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Templates / Template Configuration / PDF Form Builder
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    PDF Form Builder
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    DsExcel Templates provide the ability to build PDF forms with various form fields using Excel as the designer. The form fields can be defined using the proper syntax while creating template layouts. After the template is processed, the result can be exported to a PDF document that includes the pre-defined form fields.

    The "form" property can be used to define a PDF form field. The value of this property is in JSON format and a JSON string can be used to describe all settings of the form field. For example:

    Note: The property name and enum values are case insensitive.

    The following standard PDF form fields are supported:

    Note: The form fields are visible only in PDF documents and not in Excel.

    Bound PDF Form

    Consider an example for generating a bound PDF form by using DsExcel Templates. In this case, an address book is generated in PDF by defining textbox fields in template cells. The textbox fields are defined in a way that they relate to common details of an address book, like:

    Name : {{ds.Name(form={"type": "textbox", "name": "name","font":{"color": "#000000", "bold": true}})}}
    Email: {{ds.Email(form={"type": "textbox", "name": "Email","font":{"color": "#EC881D"}})}}

    These textbox fields are bound fields, whose data is populated from the data source and is displayed in the PDF form after template processing. You can also download the Excel template layout from here.

     Excel template layout

    After DsExcel processes the template and exports it to a PDF document, the PDF form will look like below:

    Pdf form

    Unbound PDF Form

    Consider an example for generating an unbound PDF form by using DsExcel Templates. In this case, a wage and tax statement is generated in PDF by defining textbox and checkbox fields in template cells, like:

    Textbox field:

    {{(form={"type": "textbox", "name": "tips","backgroundcolor": "#ffabab"})}}

    Checkbox fields:

    {{(form={"type": "checkbox", "name": "Retirement","border": {"color": "#ff0000"}})}}

    {{(form={"type": "checkbox", "name": "Statutory","border": {"color": "#ff0000"}})}}

    These fields are unbound fields, and their data should be filled directly in the PDF form after template processing. You can also download the Excel template layout from here.

     

     After DsExcel processes the template and exports it to a PDF document, the PDF form will look like below:

     

     

    Various settings can be applied on form fields to enhance and customize their appearance. These are explained as below:

    1. The below table describes common settings which can be applied to any PDF form field.
      Name Value Type Example Description
      type

      Enum string                        

      Standard Form Fields

      • checkbox
      • textbox
      • listbox
      • combobox
      • radiobutton
      • pushbutton
      • signature

      Custom Form Fields

      • text
      • date
      • time
      • tel
      • email
      • url
      • password
      • month
      • week
      • number
      • search

      {"type": "listbox"}

      Indicates the type of form field.

      (Mandatory field)

      alternateName String {"alternateName": "The alt name"} Displays text which is helpful for a user while filling in the form field. Tooltips appear when the pointer hovers briefly over the form field.
      backgroundcolor String {"backgroundcolor": "#ffff00"}
      {"backgroundcolor": "rgb(255, 178, 0)"}
      {"backgroundcolor": "rgba(188, 100, 0, 255)"}      		 Indicates background color of the form field.
      border width Double {"border":{"width": 120}}
      Indicates width, color and style settings of the border for the form field.
      color String {"border":{"color": "#ffff00"}
      {"border": {"color": "rgb(255, 178, 0)"}}
      {"border": {"color": "rgba(188, 100, 0, 255)"}}
      style Enum string:
      • none
      • solid
      • dashed
      • beveled
      • inset
      • underline
      • unknown
      		{"border": {"style": "dashed"}}
      font size Double {"font": {"size": 18}}
      Indicates various font settings which can be used in the form field.
      color String {"font": {"color": "#ffff00"}}
      {"font": {"color": "rgb(255, 178, 0)"}}
      {"font": {"color": "rgba(188, 100, 0, 255)"}}
      name String {"font": {"name": "sans-serif"}}
      bold Boolean {"font": {"bold>": true}}
      italic Boolean {"font": {"italic": true}}
      locked Boolean {"locked": true} Indicates whether the user can change the properties of field or not.
      name String {"name": "The field name"} Indicates the unique name of field.
      readOnly Boolean {"readOnly": true} Indicates whether the user can change the value of field or not
      required Boolean
      		 {"required": true} Indicates whether the field must have a value.
      printed Boolean {"printed":false} Indicates whether to print the field when page is printed.
      hidden Boolean {"hidden":true} Indicates whether to display the field or not.
      mouseUp JsonObject {"mouseUp":{"script":"fBox1 =
      this.getField(\"checkbox\")
      ;\r\nfBox1.display =
      display.hidden", "submit":"http://localhost:80//myscript#FDF"
      ,"reset":{"fieldNames":
      ["checkbox", "textbox"]}}}      		 Indicates the actions to be performed in sequence when the mouse button is released in the active area of the field.
      mouseDown JsonObject {"mouseDown":{"script":"fBox1
      = this.getField(\"checkbox\")
      ;\r\nfBox1.display =
      display.hidden", "submit":"http://localhost:80//myscript#FDF"
      ,"reset":{"fieldNames": ["checkbox","textbox"]}}}      		 Indicates the actions to be performed in sequence when the mouse button is pressed in the active area of the field.
      mouseEnter JsonObject {"mouseEnter":{"script":"fBox1
      = this.getField(\"checkbox\")
      ;\r\nfBox1.display =
      display.hidden", "submit":"http://localhost:80//myscript#FDF"
      ,"reset":{"fieldNames": ["checkbox","textbox"]}}}      		 Indicates the actions to be performed in sequence when the mouse button enters the field's active area.
      mouseExit JsonObject {"mouseExit":{"script":"fBox1
      = this.getField(\"checkbox\")
      ;\r\nfBox1.display =
      display.hidden", "submit":"http://localhost:80//myscript#FDF"
      ,"reset":{"fieldNames": ["checkbox","textbox"]}}}      		 Indicates the actions to be performed in sequence when the mouse button exitsthe field's active area.
      onFocus JsonObject {"onFocus":{"script":"fBox1 =
      this.getField(\"checkbox\")
      ;\r\nfBox1.display =
      display.hidden", "submit":"http://localhost:80//myscript#FDF"
      ,"reset":{"fieldNames": ["checkbox","textbox"]}}}      		 Indicates the actions to be performed in sequence when the annotation receives the input focus.
      onBlur JsonObject {"onBlur":{"script":"fBox1
      = this.getField(\"checkbox\")
      ;\r\nfBox1.display =
      display.hidden", "submit":"http://localhost:80//myscript#FDF"
      ,"reset":{"fieldNames": ["checkbox","textbox"]}}}      		 Indicates the actions to be performed in sequence when the annotation loses the input focus.
      format String {"format":"event.value = (event.value * 100) + \" % \";"} Indicates a JavaScript action to be performed before the field is formatted to display its current value. This action can modify the fieldĄ¯s value before formatting.
      validate String {"validate":"if (event.value < 0
      || event.value > 100)
      {\r\n" +"app.beep(0);\r\n"
      +"app.alert(\"Invalid value for field \"
      +event.target.name);\r\n" +
      "event.rc = false;\r\n" +"}"}      		 Indicates a JavaScript action to be performed when the fieldĄ¯s value is changed. This action can check the new value for validity.
      calculate String {"calculate":"var oil =
      this.getField(\"Oil\");\r\n"+
      "var filter = this.getField(\"Filter\")
      ;\r\n"+"event.value
      (oil.value + filter.value) * 1.0825;"}      		 Indicates a JavaScript action to be performed to recalculate the value of this field when that of another field changes.

