Hey folks,
I have this crazy request here at work - and its super urgent. So - I need to figure out how to do this - and do it FAST!
They have these spreadsheets of Data - and these PDF Files. I've done work recently with putting field names in PDF files. But, now I have to merge it with data from an Excel file. The other stuff I've been working on - its NOT time sensitive - and for that people have .Net code and pulling data from SQL. This new project is really a One-Shot-Deal!
Doing a Google search I came up with some PDF Mail Merge utility that resides on CodePlex - and I see CodePlex so far is STILL running (although I looked thru recently archive postings since I knew that CodePlex was recently discussed about shutting down).
So - this PDF Mail Merge utility on CodePlex - is it really the easiest way to go? I'm still researching on Google to see how to do this particular mail merge.
Any thoughts on this??
TIA! Kurt Wendt Senior Systems Analyst [GlobeTax_SecondaryLogo_TwoColor_Lo]https://www.globetax.com/ One New York Plaza - 34th Floor New York, NY 10004-1936, USA Tel. +1-212-747-9100 Direct +1-212-405-8246 www.GlobeTax.comhttps://www.globetax.com/
GlobeTax does not provide or offer, and this is not, tax, investment or legal advice. This email and any attachments hereto is intended only for use by the addressee(s) and may contain confidential information. If you are not the intended recipient of this email, please immediately notify the sender at +1-212-747-9100 and permanently delete the original and any copies of this email.
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Why directly to PDF, instead of VFP->Word->Print to PDF?
On Wed, May 24, 2017 at 3:08 PM, Kurt Wendt Kurt_Wendt@globetax.com wrote:
Hey folks,
I have this crazy request here at work - and its super urgent. So - I need to figure out how to do this - and do it FAST!
They have these spreadsheets of Data - and these PDF Files. I've done work recently with putting field names in PDF files. But, now I have to merge it with data from an Excel file. The other stuff I've been working on - its NOT time sensitive - and for that people have .Net code and pulling data from SQL. This new project is really a One-Shot-Deal!
Doing a Google search I came up with some PDF Mail Merge utility that resides on CodePlex - and I see CodePlex so far is STILL running (although I looked thru recently archive postings since I knew that CodePlex was recently discussed about shutting down).
So - this PDF Mail Merge utility on CodePlex - is it really the easiest way to go? I'm still researching on Google to see how to do this particular mail merge.
Any thoughts on this??
TIA! Kurt Wendt Senior Systems Analyst [GlobeTax_SecondaryLogo_TwoColor_Lo]https://www.globetax.com/ One New York Plaza - 34th Floor New York, NY 10004-1936, USA Tel. +1-212-747-9100 Direct +1-212-405-8246 www.GlobeTax.comhttps://www.globetax.com/
GlobeTax does not provide or offer, and this is not, tax, investment or legal advice. This email and any attachments hereto is intended only for use by the addressee(s) and may contain confidential information. If you are not the intended recipient of this email, please immediately notify the sender at +1-212-747-9100 and permanently delete the original and any copies of this email.
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[excessive quoting removed by server]
The PDF is Digitally signed from the client & specially formatted!
So no VFP involved.
-K-
Sent from my iPhone
On May 24, 2017, at 6:42 PM, "Ken Kixmoeller (ProFox)" foxhelp@information-architecture.com wrote:
Why directly to PDF, instead of VFP->Word->Print to PDF?
On Wed, May 24, 2017 at 3:08 PM, Kurt Wendt Kurt_Wendt@globetax.com wrote:
Hey folks,
I have this crazy request here at work - and its super urgent. So - I need to figure out how to do this - and do it FAST!
They have these spreadsheets of Data - and these PDF Files. I've done work recently with putting field names in PDF files. But, now I have to merge it with data from an Excel file. The other stuff I've been working on - its NOT time sensitive - and for that people have .Net code and pulling data from SQL. This new project is really a One-Shot-Deal!
