Self-Hosted Document Editor (like Google Docs) - to print - pdf

I am looking to facilitate the users of my website with a google-doc like text editor, where the user can write and format text in the context of an A4-page rather than a HTML textbox, which can be saved on server later on.
The idea is that, later I can proceed to print the file on server-side, without asking the user to go through the File->Print from his browser and then re-upload the locally saved PDF, instead I would generate a printable format of the input.
A simple WYSIWIG editor won't do I believe, as it will not be able to edit address fields inside it, but feel free to prove me wrong!
Thanks!

Related

Blue Prism - Save and Read Pdf

I am trying to save a pdf which opens via Web link and after saving want to read all texts present in the PDF file.
I have tried to save it by sending "send keys" (CTRL+SHIFT+S) as used in BP but was not able to save it.
Also, for reading the data present in PDF(any other pdf) tried with sending key strokes CTRL+A and CTRL+C but was not successful.
Theoretically, (if you haven't done this already) you could create an object + model that attaches to the open (running).pdf instance, then with the spied element of save button/option in your .pdf, proceed from there with further elements/clicks to save it wherever you want. This should be a few clicks using Navigate stages. Same principle if you are using sendkeys; you still need to use the root element on the model that attaches/launches the .pdf. If you haven't done this, the sendkeys are just never going to work. As to capturing the contents, I am not aware of any downloadable VBOs that will do this, I know there are some from MS Word to capture stuff in tables, etc... into a Collection stage, but not for .pdf. You can try the sendkeys again once you are sure you are using the root element of the correct model, or you might have a go at creating your own solution using a code stage.

How to save data from javafx form to pdf?

I am trying to implement a functionality such that:
When a user clicks on save button, whole data fetched from database by javafx (scene builder)form to get stored into the pdf form.
I have done with the snapshot, but I want the data obtained via text form to be stored in in pdf file.
Can someone please help me ?
give "DynamicReports" a try, it's easy to use, and i am using it to generate PDF file in my javafx projects. simple and powerfull.
http://www.dynamicreports.org/
Not only PDF file, it can also help to generates Csv, Docs, Excel, Html, Odt, Pptx, Rtx, Text...
You have a snapshot of your scene.
You can use the JavaFX Printing API, with PrinterJob.
The trick is that when your print anything, your computer's own print spooler will ask you for a destination.
My computer offers "Microsoft Print to PDF" and "Save to PDF".
So the "PDF" feature is trivially easy. All you have to do is, figure out how to use the API.

PDF Form data Submission Via REST API / Web Services

I am having a PDF form that saves the data and validate the data entered by user e.g. a client information PDF document that takes client data and when user click on send button, it must post the data to the web service that further process it or saves to database.
I am using Acrobat Professional for this. Can anyone help in this?
Acrobat and Adobe Reader can submit form data to any URL using a button on the document and the "Submit a Form" action or via Acrobat JavaScript (probably unnecessary). You just need something on the server to interpret the data. If you submit as HTML, the submission will look just like query parameters where the key names are the same as the names of the fields and the values, same as the field values without the formatting. To the server, it looks like it was submitted from a standard HTML form so just about anything you have will be able to work with the submission.
You need to use Acrobat Pro to add this button to the document but then Standard and Reader can use it.
See https://helpx.adobe.com/acrobat/using/setting-action-buttons-pdf-forms.html
You can also submit as FDF or XFDF, an XML(ish) expression of FDF, in which case you'll want to use something like the FDF Toolkit to read it but based on your question, I don't think you need to do that.
3rd party edit
Information from the linked page
FDF
Returns the user input without sending back the underlying PDF file.
You can select options to include Field Data, Comments, and
Incremental Changes To The PDF.
XFDF
Returns the user input as an XML file. You can include Comments with
the field data or just the field data.

