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Groups > comp.os.linux.advocacy > #412069

Re: Need Help/Confirmation of PDF Problem [UNSOLVED]

From owl <owl@rooftop.invalid>
Newsgroups comp.os.linux.advocacy
Subject Re: Need Help/Confirmation of PDF Problem [UNSOLVED]
Date 2017-04-29 21:00 +0000
Organization O.W.L.
Message-ID <zcvcz803.ag@rooftop.invalid> (permalink)
References (3 earlier) <odutto$95t$1@deskrabbit.motzarella.org> <odv2hl0ttp@news4.newsguy.com> <zvu003.xab8@rooftop.invalid> <azjv8393.ji@rooftop.invalid> <IrydnYp-64BSZ5nEnZ2dnUU7-TmdnZ2d@giganews.com>

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Marek Novotny <marek.novotny@marspolar.com> wrote:
> On 2017-04-29, owl <owl@rooftop.invalid> wrote:
>> owl <owl@rooftop.invalid> wrote:
>>> F. Russell <fr@random.info> wrote:
>>>> On Fri, 28 Apr 2017 09:22:16 +0100, Desk Rabbit wrote:
>>>> 
>>>>> 
>>>>> I'm laughing so much here ...
>>>>>
>>>> 
>>>> ... that my associates can no longer discern the number of chins
>>>> on my fat, stupid face.
>>>> 
>>>>>
>>>>> it's taken you a day to do
>>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> You are the only one counting -- and not very well either.
>>>> 
>>>>>
>>>>> everyone else
>>>>>
>>>> 
>>>> My knowledge of PDF functionality, which I had completely neglected
>>>> up till now, has vastly improved.  I now understand a lot more about
>>>> PDF internals and the possibilities that can arise from them.
>>>> 
>>> 
>>> pdftk is your friend.
>>> https://vid.me/S5jl
>>> 
>>
>> And to make it a tad more useful...
>> https://vid.me/NncS
>   
> Sorry Owl, wasn't reading the thread and without going back to through
> the thread parents, what's the name of the PDF app you're using there?
> 

It's a script I wrote.  You use pdftk to generate an FDF file
for a PDF form.  It's basically a bunch of crap that looks
like this:

/V ()
/T (f1_04_0_[0])
>> 
<<
/V ()
/T (f1_03_0_[0])
>> 
<<
/V ()
/T (f1_17_0_[0])
>> 
<<
/V ()
/T (f1_13_0_[0])

The '/V ()' are the text entry fields.  The values go in the
parentheses.  There's virtually no correlation to what you see
in the viewed PDF, so you have to test it with dummy values to
see what's what:

/V (x0)
/T (f1_04_0_[0])
>> 
<<
/V (x1)
/T (f1_03_0_[0])
>> 
<<
/V (x2)
/T (f1_17_0_[0])
>> 
<<
/V (x3)
/T (f1_13_0_[0])

Then it's a routine sed operation to put in the right stuff, and
you use pdftk again to merge the FDF with the blank PDF form to
get filled-in output:

pdftk fw4.pdf fill_form fw4.fdf output pdfs/w4-${SSN}.pdf

Checkboxes are a bit unique as to what kind of value.
You use `pdftk dump_data_fields` to see what it wants.
Checkboxes are labeled as "Button"
Then you can use dummy vars as above to see what /V corresponds
to what Button and go from there.  It's pretty much the case
that you have to do this manual work for every form, but once
you do that, then you can batch unlimited form fills.  It's
pretty slow, though.  Takes about 28 seconds to fill in 100
PDFs on my machine.  Could just be how I'm doing it that
makes it slow. 