Doing a Google search I came up with some PDF Mail Merge utility that resides on CodePlex - and I see CodePlex so far is STILL running (although I looked thru recently archive postings since I knew that CodePlex was recently discussed about shutting down).
So - this PDF Mail Merge utility on CodePlex - is it really the easiest way to go? I'm still researching on Google to see how to do this particular mail merge.
Any thoughts on this??
TIA! Kurt Wendt Senior Systems Analyst [GlobeTax_SecondaryLogo_TwoColor_Lo]https://www.globetax.com/ One New York Plaza - 34th Floor New York, NY 10004-1936, USA Tel. +1-212-747-9100 Direct +1-212-405-8246 www.GlobeTax.comhttps://www.globetax.com/
GlobeTax does not provide or offer, and this is not, tax, investment or legal advice. This email and any attachments hereto is intended only for use by the addressee(s) and may contain confidential information. If you are not the intended recipient of this email, please immediately notify the sender at +1-212-747-9100 and permanently delete the original and any copies of this email.
--- StripMime Report -- processed MIME parts --- multipart/related multipart/alternative text/plain (text body -- kept) text/html image/png
[excessive quoting removed by server]
Not clear on what you're trying to do - are these actual PDF forms or do you just need to put data into an existing vanilla PDF?
If it's any help I did some code recently to add a customer signature captured from a signature pad to a PDF invoice. One of the methods I investigated was generating the invoice first and then merging the signature graphic in. It used the free Debenu Quick PDF Lite Library (http://www.debenu.com/products/development/debenu-pdf-library-lite/) which has support for merging graphics into PDFs. Ultimately I didn't end up going down this route but here's the business end of it FWIW. You might need the paid version to merge text or fill PDF forms.
* -- Parameters are target PDF, the filename of the graphic with the signature, and the image dimensions.
Function SignPDF(lcPDFFile as String, lcSigFile as String, loParms as Object) Local lnFileID, lnImageID
With goApplication.oDebenuPDF
If .LoadFromFile(lcPDFFile, "") > 0
? "PageHeight=" + Transform(.PageHeight)
.SelectPage(1) && - -TODO each page or last? .NormalizePage(0) .SetOrigin(1) && -- Top left lnFileID = .SelectedDocument lnImageID = .AddImageFromFile(lcSigFile, 0)
If lnImageID > 0
If .SelectImage(lnImageID) > 0
if .DrawImage(loParms.ImgLeft, loParms.ImgTop, ; loParms.ImgWidth, loParms.ImgHeight) > 0
If .SaveToFile(lcPDFFile) = 0 ?"ERROR: Could not save " + lcPDFFile Else ? "Merge successful." Endif
Else ? "Could not draw image." endif
Else ? "Could not select image." Endif
Else ? "ImageID = 0" Endif
Else ? "Could not load image file." EndIf
EndWith
Endfunc
Alan - as I wrote in the original posting - the PDF Files come from a Client. Its also Digitally Signed. On that PDF - they need to have name and addresses on the PDF - based upon data from an Excel file. Thus a mail merge. But, yeah - PDF already exists! It is NOT something that I can generate from VFP - so, VFP is NOT involved - thus why I posted as [NF].
Regards, Kurt Wendt Senior Systems Analyst
Tel. +1-212-747-9100 www.GlobeTax.com
-----Original Message----- From: ProfoxTech [mailto:profoxtech-bounces@leafe.com] On Behalf Of Alan Bourke Sent: Thursday, May 25, 2017 4:16 AM To: profoxtech@leafe.com Subject: Re: [NF] URGENT Request - MailMerge w/PDF
Not clear on what you're trying to do - are these actual PDF forms or do you just need to put data into an existing vanilla PDF?
