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Processing PDF Forms Data
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Note: Enter “PDF File” in the PDF file icon image source tag (e.g.,
alt=“PDF File”), as some users may not choose to load graphics, or
may use software that doesn’t allow in-line graphics.
8.9
Processing PDF Forms Data
Acrobat 3.0 introduces the capability to submit form data to a
Web server. This form data can be either in the Forms Document
Format (FDF), or URL-encoded form data (the format used by
most HTML forms).
The processing of incoming form-value data can be accomplished with any server Common Gateway Interface (CGI) script
or Java applet. The form values submitted by a PDF form are
identical to the form data submitted by HTML forms. As a result,
a single CGI script or Java applet can be written to process form
data from both HTML and PDF forms. However, in instances
when a response is sent back to the PDF form, the script must be
capable of responding with a FDF file.
8.9.1
Processing FDF files
FDF files have two basic functions: 1) to represent a form’s data
for processing via the submit or export actions (see Section
7.1.10, “Submit Form Action”); and 2) to update or modify the
data in an existing form. Through the Submit Form Data action,
these two actions can be combined. The completed form is sent
to a script or application by the user. The server processes the
FDF data. To enable the Acrobat viewer to recognize the responses from the script or application, the URL must end in “#FDF.”