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Thread

Need Help/Confirmation of PDF Problem "F. Russell" <fr@random.info> - 2017-04-27 10:11 +0000
  Re: Need Help/Confirmation of PDF Problem Desk Rabbit <me@example.com> - 2017-04-27 12:07 +0100
    Re: Need Help/Confirmation of PDF Problem "F. Russell" <fr@random.info> - 2017-04-27 11:22 +0000
      Re: Need Help/Confirmation of PDF Problem Desk Rabbit <me@example.com> - 2017-04-27 13:23 +0100
        Re: Need Help/Confirmation of PDF Problem chrisv <chrisv@nospam.invalid> - 2017-04-27 07:50 -0500
          Re: Need Help/Confirmation of PDF Problem DFS <nospam@dfs.com> - 2017-04-27 09:21 -0400
          Re: Need Help/Confirmation of PDF Problem Desk Rabbit <me@example.com> - 2017-04-27 14:23 +0100
          Re: Need Help/Confirmation of PDF Problem William Poaster <wp@dev.null> - 2017-04-27 14:20 +0100
            Re: Need Help/Confirmation of PDF Problem Desk Rabbit <me@example.com> - 2017-04-27 14:46 +0100
            Re: Need Help/Confirmation of PDF Problem Silver Slimer <sl@im.er> - 2017-04-27 12:13 -0400
              Re: Need Help/Confirmation of PDF Problem Desk Rabbit <me@example.com> - 2017-04-27 17:40 +0100
              Re: Need Help/Confirmation of PDF Problem Snit <usenet@gallopinginsanity.com> - 2017-04-27 09:43 -0700
              Re: Need Help/Confirmation of PDF Problem DFS <nospam@dfs.com> - 2017-04-27 13:00 -0400
                Re: Need Help/Confirmation of PDF Problem Silver Slimer <sl@im.er> - 2017-04-27 14:03 -0400
          Re: Need Help/Confirmation of PDF Problem Chris Ahlstrom <OFeem1987@teleworm.us> - 2017-04-27 10:37 -0400
            Re: Need Help/Confirmation of PDF Problem Snit <usenet@gallopinginsanity.com> - 2017-04-27 09:54 -0700
        Re: Need Help/Confirmation of PDF Problem Snit <usenet@gallopinginsanity.com> - 2017-04-27 13:51 -0700
    Re: Need Help/Confirmation of PDF Problem Silver Slimer <sl@im.er> - 2017-04-27 11:49 -0400
    Re: Need Help/Confirmation of PDF Problem Snit <usenet@gallopinginsanity.com> - 2017-04-27 09:02 -0700
  Re: Need Help/Confirmation of PDF Problem DFS <nospam@dfs.com> - 2017-04-27 09:51 -0400
    Re: Need Help/Confirmation of PDF Problem Snit <usenet@gallopinginsanity.com> - 2017-04-27 09:50 -0700
  Re: Need Help/Confirmation of PDF Problem owl <owl@rooftop.invalid> - 2017-04-27 15:36 +0000
    Re: Need Help/Confirmation of PDF Problem Steve Carroll <fretwizzer@gmail.com> - 2017-04-27 08:45 -0700
    Re: Need Help/Confirmation of PDF Problem "F. Russell" <fr@random.info> - 2017-04-27 15:50 +0000
      Re: Need Help/Confirmation of PDF Problem Steve Carroll <fretwizzer@gmail.com> - 2017-04-27 09:05 -0700
        Re: Need Help/Confirmation of PDF Problem "F. Russell" <fr@random.info> - 2017-04-27 16:37 +0000
          Re: Need Help/Confirmation of PDF Problem DFS <nospam@dfs.com> - 2017-04-27 12:55 -0400
        Re: Need Help/Confirmation of PDF Problem "F. Russell" <fr@random.info> - 2017-04-27 17:22 +0000
          Re: Need Help/Confirmation of PDF Problem Snit <usenet@gallopinginsanity.com> - 2017-04-27 13:32 -0700
          Re: Need Help/Confirmation of PDF Problem Steve Carroll <fretwizzer@gmail.com> - 2017-04-27 14:47 -0700
            Re: Need Help/Confirmation of PDF Problem "F. Russell" <fr@random.info> - 2017-04-28 03:30 +0000
              Re: Need Help/Confirmation of PDF Problem Snit <usenet@gallopinginsanity.com> - 2017-04-27 21:57 -0700
            Re: Need Help/Confirmation of PDF Problem "F. Russell" <fr@random.info> - 2017-04-28 03:54 +0000
