Batch alter existing PDF files - pdf

I have 1700 PDF datasheets that contain a set of text and image boxes. The underlying template of each datasheet is the same, but the contents of the boxes vary. I'd like to find a program that lets me take the modified text box contents (summarized in an excel table) and repopulate the original sheets.
I have extracted the information from the text boxes using the "Merge Data files into an excel file" under the Prepare Form tool in Adobe DC and have used a variety of =Substitute functions in excel to change the contents of the text boxes to what I want. What I would like to do now is use a program to go back to the original .PDF and overwrite the original fields. I would just run a mail merge on this normally, but I don't have access to the images anymore so the image boxes would be blank.
Alternatively I've considered using something like Pulover Macro Creator to step through the excel list and paste in the contents into every sheet, but I'm hoping that there's an existing piece of software to do this.

Related

Visio macro to save a macro-free file

I have a series of complex charts to draw, so I have written a macro that takes a set of instructions from a CSV file and draws them appropriately. This works, but I need to manually save the produced page as a .vsdx file (i.e. without my macro code) after the fact.
What I'd like to do is specify the filename in the input file and have it produce a macro-free visio file of that name.
I've tried
Application.ActiveDocument.SaveAs filename
but this immediately generates a run-time error: "VB projects cannot be saved in macro-free files".
I understand that - I don't want my macro code in each of the (dozens of) flow charts I'm drawing. How can I suppress this error?
Thanks in advance.
If you want to have your macro(s) stored in a document file, then you'd want to have your macro generate a new document in which you draw your complex charts. But as #y4cine commented, you need to keep your code separate from your content, if you want to save your content as macro-free files.
Otherwise you may be able to set Application.AlertResponse to whatever response Visio asks interactively when you try to save a file that has a macro as a macro-free format.

Live updating from a .txt file to PowerPoint textbox

Quick note: I have no background/experience with VBA so will need some explanation as to what is going on.
I've wrote a Python script to pull the latest XML data from an IoT sensor (temperature readings) and store it in a text file. I would know like to get this data displaying on a PowerPoint, but this data could change during the PowerPoint, and I would like the PowerPoint slide to be able to update, receiving changes to re-display an updated version of the data.
To summarise: Currently, I have a text file with the data that needs to be read and need a VBA script to read it and place it into a textbox with live updates.
This is what I have found so far:
http://www.pptfaq.com/FAQ00124_Read_in_text_from_an_ascii_file-.htm
The above page shows a VBA script that opens a .txt file and reads it until the EOF. I am not certain how this script would output to a textbox though.
Thanks in advance.

Save excel as pdf changing its orientation to horizontal

I have an excel sheet with too many columns, so when I save it as a PDF the file its in too many pages and its not easy to read . I need to save the sheet as pdf but before I want to change its orientation to horizontal so I can read the pdf with no problem. Is the same you can do when you print but I want it when I save an excel file as pdf.
Is there any option I can choose?
I dont mind if someone gives me a code for a macro using my selection as an object.
Under the "Page Layout" tab, click the "Orientation" option and then select "Landscape."
Then create your PDF as usual.
You can save Excel files in PDF, even without using Excel. I use a program Universal Document Converter (http://www.print-driver.com/how-to/save-excel-as-pdf). This program allows you to quickly and easily create print-ready PDF-files on the basis of the original spreadsheets Excel.

Locking text fields in embedded document

I have been tasked with updating a spreadsheet that produces a report by replacing text in a template. Previously, the worksheet referenced an outside/separate file-- my job is to get it working in an embedded document.
I currently have text form fields for every input I want to insert within the embedded document template. As it stands, users can edit the document template however they like, but if they accidentally erase a text form field (again, where text is replaced via the vba macro) then it will break the macro and the spreadsheet will be useless.
My question:
Is there some way to lock or protect text form fields such that the rest of the document is editable? I essentially want to have the inverse of a "text form field only" protection.
Alternatively, is there a better way to approach this project? I'm thinking of leaving the spreadsheet as is, but including a "reset" button bringing the template back to it's original state if anything breaks. If I did this method, this would require there NOT to be an external file. Attempts to do this so far have proven unsuccessful.
My general methodology/algorithm goes as follows:
Open the reference document
Replace all the text form fields via bookmarks with plain text,
making sure to reassign the bookmarks afterward (so as to not lose
them if they run the macro more than once).
Save the embedded document as a .doc with the inputs inserted
Replace all bookmarked inputs with text form fields to return the
template to its original state
Any information would be IMMENSELY appreciated. I am slowly running out of time and am feeling stuck.
Many thanks!
-Sooji

Transferring Rich Text data from Access to Word

I've been saddled with supporting an old Access 2003 database (with SQL backend) produced by a now out-of-business contractor.
The database includes several 'unconventional' reports. They all use Automation through VBA to output fields directly to a Word document. Kind of like this (pseudo code):
for each row{
output(row.id);
moveRight();
output(row.firstName);
newLine();
}
Etc.
The problem is, the database includes several rich text fields. To output these (including their formatting) to the document, the developer opens a separate Access form, with a single rich text control, and pulls the appropriate field into the text box.
He then does a 'select all, copy', flicks back to Word, and then pastes the text.
My task is to add a new rich text field to a report, and I feel there must be a better way of doing this...
Ah! A duplicate question apparently.
Here's the answer:
Word Automation: Write RTF text without going through clipboard