable to retain or create the VARIABLE fields needed by FDFs. Any insight or experiences would be appreciated.
BTW... We are able to now do this with WORD being saved as WORDML (WML) and then merged with db2 data as well as WORD being saved as HTML parsed and replaced with runtime data. 

Thanks,  Paul Holm

As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.

This thread ...
Follow On AppleNews
Return to Archive home page | Return to MIDRANGE.COM home page

This mailing list archive is Copyright 1997-2024 by midrange.com and David Gibbs as a compilation work. Use of the archive is restricted to research of a business or technical nature. Any other uses are prohibited. Full details are available on our policy page. If you have questions about this, please contact [javascript protected email address].

Operating expenses for this site are earned using the Amazon Associate program and Google Adsense.