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

[David Brain]

Quick 2nd for iText,

iText is pretty solid - I've used it for both PDF generation and also
automatic form filling.
It's used as the basis for a number of the other reporting type
projects that are out there too.

David.

On Thu, May 15, 2008 at 9:09 PM, Robert Dale <robdale at gmail.com> wrote:
> Well, if you're going to go through all that you could also try
> filling it in programmatically with just a few lines of Java..
> http://www.lowagie.com/iText/
>
> --
> Robert Dale
>
> On Thu, May 15, 2008 at 7:08 PM, Steve Litt <slitt at troubleshooters.com> 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/
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> Tech mailing list
>>> Tech at golug.org
>>> http://www.golug.org/mailman/listinfo/tech
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