If it's any help I did some code recently to add a customer signature captured from a signature pad to a PDF invoice. One of the methods I investigated was generating the invoice first and then merging the signature graphic in. It used the free Debenu Quick PDF Lite Library (http://www.debenu.com/products/development/debenu-pdf-library-lite/) which has support for merging graphics into PDFs. Ultimately I didn't end up going down this route but here's the business end of it FWIW. You might need the paid version to merge text or fill PDF forms.
* -- Parameters are target PDF, the filename of the graphic with the signature, and the image dimensions.
Function SignPDF(lcPDFFile as String, lcSigFile as String, loParms as Object) Local lnFileID, lnImageID
With goApplication.oDebenuPDF
If .LoadFromFile(lcPDFFile, "") > 0
? "PageHeight=" + Transform(.PageHeight)
.SelectPage(1) && - -TODO each page or last? .NormalizePage(0) .SetOrigin(1) && -- Top left lnFileID = .SelectedDocument lnImageID = .AddImageFromFile(lcSigFile, 0)
If lnImageID > 0
If .SelectImage(lnImageID) > 0
if .DrawImage(loParms.ImgLeft, loParms.ImgTop, ; loParms.ImgWidth, loParms.ImgHeight) > 0
If .SaveToFile(lcPDFFile) = 0 ?"ERROR: Could not save " + lcPDFFile Else ? "Merge successful." Endif
Else ? "Could not draw image." endif
Else ? "Could not select image." Endif
Else ? "ImageID = 0" Endif
Else ? "Could not load image file." EndIf
EndWith
Endfunc
-- Alan Bourke alanpbourke (at) fastmail (dot) fm
[excessive quoting removed by server]
Do you have to identify who to mail this file to by data inside the excel file? " On that PDF - they need to have name and addresses on the PDF - based upon data from an Excel file" Or do you have to tweak the contents of the PDF by the excel file?
On Thu, May 25, 2017 at 9:56 AM, Kurt Wendt Kurt_Wendt@globetax.com wrote:
Alan - as I wrote in the original posting - the PDF Files come from a Client. Its also Digitally Signed. On that PDF - they need to have name and addresses on the PDF - based upon data from an Excel file. Thus a mail merge. But, yeah - PDF already exists! It is NOT something that I can generate from VFP - so, VFP is NOT involved - thus why I posted as [NF].
Regards, Kurt Wendt Senior Systems Analyst
Tel. +1-212-747-9100 www.GlobeTax.com
-----Original Message----- From: ProfoxTech [mailto:profoxtech-bounces@leafe.com] On Behalf Of Alan Bourke Sent: Thursday, May 25, 2017 4:16 AM To: profoxtech@leafe.com Subject: Re: [NF] URGENT Request - MailMerge w/PDF
Not clear on what you're trying to do - are these actual PDF forms or do you just need to put data into an existing vanilla PDF?
If it's any help I did some code recently to add a customer signature captured from a signature pad to a PDF invoice. One of the methods I investigated was generating the invoice first and then merging the signature graphic in. It used the free Debenu Quick PDF Lite Library (http://www.debenu.com/products/development/debenu-pdf-library-lite/) which has support for merging graphics into PDFs. Ultimately I didn't end up going down this route but here's the business end of it FWIW. You might need the paid version to merge text or fill PDF forms.
- -- Parameters are target PDF, the filename of the graphic with the
signature, and the image dimensions.
