Sample Code - Forms Designer

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Forms Designer

Printed From: Debenu Quick PDF Library - PDF SDK Community Forum
Category: For Users of the Library
Forum Name: Sample Code
Forum Description: Share Debenu Quick PDF Library sample code with other forum members
URL: http://www.quickpdf.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=1408
Printed Date: 02 May 24 at 8:36AM
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 11.01 - http://www.webwizforums.com

Topic: Forms Designer

Posted By: waynefulcher
Subject: Forms Designer
Date Posted: 09 Apr 10 at 10:47PM

I was just curious if anyone has ever created a complete PDF forms designer using Quick PDF components? If so, is the source code available?

Thanks

Wayne

Replies:

Posted By: Jack
Date Posted: 10 Apr 10 at 7:23PM

Just this month, there was a bit of a discussion about just this subject at http://www.quickpdf.org/forum/evaluation-help_topic1374_post6335.html?KW=#6335 - http://www.quickpdf.org/forum/evaluation-help_topic1374_post6335.html?KW=#6335 . I would bet that someone will take up this challenge in the future or it may become a tool or example of the QuickPDF library.

Posted By: waynefulcher
Date Posted: 09 Aug 11 at 9:40PM

Yeah... no the topic you posted the link to was simply referring to a Form "Filler" program, which I had already done using the same approach you recommended in that thread. I converted the flat pdf with no field values to an image which I used as my background. Then programmatically create edit controls and overlayed them where the input fields were defined within the PDF and scalled the size of the text box and font size based on zoom levels.

What I am looking for is someone or multiple people who may want to create a joint venture for creating a PDF "Designer" where by the PDF can be created from scratch. Below would be the main overall goals I would like to accomplish which currently does not exists in the world of PDFs.

1. Make the PDF Designer either in Delphi code or at least a COM/ActiveX control which could be controlled with in Delphi.

2. Have the source for the pdf document be stored in the PDF file as an embedded file. This would allow the PDF to be simply copied from here to there and not have to keep the source file in-sync for a designer.

3. Of course the designer must only allow abilities visually that would match up with API calls inside the QPL so that when the designer outputs the PDF it can interuppt any UI design into QPL api calls. For example if the UI had a RichEdit control we would have to make sure it would render the PDF to look "exactly" the same as the UI of the RichEdit control.

4. At the very least I would want to be able to make static forms. This means any predefined text or graphics would never move and any input fields would have a predefined limited space for the value of those input fields. Later I would want to add the ability to make a dynamic form. This would be more like a Word document where static text may get shifted down based on the value suppied by an input field. Assuming the input field was a multi-line field where the text would wrap instead of being truncated.

The biggest part of this project would be #3 above.

Where would be an appropriate location for a "projects" area within this forum? It would be nice if this forum had a separate "projects" section for things such as this.

Posted By: Ingo
Date Posted: 09 Aug 11 at 10:15PM

What about www.codeproject.com?
To support a small project (perhaps for more then one user)
there needs more than a new section.
www.codeproject.com is mainly for things you suppose.

Cheers, Ingo

Posted By: Rowan
Date Posted: 10 Aug 11 at 2:30PM

What sort of project are you looking to build? Would it be open source or would it be closed source and just a discussion area for coding it?

Posted By: waynefulcher
Date Posted: 10 Aug 11 at 2:45PM

I really have not thought a lot about it. I have not done any sort of formal research to determine if there is a high demand for the product. Also I was thinking it may depend on the amount of interested developers willing to contribute. Yet I see I would probably need to make that decision before I would know the interest. Kind of a catch 22 here. I was really thinking this would be a great addition to the product offering by Debenu. It seems like a natural fit. They could market the product as a PDF Designer that offers an API via QPL. I know I would buy it.

Maybe Debenu could manage the project as a whole and developers that contribute could get a free license? I have programmed for 20+ years and much of that has been working with "documents" of many different formats. If you notice this thread was started a year ago. Every year I continue to search for a product like this and have yet to find anything. I have some ideas that I think could really have a widespread use. For now I am working on my own with this project. If I hear of others that are interested I will be glad to share my thoughts, code, etc, and we can see what we can make happen.