[iText-questions] Templates and Form fields

[Sam Shah]

Hi,

 

I feel that I am so close to the solutions, but I need some help. Basically, I am trying to print labels from Java. If some tries to ship 10 pieces, I have to print 10 labels with the same information except � for each label I need to pring �piece x of y�. So I created a template pdf file that represents a single lable. The steps are as fillowing -

 

1. Use a label template PDF with logos, text and form fields. The template represents a single label format.
2. Fill form fields in the template from database. For example fill in Shipper and Receiver address. All the labels I want to print will have the same shipper and receiver information. So, I need to add the same template several times in a single pdf document as the next step.
3. Generate the pdf which will have multiple labels/templates. The number of templates/labels to add depends on number of pieces going to be shipped.

 

The problems is for each label/template I need to dynamically say �Piece x of  y�, �Piece 2 of 5� and so on. The form/template  (step 1) has everything except Piece x field. After adding the templates (step 3), how do I access the fields that represent piece x in each label and update it?

 

I also followed the �Page number� example, but I am not sure how to change piece x in all the templates without finding the exact location to write.

I feel I am only a step away from the solution. Please help. See the code below.

 

Thanks in advance

Sam

 

Code: 

public static void main(String[] args) {

        // creation of the document with a certain size and certain margins

        try {

            //Read template for a Label

            PdfReader reader = new PdfReader("c:\\downloads\\iText\\DBA.pdf");

            Rectangle psize = reader.getPageSize(1);

            Document document = new Document(psize, 50, 50, 50, 50);

            document.addAuthor("DBA");

            document.addTitle("Cyber Labels");

            document.addKeywords("Java Architecture by I-Solutions");

           

            float width = psize.width();

            float height = psize.height();

           

           // Step 2 update the form fields with database � the same label that will be printed several times

            PdfStamper stamp = new PdfStamper(reader, new FileOutputStream("c:\\temp\\import_page2.pdf"));

            AcroFields form = stamp.getAcroFields();

            form.setField("To","Sam Shah");

            form.setField("PieceY","5");

            form.setField("Piecex","1");

            stamp.setFormFlattening(true);

            stamp.close();

 

             //step 3 � create a new pdf doc that will contain x number of  labels

            PdfWriter writer = PdfWriter.getInstance(document, new FileOutputStream("c:\\temp\\import_page.pdf"));

            document.open();

            PdfContentByte cb = writer.getDirectContent();

 

            PdfReader reader2 = new PdfReader("c:\\temp\\import_page2.pdf");

            PdfImportedPage page1 = writer.getImportedPage(reader2, 1);

            cb.addTemplate(page1, .5f, 0, 0, .5f, 0, height / 2);

            cb.addTemplate(page1, .5f, 0, 0, .5f, width / 2, height / 2);

            cb.addTemplate(page1, .5f, 0, 0, .5f, 0, 0);

            cb.addTemplate(page1, .5f, 0, 0, .5f, width / 2, 0);

            cb.setRGBColorStroke(255, 0, 0);

            cb.moveTo(0, height / 2);

            cb.lineTo(width, height / 2);

            cb.stroke();

            cb.moveTo(width / 2, height);

            cb.lineTo(width / 2, 0);

 

            document.newPage();

            cb.addTemplate(page1, .5f, 0, 0, .5f, 0, height / 2);

            cb.stroke();

          

            document.close();

            System.out.println("Finished.");

        }

        catch (Exception de) {

            de.printStackTrace();

        }

    }

}

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