PDF FlattenFormFields not retaining Comb effect fields

[DanZigga]

Hi there,

I'm currently evaluating GdPicture and find it very powerful and fast. I'm having a small problem with the FlattenFormFields method, however, which is removing Comb field formatting.

Here's a field config in Acrobat (CombFormat.png)

When the field value is populated using GdPicture, it looks fine (CombFormat.png)

FormFormat.png (1.1 KiB) Viewed 7593 times

And yet, when the FlattenFormFields method is called, the formatting is lost (FlatFormat.png)

FlatFormat.png (1.39 KiB) Viewed 7593 times

I'm evaluating the very latest version of the toolkit (file versino 10.2.0.30), running on .NET 4.0.

Thanks in advance,

Dan

[delbeke]

Hi DanZigga

I can not reproduce your problem.
Can you share your Pdf and the code you are using .

Jean-Luc

[delbeke]

Hi DanZigga

Problem reproduced! It come with the SetFormFieldValue function, not the with FlattenFormFields

I started investigations and warn you as soon as a fix will be avaible

Jean-Luc

[DanZigga]

Hi Jean-Luc,

Thanks for the reply. I havea test PDF (CombForm.pdf) with 3 comb fields on it, however this forum won't let me post it - can I email it to you? Here's a reduced set of code which replicates the problem of a flattened PDF form is losing comb formatting.

An additional problem with the below is that the first field "TEXT1" isn't being populated since the GetFormFieldTitle method is returning a blank for that field.

Code: Select all

      
        Dim result As GdPicture10.GdPictureStatus = GdPicture10.GdPictureStatus.OK
        Dim flattenPDF As Boolean = True   'Set to true to see the problem
        Dim fileName As String = "C:\CombForm.PDF"

        If IO.File.Exists(fileName) Then
            registerGDP()  'licenseManager registerKey done here.
            result = gPDF.LoadFromFile(fileName, True)
            If result <> GdPicture10.GdPictureStatus.OK Then
                MsgBox("Load failed: " & gPDF.GetStat.ToString)
                Exit Sub
            End If
            For i = 1 To gPDF.GetFormFieldsCount
                Dim fieldIndex As Integer = gPDF.GetFormFieldID(i)
                Select Case gPDF.GetFormFieldTitle(fieldIndex).ToUpper
                    Case "TEXT1"
                        result = gPDF.SetFormFieldValue(fieldIndex, "AB123")
                    Case "TEXT2"
                        result = gPDF.SetFormFieldValue(fieldIndex, "CD456")
                    Case "TEXT3"
                        result = gPDF.SetFormFieldValue(fieldIndex, "EF789")
                End Select
                If result <> GdPicture10.GdPictureStatus.OK Then
                    MsgBox("Field value update failed: " & gPDF.GetStat.ToString)
                    Exit Sub
                End If
            Next
        End If

        If flattenPDF Then
            result = gPDF.FlattenFormFields()
            If result <> GdPicture10.GdPictureStatus.OK Then
                MsgBox("Flatten failed: " & gPDF.GetStat.ToString)
                Exit Sub
            End If
        End If

        Dim newFileName As String = IO.Path.GetDirectoryName(fileName) & "\" & IO.Path.GetFileNameWithoutExtension(fileName) & "_Merged" & IO.Path.GetExtension(fileName)
        result = gPDF.SaveToFile(newFileName)
        If result <> GdPicture10.GdPictureStatus.OK Then
            MsgBox("Save failed: " & gPDF.GetStat.ToString)
            Exit Sub
        End If

Thanks,

Dan

[DanZigga]

Thanks for the update, Jean-Luc - I'm glad you've replicated the problem.

Just a note on my code above - there's possibly another slight problem with the GetFormFieldTitle method not returning one of the field names (the first field on the form?). If you could check this form me too please, that would be great.

Regards,

Dan

[delbeke]

Hi
The GetFormFieldID fuction is zero based

your code :
For i = 1 To gPDF.GetFormFieldsCount
Dim fieldIndex As Integer = gPDF.GetFormFieldID(i)
should be :
For i = 0 To gPDF.GetFormFieldsCount - 1
Dim fieldIndex As Integer = gPDF.GetFormFieldID(i)
see the link below.
https://www.gdpicture.com/guides/gdpicture/web ... eldID.html

Concerning the comb aspect, it is fixed. The next minor release will probably containt it.

Jean-Luc

[DanZigga]

Fantastic. I hadn't spotted that the GetFormFieldID is zero-based - whoops.

Good news on the comb field fix. We'll test it with the next minor release.

Thanks,

Dan

[DanZigga]

Hi there,

Next question (related to this...): How do I now CREATE a comb field using GDPicture? I have a flat PDF that I want to create text fields on, but want to create a comb field (rather than starting off with a PDF form that already has comb fields on it). Is that possible?

Thanks and best regards,

Dan

[delbeke]

Hi DanZigga

Very sorry , there is actually no way to create such field with GdPicture.

Jean-Luc

[DanZigga]

Hi Jean-Luc,

Thanks for the response. That's unfortunately a show-stopper for us. Do you know of any workarounds, or do you have any plans to incorporate the ability to create Comb Fields in the near future? We're currently evaluating the software.

Thanks and best regards,

Dan

[delbeke]

Hi DanZigga

I am actually working to proide more functions to handle the form fields.
I an not able to say when this will be distributed, but it's on the way.
The method should be named like this

Public Function SetFormFieldComb( ByVal FieldID As Integer, ByVal UseComb As Boolean)

Jean-Luc

[DanZigga]

Hi Jean-Luc,

That would be really great if that functionality is in place. I'm currently also a v11 beta tester, so would be happy to assist if you need some real-world tests.

Best regards,

Dan

[DanZigga]

Hi Jean-Luc,

Do you know if there is any progress on the new method SetFormFieldComb? Let me know if I can assist with testing.

Thanks and best regards,

Dan

[delbeke]

Hi DanZigga

I am always on the developpement of a whole set of functions for the formfields. I think it will be finished this week. After that, the code will be submitted for review to the big boss.
If the boss approve the code, it will be included in the beta V11 for tests
So do not expect something before 2 weeks

Jean-Luc

[DanZigga]

Thanks for the feedback Jean-Luc,

Just another question regarding this. Is there an auto-font size option for PDF form fields?

Thanks and best regards,

Dan