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Author Topic: Dynamic .pdf files  (Read 3301 times)

Offline Bill-R

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Dynamic .pdf files
« on: April 10, 2007, 05:14:48 PM »
I have just started to work with these and so I am still learning. I have created one that has 80 fields in it and my boss decided that he wants some changes to the .xls file that I used to create the pdf with.  So that means I have to create a new form and re-create all the interactive fields.  UNLESS somebody can tell me if you can swap out original pdf and keep the fields.  This would sure save me a lot of time.  

Thanks!
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Offline Bill-R

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« Reply #1 on: April 11, 2007, 10:32:16 AM »
OK I get it - Nobody knows the answer - but thanks for reading the post anyway!

 tongue.gif


I think I will just rebuild the entire thing.
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Offline Xairbusdriver

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Dynamic .pdf files
« Reply #2 on: April 11, 2007, 11:25:21 AM »
Sounds like "U da Man" when it comes to this topic! smile.gif I don't even use Acrobat Reader much, any more! blush-anim-cl.gif
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Offline RHPConsult

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« Reply #3 on: April 11, 2007, 09:30:35 PM »
For a Lurker Extraordinaire, Bill-R, you sure know how to pose a Puzzler Extrordinaire. biggrin.gif

What IS a dynamic pdf? coolio.gif

Does it require Acrobat (Writer + Reader), or . . . ?  huh.gif
« Last Edit: April 11, 2007, 09:31:51 PM by RHPConsult »
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Offline Bill-R

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« Reply #4 on: April 11, 2007, 09:56:52 PM »
Well I am not really sure that the term "dynamic" is the correct term.  Maybe more like interactive. Basically the one I made is a pdf form that can be downloaded and it has "active fields" that the user can fill in with there information and then it has a button at the bottom that prints a copy for them and then e-mails a copy to me.  I am in the pro-audio industry and I build custom audio cables and this form lets the customer specify the connectors and cable type that he wants.  It is very easy for them to fill out because it is filled with drop menu's of the kind of connectors we carry.  It also helps me because it is self explanatory and I don't have to call the customer and tell ask him a bunch of questions.  Anyway that is probably the long answer to your question.


As a side note - I want to do this as a web-form so that the customer can pick his connectors and then cable type and then the form will calculate the cost of the entire cable an add it to a cart.  But that is way beyond me an may not even be possible.
« Last Edit: April 12, 2007, 06:38:10 PM by Xairbusdriver »
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Offline RHPConsult

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« Reply #5 on: April 11, 2007, 11:12:13 PM »
Wow! Fascinating, Bill-R.

I have an "older" version of Adobe Writer, but I've never found (perhaps in error) the process by which I might be able to create a "dynamic/interactive" pdf that some reader elsewhere (presumably w/o Writer) could then complete and return.

Now that would be really helpful in aspects of my business, if that were at all possible. If I had to upgrade to the current version of Adobe Writer to be able to do so, I would quite enthusiastically.   clap.gif

What's the GIF for "news to me"?  Maybe this   doh.gif  or this   wallbash.gif  or even this salute.gif
« Last Edit: April 11, 2007, 11:13:03 PM by RHPConsult »
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Offline sandbox

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« Reply #6 on: April 11, 2007, 11:24:47 PM »
there may be a clue in here.... tutorial for indesign and interactive PDF's
http://www.computerarts.co.uk/tutorials/pr..._in_indesign_cs

or in the help files
« Last Edit: April 11, 2007, 11:29:33 PM by sandbox »
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Offline Bill-R

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« Reply #7 on: April 12, 2007, 12:15:32 AM »
Thanks Sandbox!


I have not had a chance to check it out in depth yet but at first glance it looks great!


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Offline dboh

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« Reply #8 on: April 12, 2007, 07:14:44 AM »
Acrobat also refers to your kind of pdfs as "fill in forms." You might try searching with that term too.
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Offline Xairbusdriver

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« Reply #9 on: April 12, 2007, 06:44:06 PM »
The html "form" part is quite easy. Formatting is a little less than perfect in some browsers.

The difficult part is the computations. A scripting language, like PHP is usually used, even javascript could do it, I think. I hit a stumbling block while 'teaching' myself PHP a few weeks ago. blush-anim-cl.gif I think the 'student' is somewhat deficient in mental capacity. Thinking.gif However, simple math is not that hard; it's the error checking that prevents stupid user responses being sent that really adds to the difficulty. If you don't mind those kind of errors getting through, I might be able to help. laugh.gif
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Offline RHPConsult

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« Reply #10 on: April 12, 2007, 08:11:36 PM »
The "form" I want the client to complete is largely qualitative in nature, with calculations required with the quantitative entries.
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Offline Bill-R

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« Reply #11 on: April 13, 2007, 01:50:59 PM »
Hi XABD
I just might call on you to help me out with the HTML.


What I need is hard to describe but think of a microphone cable - or any audio cable. They have a connector on one end some cable in the middle and a connector on the other end. So on the web form I want the same thing. A drop down menu with a list of connectors, then another with a list of cable types, then another that tells the length of the cable and then another with a list of connectors..  This way when a customer is wanting to have us build a custom cable he can select a connector then cable and then a connector with out having to ask what brands of connectors or cable we offer.  Now for the tricky part.  When  a customer selects a connector I want the form to calculate what that connector costs, and then the cable and length and then the other connector and then give the customer a total cost of what that custom cable is going to cost. Then, hopefully, let him add that to a shopping cart.  I hope that makes sense. If you have an idea how that might work, I may be looking for some help.  But that is next on my list of things to do.  Right now I just need to get these pdf's on a web page so I can get started on getting some orders.

Bill
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Offline Parker

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Dynamic .pdf files
« Reply #12 on: April 13, 2007, 03:16:04 PM »
my buddy chip knows how to make dynamic PDF files. i'll send this to him and see if he knows any answers.

-Parker
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