[opensuse] Is it possible to edit and save PDF forms?
-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- Hash: SHA1 Hi, In my country our administration is using PDF forms that we can print and fill, or fill in the PC and print - but we can not save them, which is a nuisance. Acrobat Reader - which is is the only PDF reader that allows filling PDF forms in Linux (neither kpdf or evince even tries to work) - simply refuses to save form data. It only saves the empty form. According to <http://kb.adobe.com/selfservice/viewContent.do?externalId=328647&sliceId=2> we need to use another version of the reader, called "standard", which I assume is not free (as in beer). Or, alternatively, the form owner has to generate a "rights-enabled PDF form" using "Adobe LiveCycle Reader Extensions", which I think it is a server solution. Ie, works online somehow. We have tried generating our own forms to try this. Using OO-writer we can create a form. If this form is exported to PDF, the resulting PDF is a form with the proper fields, but acroread gives the warning that form data can not be saved, the same result as we knew. However, one of the options when generating the PDF in OO is precisely in which way I want the data to be saved later. The reader does not respect this, but there is no other reader in Linux that can even edit forms. So... is there any other PDF reader in Linux that allows editing and saving PDF forms? An open one. Are there plans to add that capability to the existing or new viewers? Are there legal problems? - -- Cheers, Carlos Robinson -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: GnuPG v1.4.5 (GNU/Linux) Comment: Made with pgp4pine 1.76 iD8DBQFGvi/rtTMYHG2NR9URAjM9AJ9GrXyosN1WAl7lKfe155ordBnB0gCdH7xE f6ZOPfMrAyMnryBhHFp/osI= =ILA/ -----END PGP SIGNATURE----- -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org
So... is there any other PDF reader in Linux that allows editing and saving PDF forms? An open one. Are there plans to add that capability to the existing or new viewers? Are there legal problems? I use Acrobat Reader to fill in the forms, and then print them to the
On 08/12/2007 05:53 AM, Carlos E. R. wrote: pdf printer to generate a new filled in pdf file. You cannot save the filled in form, only print. You can also print to a ps file and use ps2pdf to create a pdf file, which I have also done. This works when the pdf printer's ghostscript has a problem with the converting the file for some reason. -- Joe Morris Registered Linux user 231871 running openSUSE 10.2 x86_64 -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org
-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- Hash: SHA1 The Sunday 2007-08-12 at 06:16 +0800, Joe Morris (NTM) wrote:
So... is there any other PDF reader in Linux that allows editing and saving PDF forms? An open one. Are there plans to add that capability to the existing or new viewers? Are there legal problems? I use Acrobat Reader to fill in the forms, and then print them to the
On 08/12/2007 05:53 AM, Carlos E. R. wrote: pdf printer to generate a new filled in pdf file. You cannot save the filled in form, only print. You can also print to a ps file and use ps2pdf to create a pdf file, which I have also done. This works when the pdf printer's ghostscript has a problem with the converting the file for some reason.
Ah, yes, I know that trick. But this time I wanted to know if there is another PDF reader for linux that has that capability straight away. In theory, it should be able to save the data (not the full form) in fdf format, pdf, html or xml. It seems that the acrobat reader version 5 had that capability, but in 6 or 7 they removed it and now charge extra if you want it. - -- Cheers, Carlos E. R. -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: GnuPG v1.4.5 (GNU/Linux) Comment: Made with pgp4pine 1.76 iD8DBQFGvj18tTMYHG2NR9URAqfJAJ4jPSfDuFbiP9F/hxueox3k9xbGawCffTWU JuOgBAFenkEwPpgiCcQ78Y4= =nLIe -----END PGP SIGNATURE----- -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org
On Saturday 11 August 2007 15:53, Carlos E. R. wrote:
Hi,
In my country our administration is using PDF forms that we can print and fill, or fill in the PC and print - but we can not save them, which is a nuisance.
Acrobat Reader - which is is the only PDF reader that allows filling PDF forms in Linux (neither kpdf or evince even tries to work) - simply refuses to save form data. It only saves the empty form. According to <http://kb.adobe.com/selfservice/viewContent.do?externalId=328647&sliceId=2
we need to use another version of the reader, called "standard", which I assume is not free (as in beer). Or, alternatively, the form owner has to generate a "rights-enabled PDF form" using "Adobe LiveCycle Reader Extensions", which I think it is a server solution. Ie, works online somehow.
