|
| Do you want to replace the PDF forms with a Metacard version, or use
| Metacard to manage and display the PDF forms?
Hi Dave, thank you for responding.
We don't intend to replace PDF forms with Metacard forms, but
only because we think PDF makes things easy. We are talking
about taking pre-printed paper forms from outside sources that have
lots of fine print, a few fields to fill in, and need to look
identical to the original preprinteds when delivered. An
example would be a SAG contract for a performer on a
commercial. With Adobe we just scan it in, and get an exact
(or pretty darn close) computer replicate, which we can turn
into a form. No programming required to print it.
So it's more like : something to manage a collection of these
forms. Be able to save and recall instances of filled out
forms, or at least the data that was extracted from them, be
able to pull up a blank one, fill it in, print, submit, save,
that sort of thing.
|
| Replacing the PDF forms with Metacard should be fairly
| straightforward. Basically collect the data you need from the
| Metacard forms (one form per card), format it as required for your
| CGIs, and use the "post" command to send the data to the server.
The problem with using MC only is (or is it a non problem?)
all the effort required to get the form to print out and look
exactly like the original. Another example would be an I9 or
a W4 from the IRS.
|
| The only problem I can see is if the CGIs are already made to deal
| with PDF forms that are sent using Acrobat's FDF format. (I think
| Acrobat can send form data in either HTML or FDF formats.) You'd have
| to organise the data from the Metacard forms into the FDF style.
| However, this isn't too difficult. You can find the structure of the
| FDF format by saving out form data to a file in Acrobat (full version
| only).
No problem, we don't need to do that. Just as with MC you can
send only the data entered by the user, you don't have to send
the whole form.
|
| However, if printing the forms is of more importance than sending the
| form data, it's probably hard to beat PDF for print quality.
|
| Cheers
| Dave Cragg
|
Printing is crucial, yes.
Does it sound like you are saying .. MC won't help me?
Thanks again,
Sadhu
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