              Re: Need Help/Confirmation of PDF Problem Snit <usenet@gallopinginsanity.com> - 2017-04-27 21:54 -0700
              Re: Need Help/Confirmation of PDF Problem DFS <nospam@dfs.com> - 2017-04-28 10:11 -0400
                Re: Need Help/Confirmation of PDF Problem Snit <usenet@gallopinginsanity.com> - 2017-04-28 11:16 -0700
      Re: Need Help/Confirmation of PDF Problem Desk Rabbit <me@example.com> - 2017-04-27 17:05 +0100
        Re: Need Help/Confirmation of PDF Problem "F. Russell" <fr@random.info> - 2017-04-27 16:59 +0000
          Re: Need Help/Confirmation of PDF Problem DFS <nospam@dfs.com> - 2017-04-27 14:02 -0400
      Re: Need Help/Confirmation of PDF Problem owl <owl@rooftop.invalid> - 2017-04-27 16:11 +0000
        Re: Need Help/Confirmation of PDF Problem Melzzzzz <Melzzzzz@zzzzz.com> - 2017-04-27 16:28 +0000
        Re: Need Help/Confirmation of PDF Problem "F. Russell" <fr@random.info> - 2017-04-27 16:36 +0000
          Re: Need Help/Confirmation of PDF Problem DFS <nospam@dfs.com> - 2017-04-27 12:52 -0400
          Re: Need Help/Confirmation of PDF Problem owl <owl@rooftop.invalid> - 2017-04-27 17:00 +0000
            Re: Need Help/Confirmation of PDF Problem "F. Russell" <fr@random.info> - 2017-04-27 17:35 +0000
              Re: Need Help/Confirmation of PDF Problem owl <owl@rooftop.invalid> - 2017-04-27 17:49 +0000
                Re: Need Help/Confirmation of PDF Problem Chris Ahlstrom <OFeem1987@teleworm.us> - 2017-04-27 13:47 -0400
                Re: Need Help/Confirmation of PDF Problem Silver Slimer <sl@im.er> - 2017-04-27 14:04 -0400
                Re: Need Help/Confirmation of PDF Problem owl <owl@rooftop.invalid> - 2017-04-27 18:14 +0000
                Re: Need Help/Confirmation of PDF Problem Chris Ahlstrom <OFeem1987@teleworm.us> - 2017-04-27 20:43 -0400
                Re: Need Help/Confirmation of PDF Problem chrisv <chrisv@nospam.invalid> - 2017-04-27 13:16 -0500
                Re: Need Help/Confirmation of PDF Problem Chris Ahlstrom <OFeem1987@teleworm.us> - 2017-04-27 20:45 -0400
                Re: Need Help/Confirmation of PDF Problem chrisv <chrisv@nospam.invalid> - 2017-04-28 07:22 -0500
                Re: Need Help/Confirmation of PDF Problem maureenshoopie@gmail.com - 2017-04-28 05:46 -0700
                Re: Need Help/Confirmation of PDF Problem chrisv <chrisv@nospam.invalid> - 2017-04-28 08:12 -0500
                Re: Need Help/Confirmation of PDF Problem Silver Slimer <sl@im.er> - 2017-04-28 09:16 -0400
                Re: Need Help/Confirmation of PDF Problem chrisv <chrisv@nospam.invalid> - 2017-04-28 11:48 -0500
                Re: Need Help/Confirmation of PDF Problem Snit <usenet@gallopinginsanity.com> - 2017-04-28 11:16 -0700
                Re: Need Help/Confirmation of PDF Problem DFS <nospam@dfs.com> - 2017-04-28 10:11 -0400
                Re: Need Help/Confirmation of PDF Problem RonB <ronb02NOSPAM@gmail.com> - 2017-04-28 17:36 +0000
                Re: Need Help/Confirmation of PDF Problem Snit <usenet@gallopinginsanity.com> - 2017-04-28 11:17 -0700
                Re: Need Help/Confirmation of PDF Problem Snit <usenet@gallopinginsanity.com> - 2017-04-28 11:15 -0700
              Re: Need Help/Confirmation of PDF Problem Peter Köhlmann <peter-koehlmann@t-online.de> - 2017-04-27 19:50 +0200
              Re: Need Help/Confirmation of PDF Problem DFS <nospam@dfs.com> - 2017-04-27 14:39 -0400
            Re: Need Help/Confirmation of PDF Problem Snit <usenet@gallopinginsanity.com> - 2017-04-27 13:00 -0700
