14 Replies Latest reply on Nov 6, 2018 4:03 PM by Ronald Michaud

Linking PDF Custom Properties

David Bush May 14, 2012 4:17 PM

I am trying to replace our .doc type ECO documents with a PDF form I am creating in Adobe LifeCycle designer ES2. Our existing .doc files pre-populate with information from the custom properties (such as ECO number, department, initiator, etc.) which is written by EPDM and linked to the data card. However, with the PDF form I cannot find a way to link the custom property information directly to a text field. I have tossed around the idea of linking to a separate XML file or OLEDB database, but am not sure how to maintain it or link it to the data card. Does anyone know how to do this or have a better idea for linking the data card data to the fields in a PDF form?

To be clear, the information only has to go one way (from EPDM to the form) but a solution that was able to go both directions would be ever better (ie. be able to read data from the form and display it on the data card).

Re: Linking PDF Custom Properties

Keith Vittitoe May 16, 2012 5:40 PM (in response to David Bush)

There is not a way to link epdm variables to Adobe files like there is with MSOffice files. Even with XML, we're adding meta data to a pdf and that meta data is only useful within epdm. The goal is to populate custom properties within an Adobe file like Quick Parts in Word and that facility isn't available.
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- Re: Linking PDF Custom Properties
  
  David Bush May 17, 2012 8:45 AM (in response to Keith Vittitoe)
  
  Thanks Keith,
  
  I was afraid that was the case. Am I correct that this is a limitation on the Adobe side and not on the EPDM side?
  
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  - Re: Linking PDF Custom Properties
    
    Joy Garon May 17, 2012 10:48 AM (in response to David Bush)
    
    Hi David -
    
    There is no 'plug-in' to enable mapping of EPDM properties to PDF.
    It is an enhancement request.
    
    Best Regards,
    Joy
    
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    - Re: Linking PDF Custom Properties
      
      Ronald Michaud Nov 6, 2018 4:03 PM (in response to Joy Garon)
      
      Hi Joy,
      Has there been any new developments on this? I'm on 2018 SP4 and the administration guide claims that this is suppose to be possible but I have yet to figure this out.
      Best regards,
      Ron
      
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  - Re: Linking PDF Custom Properties
    
    Michael Dekoning May 24, 2012 5:55 PM (in response to David Bush)
    
    David,
    
    I don't think it's a limitation on either side. It's just the fact that a "plug-in" has not been written. As Joy said, this is an enhancement request.
    
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    - Re: Linking PDF Custom Properties
      
      Jeff Sweeney May 26, 2012 3:25 PM (in response to Michael Dekoning)
      
      It's not a limitation, I have written a plug in to do it...the problem is that (as far as I have been able to tell) Adobe Reader doesn't have the ability to update its own properties. Thus it only works if you have a pdf editor installed, and that gets pricy if you want everyone to be able to edit pdf datacards.
      
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      - Re: Linking PDF Custom Properties
        
        David Bush May 29, 2012 8:48 AM (in response to Jeff Sweeney)
        
        Thanks for the feedback guys.
        
        Has anyone had experience with free PDF editors like debenu? It claims to be able to add/edit "custom metadata" and the pro version says it can "extract form field data."
        
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      - Re: Linking PDF Custom Properties
        
        Tim Webb May 29, 2012 8:08 PM (in response to Jeff Sweeney)
        
        Jeff
        
        All the editors in ours facility have adobe acrobat Pro. Yes it is pricy. Until today I haven't ever put together why we have always been able to edit the PDF data cards, so... now I'm feeling a little insecure about our implementation and need to always make sure whoever is going to edit PDF data cards has adobe pro. This has been eye opening to say the least. Wow!
        
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        Re: Linking PDF Custom Properties
        
        David Bush May 30, 2012 9:22 AM (in response to Tim Webb)
        
        Tim,
        
        If I understand correctly, anyone should be able to edit the PDF data cards but only users with Pro will be able to edit the custom properties of the PDF file itself.
        
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        Re: Linking PDF Custom Properties
        
        Michael Dekoning May 30, 2012 9:23 AM (in response to Tim Webb)
        
        Tim,
        
        Keep in mind what we're talking about here is saving the information from the data card into the PDF file itself. There is no need to have Adobe Pro unless this is what you want to do.
        
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        Re: Linking PDF Custom Properties
        
        Tim Webb Oct 25, 2012 3:17 PM (in response to Michael Dekoning)
        
        Thanks for the clarification David and Michael.
        
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      - Re: Linking PDF Custom Properties
        
        Tim Webb Oct 25, 2012 4:52 PM (in response to Jeff Sweeney)
        
        Jeff
        
        What is the cost of your plugin to handle this?
        
        Tim
        
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        Re: Linking PDF Custom Properties
        
        Jeff Sweeney Oct 29, 2012 11:11 AM (in response to Tim Webb)
        
        The addin I wrote was not for commercial use.
        
        I haven't figured out a good way to commercialize the installation, as such we are only selling it on an individual basis. Each as its own individual scope of work.
        
        In short, it works, but as of now there is a lot of manual setup.
        
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        Re: Linking PDF Custom Properties
        
        Tim Webb Oct 30, 2012 11:09 AM (in response to Jeff Sweeney)
        
        Hmm. Ok. Keep me posted. This is something we may need soon.
        
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