How to convert XDP to PDF in Adobe LiveCycle ES3 via HTTP REST request

I have: LiveCycle server (ES3, JBOSS), Workbench, Designer.
Using LC Desginer I convert PDF to XDP - it's template now.
Now I need to convert that XDP file to PDF.
So, I guess I should somehow call LiveCycle server by HTTP request, in body of this request I can send body of XDP document. All what I need from LC is just PDF.
Looks like simple task, but I can't find ANY information how to do this. I see a lot of examples how to do this in Java, but I don't need Java, I need to do it via HTTP (REST endpoint or SOAP if it's not possible).
Maybe I need to create some "application" in Workbench? If so, is there any step-by-step documentation? Or maybe somebody can explain me, how to do this. Maybe there is already build-in application in ES3 Server - I think it's very common and simple case.
UPD: I've opened job at Odesk for this issue, I promise to post solution here to share knowledge with community
As was promised, here is how to solve this issue:
It's not enough just put PDF into LiveCycle Designer. You exactly need to design form in LC Designer. You can use your PDF as template, but for all things which you want to fulfil by your custom data, you need to add objects in LC Designer (take a look at the "Insert" menu, try Table or Text Field) and add Data Connection in the "Data View" tab. I think it's pretty easy step for professionals, but it can take some time to get by beginners. Save results of your work as, for instance, Template.xdp file.
Also you now have the example of XML file - source of the data. Let's name it DataSource.xml
Now we can install LiveCycle Server. Best for LC ES3 is RHEL 5.5 (we spent around 2 days just to find correct combination of OS and settings). You'll need a clever system-administrator (or just experienced in Adobe LiveCycle :))
Server is working now, you can see web-interface, so let's create application in Adobe LiveCycle Workbench ES3. Add an application with new name and add a process to that application. It will take to many words to describe all steps of process, just take a look at screenshots of result (and notice variables also):
Now most easy part - call this app by the HTTP request. But we can't just send usual POST request to Adobe LiveCycle :) We have to send content of 2 files (Template.xdp and DataSource.xml) as multipart/form-data and names of the parts are the names of input variables (in my example is xmlTemplate and xmlData). And don't forget Authorization header with Basic authorization credentials.
In the Response you'll receive base64-encoded body of the PDF document.
Thanks to Thierry Stortenbeker for this application and for help and patience.
Yes, you have to create an LC application using workbench. Here is how to do it:
Create a new application in workbench using File -> New -> Application.
Create a new Process using the right click menu at the application.
Drop in renderPDF form activity from the activity and name it "renderPDFForm".
Select renderPDF form activity to add variables using the bottom pane of variables.
Add a variable of "Document" type and name it "inputXDP". We will use this to pass xdp file. Mark it to be "input" variable.
Add a variable of "Document" type and name it "outPDF". Mark it to be "output" variable.
Now double click renderPDFForm activity, this will open a property editor on the left side.
Expand "Input" section if not expanded already. Make sure "Form" to be picked up from variable. Then choose "inputXDP" from the dropdown.
Expand "Output" section if not expanded already. Make sure "Rendered Form" to be picked up from variable. Then choose "outPDF" variable from the dropdown.
Now deploy your application by right click menu on application.
That is it. You are ready to go. Now save the process and double click "default start point" to get the rest url where this service would be exposed. The rest url should look like http://localhost:8080/rest/services/RestFormRender/renderForm:1.0. Here RestFormRender is name of the application and renderForm is name of the process. Now make a GET/POST call to this REST url and specify XDP bytes in "inputXDP" request parameter.

Saving the modified contents of a pdf

I've got a form that I downloaded, I'd like to prefill some content on the form (this is easy using cfpdfform).
Where it gets tricky is I would like to allow the user to modify the contents of that form, and then somehow have those modified contents accessible to me. I didnt build the source PDF so I dont know how to allow the user to "save" the new contents so they can be read.
Any ideas on where I might start on this one?
You can also use the cfpdfform tag to read/write data to a PDF file which has a form. The important thing is that the PDF document already have the form fields available, or that you add them.
I just recently completed a task where I had to have a user fill out a normal web form, and then create a filled version of an existing PDF document. It worked like a breeze!
I think that depending on what you are trying to accomplish, having the user fill out the data in a web form is less confusing than serving up a PDF and expecting them to save that to update a file on a remote server. Just my opinion, though.
http://www.cfquickdocs.com/cf8/?getDoc=cfpdfform#cfpdfform
It's possible for users to complete most PDF forms in Adobe Reader, but when user's try to save the changes they get a popup prompting them that the PDF cannot be saved and would need to upgrade to Adobe Acrobat to have this functionality.
Since Acrobat 7 (or possibly) 8 it's possible to create a form so that it can be completed and saved in reader. In Acrobat open your PDF, and select Advanced -> Enable usage right in reader from the menu. This will prompt you to save the form and then anyone using Adobe reader can complete it.
Once that's done you can open the form in ColdFusion, populate some of the fields and serve it up to the user. Once they fill it in, save it and get it back in ColdFusion you can read the contents using the PDF related tags.
Please note: It's currently not possible to set the "enable usage rights in reader" flag from ColdFusion, you need a copy of Adobe Acrobat or access to Adobe LifeCycle server to do this.
This document may help you:
http://www.adobe.com/education/instruction/teach/coldfusion/CF8-2_advanced_cf8_development_unit8.pdf