< snip> Hi Carlos, At work various pdf forms are available and I've been able to save many of them using the version of acrobat that comes with openSUSE 10.2 (+ whatever updates have come out). These are simple forms with dates, text fields, number fields, etc. Not all forms are like that of course, but there ARE some that work. Unfortunately, I can't help you with getting this to work, other than to let you know that it is possible. -- Don -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org
On Saturday 11 August 2007, Carlos E. R. wrote:
Hi,
In my country our administration is using PDF forms that we can print and fill, or fill in the PC and print - but we can not save them, which is a nuisance. [...]
We have tried generating our own forms to try this.
Using OO-writer we can create a form. If this form is exported to PDF, the resulting PDF is a form with the proper fields, but acroread gives the warning that form data can not be saved, the same result as we knew.
However, one of the options when generating the PDF in OO is precisely in which way I want the data to be saved later. The reader does not respect this, but there is no other reader in Linux that can even edit forms.
So... is there any other PDF reader in Linux that allows editing and saving PDF forms? An open one. Are there plans to add that capability to the existing or new viewers? Are there legal problems?
-- Cheers, Carlos Robinson ===========
Carlos, Have you tried the newer 1.6.3 Koffice for this? I just got a new build the other day, loaded a PDF file in full editable form into KWord and of course, you can save as PDF from KWord or print to pdf. Also, check out "cups-pdf", which allows you to create a virtual printer for direct saving/printing to a very good pdf file! regards, Lee -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org
-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- Hash: SHA1 The Saturday 2007-08-11 at 22:41 -0400, BandiPat wrote:
Have you tried the newer 1.6.3 Koffice for this? I just got a new build the other day, loaded a PDF file in full editable form into KWord and of course, you can save as PDF from KWord or print to pdf.
I assume you mean kword. Yes, kword can open PDF, and modify them, but that's not the intention. The intention is to open a PDF Form as in Acroread, where you can only fill the fields the author left for filling, and not being able to touch anything else. There is a special version of acroread that allows saving the data: that's what I want, in Linux, and free. In fact, I just opened a test PDF in kword and the text flow was broken. That would be unacceptable if I were to submit such a for to the administration. I just tried to open one of their official forms and it took two..three minutes to open it. These things include calculations and possibly javascript. When it finished opening it, the appearance is very far from the correct one.
Also, check out "cups-pdf", which allows you to create a virtual printer for direct saving/printing to a very good pdf file!
I see no cups-pdf in opensuse 10.2. Is it new in 10.3, perhaps? :-? I have my ways to print to pdf, but that wasn't my exact question, anyway. - -- Cheers, Carlos E. R. -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: GnuPG v1.4.5 (GNU/Linux) Comment: Made with pgp4pine 1.76 iD8DBQFGvvQqtTMYHG2NR9URAu4dAJ9SsuEm2sG1YEqONCvq58V7eQaUlgCfWQUJ nrzIeXQ0pqd8ylQAI+dWNSs= =d0Dy -----END PGP SIGNATURE----- -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org
On Sunday 12 August 2007, Carlos E. R. wrote:
The Saturday 2007-08-11 at 22:41 -0400, BandiPat wrote:
Have you tried the newer 1.6.3 Koffice for this? I just got a new build the other day, loaded a PDF file in full editable form into KWord and of course, you can save as PDF from KWord or print to pdf.
I assume you mean kword. Yes, kword can open PDF, and modify them, but that's not the intention. The intention is to open a PDF Form as in Acroread, where you can only fill the fields the author left for filling, and not being able to touch anything else. There is a special version of acroread that allows saving the data: that's what I want, in Linux, and free.
In fact, I just opened a test PDF in kword and the text flow was broken. That would be unacceptable if I were to submit such a for to the administration.
I just tried to open one of their official forms and it took two..three minutes to open it. These things include calculations and possibly javascript. When it finished opening it, the appearance is very far from the correct one. ************* Yes, you're right, if you are just wanting to "fill" out the form and resave as PDF, kword would be overkill, but it is good to know we have something that can now edit a pdf easily.
Also, check out "cups-pdf", which allows you to create a virtual printer for direct saving/printing to a very good pdf file!
