----- Original Message -----
From: "Bruno Lowagie (iText)" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: "Post all your questions about iText here"
<[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, 30 April, 2007 5:12 AM
Subject: Re: [iText-questions] Formular Submit from PDF


> Leonard Rosenthol wrote:
> > On Apr 29, 2007, at 8:41 PM, William Alexander Segraves wrote:
>
> >> So, if a Java-iText class is provided that does the merging on the
> >> client-side of the transaction, separately from the interaction
> >> between the
> >> client browser and the "localhost" server, this would be O.K. Right?
>
> > If the localhost server communicates in any way with the iText class
> > that is doing the saving - then you are in violation.
>
> I must admit that I haven't followed the complete discussion,
> but I interpreted the question as: is there a way to run iText
> on the client-side (in the browser / with or without connection
> to the localhost) instead of on the server-side (risking a
> license violation).
>

No, that wasn't the question at all. The question was about localhost
serving of a filled PDF to a client-side browser with Reader 7 operating as
a plugin, when the form data has originated from a "submit" action from a
PDF, thereby making it possible for the user to save a copy of his filled
PDF without having to employ Reader Extensions.

Based on Leonard's interpretations of the EULA, it appears that any
client-side->server-side->client-side interaction, done solely on the same
computer without any required user action such as running a command line
script to merge data with the PDF, would be in violation of the Reader 7
EULA.

Furthermore, based on Leonard's interpretation, it does not appear to be a
violation of the reader 7 EULA if the form data that is being used to fill
the PDF did not originate from a submittal from a PDF form, e.g., submittal
from an HTML form.

OTOH, since Bruno raised that question, it is indeed possible to do what he
suggested, i.e. run iText on the client-side, e.g., by embedding Javascript
in the returned HTML that executes a "jarred" Java-iText class. IMO, this
would not be a good solution for deployment as a web-based application, as
there is no way to ensure the client-side user has the required support
software installed on his/her computer, or that the user has JavaScript
support enabled in the browser configuration.

IMO, based on what Leonard wrote, this too would be in violation of the
Reader 7 EULA.

> I guess William is thinking of some way to send the data
> filled in in Adobe Reader to a Java Applet, and have the
> applet create a new PDF with all the fields filled in.
> I don't see how this would be different from what is
> forbidden by the EULA, but for argument's sake, have
> a look at the following small prototypes I recently made.
>

Well, no. That's not what I was thinking. Anyway, thanks for pointing out
the examples, Bruno. More on those later, when I've had a chance to review
them.

<snip>
> In practice, this is probably not only in violation with
> the EULA, it also has the smell of being a hack.
> I'm sure the examples I'm referring to don't work on all
> browser/reader versions, and that's sufficient reason for
> a NO-GO when I'm asked for my opinion.
> I've made these examples because I was asked if it's possible
> to establish a communication between HTML and PDF; however,
> I wasn't asked for my opinion.

Bruno, your opinion is always welcome in any technical discussion in which I
am engaged.

Best regards,
--
Bill Segraves


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