Adobe Community: Message List - How can I export a PDF form and the filled in fields to a text document?

Re: How can I export a PDF form and the filled in fields to a text document?

forums_noreply@adobe.com — Thu, 06 Nov 2014 09:00:12 GMT

There are several very basic mistakes in your code. I suggest you start by learning the core JS syntax (for example, here: JavaScript Tutorial), before moving on to more complex things.

Re: How can I export a PDF form and the filled in fields to a text document?

forums_noreply@adobe.com — Thu, 06 Nov 2014 02:22:26 GMT

OK, so I tried this as a starting point, and assigned it to a button on page 3 of the form.

p=0;
console.show();
console.clear();
for (var j = 0; j < this.getPageNumWords(p);j++) {
      var word = this.getPageNthWord(p,j,false);
      console.println(word);
}

This gives me all the words on the first page not in fields, and each word goes on a separate line. Now, characters in the document such as "&" or ")" cause the rest of the word to go on the next line down.

Next, I tried this:

console.show();
console.clear();
for (var j = 0; j < this.getPageNthWord(j);j++)
      var word = this.getPageNthWord(j,false);
      console.println(word);

This only gives me the first word on page 3, the page the button is placed?

What I need to do is run the code and place words on one line until the code hits a keyword "var cKeyWord1 = “Key1” for example?, then insert the value of field one, Start a new line in the console, restart the code where it left off until it hits the next key word "var cKeyWord2 = “Key2”, insert the value of field two, add a new line, and on and on.

Is this possible?

Re: How can I export a PDF form and the filled in fields to a text document?

forums_noreply@adobe.com — Wed, 05 Nov 2014 12:42:35 GMT

Awesome! I will get going on this tonight

Re: How can I export a PDF form and the filled in fields to a text document?

forums_noreply@adobe.com — Wed, 05 Nov 2014 12:40:17 GMT

The JavaScript API for Acrobat (and Reader) is available here: JavaScript for Acrobat | Adobe Developer Connection

What you'll basically need to do is use a loop with the getPageNthWord method of the Document object to extract the static text and then the getField method to retrieve the field objects and their values and locations. The most tricky part would be to determine where and when to insert the field values into the rest of the text. Also, you would need to find a way of exporting the final text somehow. You can't do it directly to a file (as Reader can't do that), so you might need to use some workarounds like a large text field, a dialog object, or even just the console window.

Re: How can I export a PDF form and the filled in fields to a text document?

forums_noreply@adobe.com — Wed, 05 Nov 2014 12:33:08 GMT

I do not however, I am somewhat familiar with coding, so as long as I can interpret the language, I should be good to go. This will be a good learning experience lol I learn best by doing it anyway As long as I have information translating the syntax, I should be OK

Re: How can I export a PDF form and the filled in fields to a text document?

forums_noreply@adobe.com — Wed, 05 Nov 2014 12:24:53 GMT

Do you have any experience in writing scripts for PDF files? This is quite

a complex task for a beginner.

Re: How can I export a PDF form and the filled in fields to a text document?

forums_noreply@adobe.com — Wed, 05 Nov 2014 12:00:20 GMT

I'm up for the challenge, especially if I only have to do it once and assign the script to a button .

Do you have any references to the command lines/scripts I would have to write? I assume the script would have to tell adobe something like:

[Place header value here]

[paragraph]

[place custom text here] [place field value here]

[paragraph]

[place custom text here] [place field value here]

etc. etc.

I could literally script to re-create the form in custom text and simply tell adobe where to place the field values? This would be ideal, I just need to know an example of what the script would look like

Basically this would leave the form as a graphical interface for the user, and I would only be outputting what the user entered in the form field data. The questions would be entered again as text into the script. I would also need to be able to generate a "yes" or "no" depending on what is checked in the radio boxes.

Re: How can I export a PDF form and the filled in fields to a text document?

forums_noreply@adobe.com — Wed, 05 Nov 2014 09:32:25 GMT

It might be possible with a script, but it's not going to be easy to

develop it, as you would have to figure out where to insert the value of

the form fields in the text stream of the page.

Re: How can I export a PDF form and the filled in fields to a text document?

forums_noreply@adobe.com — Wed, 05 Nov 2014 01:01:46 GMT

OK, so this.exportAsText() KIND of works in Pro except there is no simple formatting, such as adding each item to a different line. In adobe reader however, the button simply refuses to work. Any other suggestions?

Re: How can I export a PDF form and the filled in fields to a text document?

forums_noreply@adobe.com — Wed, 05 Nov 2014 00:47:13 GMT

Users are able to "Save As" a text file through adobe reader however, the only text exported are the questions in the base PDF, not the answers in the form fields. I will try the

this.exportAsText()

However, I do not know if this will work in Adobe Reader...

Re: How can I export a PDF form and the filled in fields to a text document?

forums_noreply@adobe.com — Wed, 05 Nov 2014 00:36:00 GMT

How exactly are the Adobe Reader users exporting the form to TXT format?

The method to use is

this.exportAsText()

This can be placed into a button that the user clicks when they have completed the form and are ready to export the text.

How can I export a PDF form and the filled in fields to a text document?

forums_noreply@adobe.com — Wed, 05 Nov 2014 00:22:45 GMT

OK, so I have a situation. I need people to be able to open a reader-enabled PDF form, fill out the form fields, and then export the filled-out PDF form to a basic text document. This seems easy since Adobe Reader can save to text. The problem is, the answers in the form fields do not show in the text file! Each radio button shows as yes and no, and there is no indication in the text file which one was selected. In addition, the form fields are not exported next to the questions on the form. I tried flattening the form in Adobe pro, and that did not work either.

How can I create a fillable form for Adobe Reader, and then let the user export their answers AND the questions on the form to plain text?