I see no cups-pdf in opensuse 10.2. Is it new in 10.3, perhaps? :-?
I have my ways to print to pdf, but that wasn't my exact question, anyway.
-- Cheers, Carlos E. R. ========== I believe this would be your easiest solution to your problem. Fill out the form in acroread, then print it to pdf using the cups-pdf virtual printer. Simple and straight forward. I don't remember the mirror for cups-pdf, but remember seeing someone here mention it in another thread. I'm using Zenwalk Linux right now, so am not keeping up with all of SuSE's mirrors & programs so much.
regards, Lee -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org
-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- Hash: SHA1 The Sunday 2007-08-12 at 09:58 -0400, BandiPat wrote:
I just tried to open one of their official forms and it took two..three minutes to open it. These things include calculations and possibly javascript. When it finished opening it, the appearance is very far from the correct one. ************* Yes, you're right, if you are just wanting to "fill" out the form and resave as PDF, kword would be overkill, but it is good to know we have something that can now edit a pdf easily.
It is an overkill, but the form is displayed incorrectly. The end result is not admisible.
Also, check out "cups-pdf", which allows you to create a virtual printer for direct saving/printing to a very good pdf file!
I see no cups-pdf in opensuse 10.2. Is it new in 10.3, perhaps? :-?
I have my ways to print to pdf, but that wasn't my exact question, anyway.
========== I believe this would be your easiest solution to your problem. Fill out the form in acroread, then print it to pdf using the cups-pdf virtual printer. Simple and straight forward. I don't remember the mirror for cups-pdf, but remember seeing someone here mention it in another thread. I'm using Zenwalk Linux right now, so am not keeping up with all of SuSE's mirrors & programs so much.
That's not the problem. I can always print to file and convert to pdf in many ways. That has never been the problem. You don't understand. I want a PDF viewer that can save the form data in one of the expected formats: FDF, PDF, HTML, XML. Nothing more, nothing less. - -- Cheers, Carlos E. R. -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: GnuPG v1.4.5 (GNU/Linux) Comment: Made with pgp4pine 1.76 iD8DBQFGvx/OtTMYHG2NR9URAquRAKCAoMG+Cwc/LObRkC2Px76Otf419wCfRq7H +1t7jEOY4L8ep9aRNW6pnX4= =1l7S -----END PGP SIGNATURE----- -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org
On Sun, August 12, 2007 4:51 am, Carlos E. R. wrote:
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The Saturday 2007-08-11 at 22:41 -0400, BandiPat wrote:
Have you tried the newer 1.6.3 Koffice for this? I just got a new build the other day, loaded a PDF file in full editable form into KWord and of course, you can save as PDF from KWord or print to pdf.
I assume you mean kword. Yes, kword can open PDF, and modify them, but that's not the intention. The intention is to open a PDF Form as in Acroread, where you can only fill the fields the author left for filling, and not being able to touch anything else. There is a special version of acroread that allows saving the data: that's what I want, in Linux, and free.
Here's an example of a form-fillable pdf from my employer... http://easier.co.la.ca.us/JobsInfo/empapp.pdf ...which you can fill out in *nix but not save unless you're in Wintendo.
In fact, I just opened a test PDF in kword and the text flow was broken. That would be unacceptable if I were to submit such a for to the administration.
I just tried to open one of their official forms and it took two..three minutes to open it. These things include calculations and possibly javascript. When it finished opening it, the appearance is very far from the correct one.
Also, check out "cups-pdf", which allows you to create a virtual printer for direct saving/printing to a very good pdf file!
I see no cups-pdf in opensuse 10.2. Is it new in 10.3, perhaps? :-?
I have my ways to print to pdf, but that wasn't my exact question, anyway.
Yeah, I suppose you could print to another PDF but that doesn't solve the "issue." I just asked Adobe when this feature will be available. -- kai -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org
On Sunday 12 August 2007 07:37, Kai Ponte wrote:
...
I just asked Adobe when this feature will be available.