Function SignPDF(lcPDFFile as String, lcSigFile as String, loParms as Object) Local lnFileID, lnImageID
With goApplication.oDebenuPDF If .LoadFromFile(lcPDFFile, "") > 0 ? "PageHeight=" + Transform(.PageHeight) .SelectPage(1) && - -TODO each page or last? .NormalizePage(0) .SetOrigin(1) && -- Top left lnFileID = .SelectedDocument lnImageID = .AddImageFromFile(lcSigFile, 0) If lnImageID > 0 If .SelectImage(lnImageID) > 0 if .DrawImage(loParms.ImgLeft, loParms.ImgTop, ; loParms.ImgWidth, loParms.ImgHeight) > 0 If .SaveToFile(lcPDFFile) = 0 ?"ERROR: Could not save " + lcPDFFile Else ? "Merge successful." Endif Else ? "Could not draw image." endif Else ? "Could not select image." Endif Else ? "ImageID = 0" Endif Else ? "Could not load image file." EndIf EndWithEndfunc
-- Alan Bourke alanpbourke (at) fastmail (dot) fm
[excessive quoting removed by server]
On Wed, May 24, 2017 at 4:08 PM, Kurt Wendt Kurt_Wendt@globetax.com wrote:
Any thoughts on this??
Thoughts? Boy, are you in trouble!
Okay, so [NF] means Not Fox, so you don't want to hear about the 42 ways to do this in VFP. The CodePlex code may be worth trying out; some of the people on their forum report it works for them.
It seems to me you're looking at the classic IT conundrum: Fast, cheap, accurate: pick two. If you want it fast and accurate, it won't be cheap. If you want it cheap and accurate, it won't get done fast. If you want it cheap and fast, it won't be accurate. And IIRC, your employer is big on cheap. And fast. So...
Otherwise, you're looking at a specialized tool. Years ago, I worked with a client that used OmniForm (now from ScanSoft) to mail merge their internal data onto government-supplied forms. ScanSoft may have a solution for you, although I'm not familiar with their current product lines.
Adobe are the people who invented PDF, and likely have some tools that would work for you. If this truly is a one-off job, and not a "we'll ask you to do this every 6 months, as an emergency," it might be cheaper to search for an Adobe professional who could bang this out. Searching online, it seems like a lot of Adobe products can mail merge via ODBC, which is likely what you want.
Random surfing turned up: https://www.evermap.com/automailmerge.asp, no idea if it works, but $149 is reasonable.
I thought there was a way to do this using CutePDFPro; I've used it to create the data-fillable PDF form templates, but I don't see a solution that includes merge-from-database.
Good luck!
On 25/05/2017 11:55, Ted Roche wrote:
<snip> Adobe are the people who invented PDF, and likely have some tools that would work for you. If this truly is a one-off job, and not a "we'll ask you to do this every 6 months, as an emergency," it might be cheaper to search for an Adobe professional who could bang this out. Searching online, it seems like a lot of Adobe products can mail merge via ODBC, which is likely what you want.
Random surfing turned up: https://www.evermap.com/automailmerge.asp, no idea if it works, but $149 is reasonable.
I thought there was a way to do this using CutePDFPro; I've used it to create the data-fillable PDF form templates, but I don't see a solution that includes merge-from-database.
Also have a look at Nitro
https://www.gonitro.com/pricing-11
Also phantom PDF
https://www.foxitsoftware.com/pdf-editor/
$109 one time purchase.
Also Amyuni PDF converter desktop edition
https://www.amyuni.com/en/enduser/pdfconverterend/pricing/
$79 for a one user licence.
All these tools can edit / add / delete items in PDF files. We have just purchase Amyuni and very impressed so far.
Peter
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Gosh Ted - that's a "Nice" thought!
Correct - its not really a VFP project. Just need a way to get data from Excel onto a PDF form that is already digitally signed.
Not sure how I gave you the idea my co. here is Cheap. Hmmm... They are a very professional co. in a fancy building here at the bottom of Manhattan. So - nope - they aren't cheap. If they need to purchase a tool to do it - then they will.
There were instructions online - but, it turns out it was a bit BS - since it claims it could only do 1 doc at a time. Thus - if I have 1000 records in the Excel file - I would have to do the process 1000 times - which, yeah - is total BS. Hard to believe someone actually posted that answer as a reply to someone else with an almost Identical request to mine!
I'm going to look into the CodePlex thing right now...
