9 Replies Latest reply: Oct 20, 2014 8:28 AM by Mike Tulak RSS

    Android mobile does not work with submit fdf format

    Mike Tulak Community Member

      I want to gather data by mobile device (Android) as JavaScript does not work well in this environment, I intend importing the gathered data into a report PDF form with JavaScript functions etc., however the Acrobat mobile reader does not appear to work with the submit function for sending data (FDF format) by E Mail.

       

      We are using Acrobat XI in most cases to gather this data and this works well, however we are experimenting with mobile options which are very limiting, and therefore we thought by just gathering the data on a mobile device we could import it into our working windows pdf form, our trials using this concept in a windows environment work, but we stumbled once we found that the submit button does not work in the android reader to send the FDF data.

       

      Does anyone know of a work around?

       

      Regards Mike

        • 1. Re: Android mobile does not work with submit fdf format
          GKaiseril CommunityMVP

          That is one of many issues with the mobile PDF reader apps.

          • 2. Re: Android mobile does not work with submit fdf format
            George_Johnson CommunityMVP

            Consider using Adobe's FormsCentral. Adobe Reader for Android and iOS can submit a PDF form, and it will be secure and more reliable than email. The data will get stored in the form's responses table and you and ant team members will have access to the data to view, download, etc. It can be configured to send an email for each submission.

            • 3. Re: Android mobile does not work with submit fdf format
              Mike Tulak Community Member

              Thanks George, the form is an audit, and used currently around the world, most of these areas where we use it don't have access to a suitable WiFi connection hence the use of pdf, also the scores are presented in a bar graph (like a dash board concept) within the pdf with JavaScript, tried using FormsCemtral with this form and it had issues with some of my javascript, so basically I am stuck with either a windows tablet, or gathering mobile data and converting to FDF so I can present the final report,

               

              The third party PDF readers tend to support some issues better, Nitro windows reader for example allows you to add Jpg images into the button function, Maybe will try there mobile version to see if they support FDF

               

              Thanks Mike

              • 4. Re: Android mobile does not work with submit fdf format
                Mike Tulak Community Member

                Thanks G.Kaiseril, I am sorry I went down this route now, every enhancement throws up issues, and nearly everything is now focused on FormsCentral, its a great idea if you have permanent access to the internet and useless if you don't !

                 

                Mike

                • 5. Re: Android mobile does not work with submit fdf format
                  George_Johnson CommunityMVP

                  Not at all. One of the great things about using PDF forms with FormsCentral is the users don't need to have internet access to fill-in and save the forms, and another is it works with Android/iOS mobile devices . Users can submit when they do have internet access, just as with email, but it's a lot more reliable and secure. A service like this that also provides very low cost access to restriction free usage rights has been a missing link for quite a while.

                  • 6. Re: Android mobile does not work with submit fdf format
                    Mike Tulak Community Member

                    George, I thought that FormsCentral was a web based form only I was unaware that it does not need internet access (obviously it will to download and submit), does FormCentral convert all my JavaScript within the pdf etc or are there conversion limitations?

                     

                    Regards Mike

                    • 7. Re: Android mobile does not work with submit fdf format
                      George_Johnson CommunityMVP

                      FormsCentral can be a bit confusing, so I'll try to clarify some things. It allows you to work with two completely different types of forms: web forms and PDF forms. Web forms are HTML forms and are hosted on the FormsCentral server and loaded into and submitted via the user's browser, so web forms do require internet access.

                       

                      FormsCentral can also process submissions from PDF forms, and the forms can either originate from Acrobat or the FormsCentral designer, either the desktop app that comes with Acrobat 11 or the browser-based app. The FormsCentral designer allows you to create PDF forms with simple layouts, whereas Acrobat gives you much more flexibility. Designing a PDF form in FormsCentral can be helpful if you want to be able to use the same form for both a web form and a PDF form, allowing to to take advantage of each type at the same time, but you are not limited to PDF forms that are created by the FormsCentral designer.

                       

                      Regardless of how the PDF was created, it can be set up to submit the form data to the FormsCentral server, which is done using the same format as a web form. It is done securely using HTTPS. There are certain features that are supported with PDF forms that aren't supported by FormsCentral, but this is usually not a problem. The most significant limitation is the 500 field limitation, so some larger forms aren't possible.

                       

                      Once you have a PDF form created in Acrobat, you simply import it into FormsCentral and it gets uploaded to the FormsCentral server, where it is Reader-enabled, a submit button is automatically added, and is then downloaded so you can distribute it by placing it on your web site, sending by email, etc. So unlike web forms, FormsCentral does not host them for you.

                       

                      It is possible to use Acrobat to modify the PDF that you download, first by selecting in Acrobat "File > Save a Copy", opening the copy, and making the changes. This is often done to change the submit button (size, location, other properties) of the submit button that gets added. You can then Reader-enable in Acrobat if needed and distribute the form.

                       

                      Since it's a normal PDF form that is Reader-enabled, Reader users will be able to open it, fill it in, and save it at any time using Reader for Windows/Mac or Reader for Android/iOS. The latter currently only support submitting via email or to FormsCentral, as opposed to your own web server. Once the user has access to the internet, they can open the form and press the submit button. If the submit is successful, the FormsCentral server returns a response so the user gets some feedback, unlike with email "submits".

                       

                      Each submission is automatically stored in the responses table, which you and team members can view at any time. An individual response can be downloaded as a filled-in PDF, or you can download the entire table and import the data into a spreadsheet for further analysis. As mentioned earlier, you can set it up so that you and others can receive an email for each submission, and it can include the form data in the body of the email if wanted.

                       

                      Post again if you have any questions, or go to the FormsCentral forum here. The forum is generally very good, but sometimes questions about PDF forms are not answered entirely accurately, so it's sometime helpful to post here too.

                      • 8. Re: Android mobile does not work with submit fdf format
                        George_Johnson CommunityMVP

                        Regarding JavaScript, it does not convert it at all, but some things are not supported with the mobile versions. The custom format/keystroke/validate/calculation methods that you can set up in Acrobat are supported, as are custom JavaScripts that you limit to what's supported, which is documented here: JavaScript for Reader Mobile API Reference (iOS)

                         

                        This is obviously pretty limited support, but more is slowly being added. If they could only add support for the "display" and "valueAsString" field properties, it would be a significant improvement. Note that document-level script aren't supported, so you have to include all code in field events.

                        • 9. Re: Android mobile does not work with submit fdf format
                          Mike Tulak Community Member

                          Thanks George a very comprehensive reply and a great help in helping me forward

                           

                          Thanks  Mike