Are people in this discussion aware that Adobe Reader for Mac OS X and Windows is now at version 8.1 while we on Linux are still relegated to version 7.0? Adobe has always dragged its feet when it comes to releasing the Linux version of Adobe Reader (formerly Acrobat Reader)
-- kai
Randall Schulz -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org
-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- Hash: SHA1 The Sunday 2007-08-12 at 07:45 -0700, Randall R Schulz wrote:
On Sunday 12 August 2007 07:37, Kai Ponte wrote:
...
I just asked Adobe when this feature will be available.
Are people in this discussion aware that Adobe Reader for Mac OS X and Windows is now at version 8.1 while we on Linux are still relegated to version 7.0? Adobe has always dragged its feet when it comes to releasing the Linux version of Adobe Reader (formerly Acrobat Reader)
We have tried both windows and linux with Adobe Reader (free edition), and the problem is the same, even with version 8. The problem can be solved in windows using the "Standard" edition, which is not free. The other solution is to use "LiveCycle" from adobe to generate a "rights-enabled PDF form": ] Using Adobe LiveCycle Reader Extensions, you can create a rights-enabled ] PDF form that lets Adobe Reader users comment on, fill, save, ] distribute, submit, and add digital signatures to the form. When you ] open a rights-enabled PDF form in Adobe Reader, a dialog box appears ] outlining the extended capabilities of the PDF file. This, of course, I have not tried, as I'm not the one creating those pdfs. - -- Cheers, Carlos E. R. -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: GnuPG v1.4.5 (GNU/Linux) Comment: Made with pgp4pine 1.76 iD8DBQFGvyEStTMYHG2NR9URAhX3AJwPL/GcRC6tfjVDu8yLGYiMiHiu3wCfTrRQ U3+I8hqxqbOE0kH+4plJlC0= =jeZ7 -----END PGP SIGNATURE----- -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org
-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- Hash: SHA1 The Sunday 2007-08-12 at 07:37 -0700, Kai Ponte wrote:
Here's an example of a form-fillable pdf from my employer...
...which you can fill out in *nix but not save unless you're in Wintendo.
I can't test that myself, but I'll pass that on to check. ...
Yeah, I suppose you could print to another PDF but that doesn't solve the "issue."
I just asked Adobe when this feature will be available.
No, the feature was _removed_. I'm told that adobe 5.x had that feature, and that now we need the "standard" reader, which is not free. I don't even know yet if there is a linux version of it. And they are pushing pdf to become an ISO standard... - -- Cheers, Carlos E. R. -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: GnuPG v1.4.5 (GNU/Linux) Comment: Made with pgp4pine 1.76 iD8DBQFGvyKetTMYHG2NR9URAsK+AJ0Qu0M72CCKwTtETCXHL01GLX/FCwCggSW+ nPitf/KCpa7jE9YJugPPRYA= =vrlj -----END PGP SIGNATURE----- -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org
-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- Hash: SHA1 The Sunday 2007-08-12 at 17:09 +0200, Carlos E. R. wrote:
The Sunday 2007-08-12 at 07:37 -0700, Kai Ponte wrote:
Here's an example of a form-fillable pdf from my employer...
...which you can fill out in *nix but not save unless you're in Wintendo.
I can't test that myself, but I'll pass that on to check.
Ok, a friend has tried it in with reader 8 in a windows 2000, and no, saving is not possible. It pops the known message saying so. If you can save it in windows it is because you don't use the free reader. - -- Cheers, Carlos E. R. -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: GnuPG v1.4.5 (GNU/Linux) Comment: Made with pgp4pine 1.76 iD8DBQFGv2sCtTMYHG2NR9URAtlVAKCOTdFjcnNUjzV396VsqC0eKHo7/gCgl/Kp BJe27UrWBtnLk0pfVtFEKGw= =Dlc0 -----END PGP SIGNATURE----- -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org
On Sat, August 11, 2007 2:53 pm, Carlos E. R. wrote:
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Hi,
In my country our administration is using PDF forms that we can print and fill, or fill in the PC and print - but we can not save them, which is a nuisance.
Acrobat Reader - which is is the only PDF reader that allows filling PDF forms in Linux
AFAIK, the only product which will actually save the form data along with the form is the Wintendo version of Acrobat Professional. Though I've gotten in and edited PDF data I've yet to actually save it in a form using *nix. Want to write something? :p -- kai www.perfectreign.com -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org
-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- Hash: SHA1 The Saturday 2007-08-11 at 22:32 -0700, Kai Ponte wrote:
AFAIK, the only product which will actually save the form data along with the form is the Wintendo version of Acrobat Professional.