Regards, Kurt Wendt Senior Systems Analyst
Tel. +1-212-747-9100 www.GlobeTax.com
-----Original Message----- From: ProfoxTech [mailto:profoxtech-bounces@leafe.com] On Behalf Of Ted Roche Sent: Thursday, May 25, 2017 6:56 AM To: profoxtech@leafe.com Subject: Re: [NF] URGENT Request - MailMerge w/PDF
On Wed, May 24, 2017 at 4:08 PM, Kurt Wendt Kurt_Wendt@globetax.com wrote:
Any thoughts on this??
Thoughts? Boy, are you in trouble!
Okay, so [NF] means Not Fox, so you don't want to hear about the 42 ways to do this in VFP. The CodePlex code may be worth trying out; some of the people on their forum report it works for them.
It seems to me you're looking at the classic IT conundrum: Fast, cheap, accurate: pick two. If you want it fast and accurate, it won't be cheap. If you want it cheap and accurate, it won't get done fast. If you want it cheap and fast, it won't be accurate. And IIRC, your employer is big on cheap. And fast. So...
Otherwise, you're looking at a specialized tool. Years ago, I worked with a client that used OmniForm (now from ScanSoft) to mail merge their internal data onto government-supplied forms. ScanSoft may have a solution for you, although I'm not familiar with their current product lines.
Adobe are the people who invented PDF, and likely have some tools that would work for you. If this truly is a one-off job, and not a "we'll ask you to do this every 6 months, as an emergency," it might be cheaper to search for an Adobe professional who could bang this out. Searching online, it seems like a lot of Adobe products can mail merge via ODBC, which is likely what you want.
Random surfing turned up: https://www.evermap.com/automailmerge.asp, no idea if it works, but $149 is reasonable.
I thought there was a way to do this using CutePDFPro; I've used it to create the data-fillable PDF form templates, but I don't see a solution that includes merge-from-database.
Good luck!
[excessive quoting removed by server]
On Thu, May 25, 2017 at 11:02 AM, Kurt Wendt Kurt_Wendt@globetax.com wrote:
Gosh Ted - that's a "Nice" thought!
Sorry, it must be Cynical Thursday.
Not sure how I gave you the idea my co. here is Cheap. Hmmm... They are a very professional co. in a fancy building here at the bottom of Manhattan. So - nope - they aren't cheap. If they need to purchase a tool to do it - then they will.
Well, good for you! I'm glad to hear it.
You're postings do tend to make me chuckle!
By the way - I checked out that tool on CodePlex - and it ROCKS!!!! It does Exactly what I needed to do - so - problems ALL Solved!
So - in that regards - seems I WILL have this done Quick, Accurate (cause I do good work) - and Cheap (since that tool was Free)! Ha - you thought Quick, Cheap & Accurate could not be done - and, so - I've proven that concept wrong. Good Day sir!
Regards, Kurt Wendt Senior Systems Analyst
Tel. +1-212-747-9100 www.GlobeTax.com
-----Original Message----- From: ProfoxTech [mailto:profoxtech-bounces@leafe.com] On Behalf Of Ted Roche Sent: Thursday, May 25, 2017 11:06 AM To: profoxtech@leafe.com Subject: Re: [NF] URGENT Request - MailMerge w/PDF
On Thu, May 25, 2017 at 11:02 AM, Kurt Wendt Kurt_Wendt@globetax.com wrote:
Gosh Ted - that's a "Nice" thought!
Sorry, it must be Cynical Thursday.
Not sure how I gave you the idea my co. here is Cheap. Hmmm... They are a very professional co. in a fancy building here at the bottom of Manhattan. So - nope - they aren't cheap. If they need to purchase a tool to do it - then they will.
Well, good for you! I'm glad to hear it.
[excessive quoting removed by server]
-
Alan Bourke -
Ken Kixmoeller (ProFox) -
Kurt ＠ VR-FX -
Kurt Wendt -
Peter Cushing -
Stephen Russell -
Ted Roche