Hello

Is it possible to read data from a XML file, which is embedded or attached within a PDF ?

I have some item code, item name, quantity and item price in a excel. And people have to fill in
those info on an order sheet, and send them to us. The thing is, people always fill in the wrong
info (e.g. wrong item name with a different code), and therefore making an wrong order...

So I thought, it maybe a good idea to send them a PDF file and let them fill in the info. As PDF can
have javascript to do the checking for us. The tutorial I found on the web are all needed an
internet connection to a server. But I don't want that, some of my people have email, and no
internet. And disturbing 2 files will increase the chances of loose one of them, and make the whole
thing won't work. So is there a way to embed a xml or csv file, and make the PDF read from it, as my
data source, so that a script can do the user(input) checking based on that source? Thanks, you are
a big help!


:)

user@domain.invalid wrote:
 > Is it possible to read data from a XML file, which is embedded
 > or attached within a PDF?

With some programming, yes.

> I have some item code, item name, quantity and item price in a excel.
> And people have to fill in those info on an order sheet, and send
> them to us. The thing is, people always fill in the wrong info (e.g.
> wrong item name with a different code), and therefore making an wrong
> order...

Humans make mistakes...

> So I thought, it maybe a good idea to send them a PDF file and let
> them fill in the info.

Some people don't have a PDF reader. Some people are not permitted to 
have a PDF reader (eg at work). Most people do, but not all.

> As PDF can have javascript to do the checking for us.

Some people won't have (or are not permitted to have) Javascript.

> The tutorial I found on the web are all needed an internet connection
> to a server. But I don't want that, some of my people have email, and
> no internet.

If you gave them a PDF with embedded Javascript, how would they send the 
form back to you if they have no mail or Internet?

For that matter, how will you send them the PDF if they have no mail or 
Internet?

> And disturbing 2 files will increase the chances of loose one of
> them, and make the whole thing won't work. 

Correct. The more layers you add, the less chance there is of success.

> So is there a way to embed a xml or csv file, and make the PDF read
> from it, as my data source, so that a script can do the user(input)
> checking based on that source?

Probably, but it sounds over-complex.

a) Use the Excel file (as CSV) to feed a web page, and use Javascript or 
PHP to do the checking and submission.

b) if some of the users have no Internet connection, they cannot use 
your service anyway.

PDF, Excel, etc as send-by-email ordering methods are not common, 
precisely because they are too easy to get wrong.

///Peter

Hello Peter,

Nice to meet you.

I know, it will be better to send things over the net/email. But my 
management are not ready for it, so my user have to return the print-out 
instead. We are kinda in a middle of "paper-to-electronic" transition 
here...  ;)

Thanks for the suggestion of using PHP, but that's not that possible, as we 
don't get files back from the html directory... But Thanks anyway.

It will be very kind of you if you can point me to place (or even show me 
examples) on how to embed xml/csv (...etc) file into a PDF and reading from 
it? Thanks again, you really save my life. :)


Best Regards,



"Peter Flynn" <peter.nosp@m.silmaril.ie> wrote in message 
news:6jnh21F45ojqU1@mid.individual.net...
> user@domain.invalid wrote:
> > Is it possible to read data from a XML file, which is embedded
> > or attached within a PDF?
>
> With some programming, yes.
>
>> I have some item code, item name, quantity and item price in a excel.
>> And people have to fill in those info on an order sheet, and send
>> them to us. The thing is, people always fill in the wrong info (e.g.
>> wrong item name with a different code), and therefore making an wrong
>> order...
>
> Humans make mistakes...
>
>> So I thought, it maybe a good idea to send them a PDF file and let
>> them fill in the info.
>
> Some people don't have a PDF reader. Some people are not permitted to have 
> a PDF reader (eg at work). Most people do, but not all.
>
>> As PDF can have javascript to do the checking for us.
>
> Some people won't have (or are not permitted to have) Javascript.
>
>> The tutorial I found on the web are all needed an internet connection
>> to a server. But I don't want that, some of my people have email, and
>> no internet.
>
> If you gave them a PDF with embedded Javascript, how would they send the 
> form back to you if they have no mail or Internet?
>
> For that matter, how will you send them the PDF if they have no mail or 
> Internet?
>
>> And disturbing 2 files will increase the chances of loose one of
>> them, and make the whole thing won't work.
>
> Correct. The more layers you add, the less chance there is of success.
>
>> So is there a way to embed a xml or csv file, and make the PDF read
>> from it, as my data source, so that a script can do the user(input)
>> checking based on that source?
>
> Probably, but it sounds over-complex.
>
> a) Use the Excel file (as CSV) to feed a web page, and use Javascript or 
> PHP to do the checking and submission.
>
> b) if some of the users have no Internet connection, they cannot use your 
> service anyway.
>
> PDF, Excel, etc as send-by-email ordering methods are not common, 
> precisely because they are too easy to get wrong.
>
> ///Peter 

<�a�y�H wrote:
> It will be very kind of you if you can point me to place (or even show me 
> examples) on how to embed xml/csv (...etc) file into a PDF and reading from 
> it? 

I'm afraid I can't help with this. It may be possible, but I don't do it.

Much easier is to use the CSV as data, and write an application to 
generate a static PDF, but that won't have any interactivity.

///Peter