Adobe says that their "Acrobat Standard" reader does it: ] Acrobat Standard capabilities ] ] Acrobat Standard contains all the capabilities of Adobe Reader, in ] addition to the following: ] ] -- Export and save PDF forms in Forms Data Format (FDF). FDF is a text ] file format specifically for data exported from PDF form fields. FDF ] files are significantly smaller than PDF files because they contain only ] form field data, not the entire form. ] ] -- Save or Export PDF form information as a PDF file or in XFDF format ] for XML-based FDF files.
Though I've gotten in and edited PDF data I've yet to actually save it in a form using *nix.
Acroread is the only viewer included with suse Linux that displays and allows editing of form fields. The rest just display the form, but do not allow filling them. None will save the contents. I heard of a product named "cabaret" that claims to be able to do it, and it has a Linux version (for home use, I think). http://www.cabaret-solutions.com/en/products/ I haven't tried it yet.
Want to write something? :p
Ha! No skills for that :-p - -- Cheers, Carlos E. R. -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: GnuPG v1.4.5 (GNU/Linux) Comment: Made with pgp4pine 1.76 iD8DBQFGvvShtTMYHG2NR9URAmTDAJwMclUt0ZToe+ezFQ9CxmNm4xLuOwCfY5+g tcXfZihukGPmTmf5oO8+7TA= =fViz -----END PGP SIGNATURE----- -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org
On Sun, August 12, 2007 4:53 am, Carlos E. R. wrote:
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The Saturday 2007-08-11 at 22:32 -0700, Kai Ponte wrote:
AFAIK, the only product which will actually save the form data along with the form is the Wintendo version of Acrobat Professional.
Adobe says that their "Acrobat Standard" reader does it:
] Acrobat Standard capabilities ] ] Acrobat Standard contains all the capabilities of Adobe Reader, in ] addition to the following:
Okay, it appears they've munged the names. I've always used Acrobat Reader and Acrobat Pro. They may be calling it "Standard" now.
I heard of a product named "cabaret" that claims to be able to do it, and it has a Linux version (for home use, I think).
http://www.cabaret-solutions.com/en/products/
I haven't tried it yet.
I downloaded it and ran it. So far, no luck. It is Java-based and launches okay, but I cannot open a file or click on any of the menus without locking my system. Will keep trying.
Want to write something? :p
Ha! No skills for that :-p
You are under rating yourself!! -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org
-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- Hash: SHA1 The Sunday 2007-08-12 at 09:36 -0700, Kai Ponte wrote:
Adobe says that their "Acrobat Standard" reader does it:
] Acrobat Standard capabilities ] ] Acrobat Standard contains all the capabilities of Adobe Reader, in ] addition to the following:
Okay, it appears they've munged the names. I've always used Acrobat Reader and Acrobat Pro. They may be calling it "Standard" now.
No, it is a different version with some extra capabilities, priced at 300$, and only for windows: http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobatpro/acrobatstd.html The other product that can save the data is the profesional version. Three versions, I think.
I heard of a product named "cabaret" that claims to be able to do it, and it has a Linux version (for home use, I think).
http://www.cabaret-solutions.com/en/products/
I haven't tried it yet.
I downloaded it and ran it. So far, no luck. It is Java-based and launches okay, but I cannot open a file or click on any of the menus without locking my system.
Locking the system!? :-(
Will keep trying.
Want to write something? :p
Ha! No skills for that :-p
You are under rating yourself!!
Thanks :-) but I'm not a linux programmer, and as a dos/win one I'm rusty. - -- Cheers, Carlos E. R. -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: GnuPG v1.4.5 (GNU/Linux) Comment: Made with pgp4pine 1.76 iD8DBQFGv3UVtTMYHG2NR9URAv8aAJ0a9g14YFCGCOAVM2T5ChE/JpquugCfV8Mz XkWjvPKgm/ru7qw2MZ8nBt4= =pTqu -----END PGP SIGNATURE----- -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org
participants (6)
-
BandiPat -
Carlos E. R. -
Don Raboud -
Joe Morris (NTM) -
Kai Ponte -
Randall R Schulz