[TriLUG] [GoLugTech] How to fill in a PDF form in Linux/OpenSource? <SOLVED>

[Jim Tuttle]

Wow, that sounds like a painful process to submit a PDF form...

Steve Litt wrote:
> Hi all,
> 
> I think I've found a way.
> 
> On Linux, at least on my Mandriva 2007 distribution, there's a program called 
> pdftoppm. I convert my PDF to one ppm per page like this:
> 
> pdftoppm myfile.pdf basename
> 
> The preceding command converts 2 page myfile.pdf to basename-000001 and 
> basename-000002. Unlike the convert program, pdftoppm creates a VERY high 
> quality bitmap image. I then edit that image in Gimp, filling in the forms.
> 
> I still need to figure out a way to print the finished form so that it prints 
> the same size. Basically, I think I'll need to define a new printer that 
> supposedly can print all the way to the paper edges.
> 
> Once again, pdftoppm does a very high quality conversion from PDF to a 
> bitmap .ppm image editable with Gimp.
> 
> Thanks
> 
> SteveT
> 
> 
> On Thursday 15 May 2008 17:11, Steve Litt wrote:
>> Hi all,
>>
>> I need to fill out and submit a copyright form TX. My Acroread for Linux
>> won't do that. I can import the PDF into Gimp and fill it out in Gimp, and
>> print it from Gimp, but the type of the original PDF becomes extremely
>> pixellated. I can't seem to import the PDF into Inkscape.
>>
>> I print the PDF, scan it at 300dpi, scan it into a .pnm, and then use Gimp
>> to fill it in, but that seems a little extreme.
>>
>> I could print it, fill it in with pen, and then scan the result, but my
>> handwriting is illegible.
>>
>> So what's a good way to fill in a PDF form in Linux/OpenSource?
>>
>> Thanks
>>
>> SteveT
>>
>> Steve Litt
>> Author: Universal Troubleshooting Process books and courseware
>> http://www.troubleshooters.com/
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>> Tech mailing list
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---Jim Tuttle
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