          Re: Need Help/Confirmation of PDF Problem Snit <usenet@gallopinginsanity.com> - 2017-04-27 12:58 -0700
        Re: Need Help/Confirmation of PDF Problem Silver Slimer <sl@im.er> - 2017-04-27 12:38 -0400
      Re: Need Help/Confirmation of PDF Problem Snit <usenet@gallopinginsanity.com> - 2017-04-27 10:01 -0700
    Re: Need Help/Confirmation of PDF Problem Snit <usenet@gallopinginsanity.com> - 2017-04-27 10:38 -0700
  Re: Need Help/Confirmation of PDF Problem "F. Russell" <fr@random.info> - 2017-04-27 16:33 +0000
    Re: Need Help/Confirmation of PDF Problem Snit <usenet@gallopinginsanity.com> - 2017-04-27 13:00 -0700
  Re: Need Help/Confirmation of PDF Problem [SOLVED] "F. Russell" <fr@random.info> - 2017-04-27 19:02 +0000
    Re: Need Help/Confirmation of PDF Problem [SOLVED] owl <owl@rooftop.invalid> - 2017-04-27 19:32 +0000
    Re: Need Help/Confirmation of PDF Problem [SOLVED] Snit <usenet@gallopinginsanity.com> - 2017-04-27 13:05 -0700
    Re: Need Help/Confirmation of PDF Problem [SOLVED] DFS <nospam@dfs.com> - 2017-04-27 20:43 -0400
      Re: Need Help/Confirmation of PDF Problem [SOLVED] Snit <usenet@gallopinginsanity.com> - 2017-04-27 18:06 -0700
    Re: Need Help/Confirmation of PDF Problem [UNSOLVED] "F. Russell" <fr@random.info> - 2017-04-28 03:46 +0000
      Re: Need Help/Confirmation of PDF Problem [UNSOLVED] owl <owl@rooftop.invalid> - 2017-04-28 04:40 +0000
        Re: Need Help/Confirmation of PDF Problem [UNSOLVED] Snit <usenet@gallopinginsanity.com> - 2017-04-27 21:54 -0700
      Re: Need Help/Confirmation of PDF Problem [UNSOLVED] Snit <usenet@gallopinginsanity.com> - 2017-04-27 21:56 -0700
      Re: Need Help/Confirmation of PDF Problem [UNSOLVED] Desk Rabbit <me@example.com> - 2017-04-28 09:22 +0100
        Re: Need Help/Confirmation of PDF Problem [UNSOLVED] "F. Russell" <fr@random.info> - 2017-04-28 09:37 +0000
          Re: Need Help/Confirmation of PDF Problem [UNSOLVED] owl <owl@rooftop.invalid> - 2017-04-28 17:11 +0000
            Re: Need Help/Confirmation of PDF Problem [UNSOLVED] owl <owl@rooftop.invalid> - 2017-04-29 20:40 +0000
              Re: Need Help/Confirmation of PDF Problem [UNSOLVED] Marek Novotny <marek.novotny@marspolar.com> - 2017-04-29 15:42 -0500
                Re: Need Help/Confirmation of PDF Problem [UNSOLVED] owl <owl@rooftop.invalid> - 2017-04-29 21:00 +0000
          Re: Need Help/Confirmation of PDF Problem [UNSOLVED] Snit <usenet@gallopinginsanity.com> - 2017-04-28 11:26 -0700
        Re: Need Help/Confirmation of PDF Problem [UNSOLVED] "F. Russell" <fr@random.info> - 2017-04-28 10:31 +0000
        Re: Need Help/Confirmation of PDF Problem [UNSOLVED] DFS <nospam@dfs.com> - 2017-04-28 09:28 -0400
          Re: Need Help/Confirmation of PDF Problem [UNSOLVED] Desk Rabbit <me@example.com> - 2017-04-28 15:03 +0100
            Re: Need Help/Confirmation of PDF Problem [UNSOLVED] fr314159@gmail.com - 2017-04-28 08:03 -0700
              Re: Need Help/Confirmation of PDF Problem [UNSOLVED] DFS <nospam@dfs.com> - 2017-04-28 11:09 -0400
                Re: Need Help/Confirmation of PDF Problem [UNSOLVED] Desk Rabbit <me@example.com> - 2017-04-28 16:32 +0100
                Re: Need Help/Confirmation of PDF Problem [UNSOLVED] Snit <usenet@gallopinginsanity.com> - 2017-04-28 11:28 -0700
        Re: Need Help/Confirmation of PDF Problem [UNSOLVED] Snit <usenet@gallopinginsanity.com> - 2017-04-28 11:25 -0700
      Re: Need Help/Confirmation of PDF Problem [UNSOLVED] DFS <nospam@dfs.com> - 2017-04-28 10:10 -0400

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