      keystroke String {"keystroke":"if (!event.willCommit)
      {\r\n"+"var f =this.getField
      (\"myPictures\");\r\n"+"var i =this.getIcon(event.change)
      ;\r\n"+"f.buttonSetIcon(i);\r\n"+"};"}      		 Indicates a JavaScript action to be performedwhen the user types a keystroke into a text field or combo box or modifies the selection in a scrollable list box. This action can check the keystroke for validity and reject or modify it.
      autofocus Boolean {"type": "password" , "autofocus": true} Indicates whether a date field should automatically get focus when the page loads.

      disabled Boolean {"type": "password" , "disabled": true} Indicates whether a field is disabled or not.
      autocomplete Enum String  {"type": "date" , "autocomplete": "bday"}

      Lets web developers specify if any user needs to provide assistance for automated filling of form field values, as well as guidance to the browser  about what type of information is expected in the field.

      The behavior of this property depends on the browser implementation.

      • on
      • off
      • name
      • honorific-prefix
      • given-name
      • additional-name
      • family-name
      • honorific-suffix
      • nickname
      • email
      • username
      • new-password
      • current-password
      • one-time-code
      • organization-title
      • organization
      • street-address
      • address-line1
      • address-line2
      • address-line3
      • address-level4
      • country
      • country-name
      • postal-code
      • cc-name
      • cc-given-name
      • cc-additional-name
      • cc-family-name
      • cc-number
      • cc-exp
      • cc-exp-month
      • cc-exp-year
      • cc-csc
      • cc-type
      • transaction-currency
      • transaction-amount
      • bday-day
      • language
      • bday
      • bday-day
      • bday-month
      • bday-year
      • sex
      • tel
      • tel-country-code
      • tel-national
      • tel-area-code
      • tel-local
      • tel-local-prefix
      • tel-local-suffix
      • tel-extension
      • impp
      • url
      • photo

    2. The below table describes the settings which can be applied to JsonObject to indicate an action:

      Name Value Type Example Description
      script

      String

      		 {"script":"fBox1 = this.getField(\"checkbox\");\r\nfBox1.display = display.hidden"} Indicates an action which causes a script to be compiled and executed by the JavaScript interpreter.
      submit String {"submit":"http://localhost:80//myscript#FDF"} Indicates an action to transmit the names and values of selected interactive form fields to a specified uniform resource locator (URL), presumably the address of a Web server that will process them and send back a response.
      reset fieldNames String Array {"fieldNames": ["checkbox", "textbox"]} Indicates the list of names of fields that should be processed (or excluded from processing)by this action. If empty then all fields will be processed.
      exclude Boolean {"exclude":true} Indicates whether to exclude the fields specified in fieldNames from processing (by default, this property is false and the specified fields are included).
           
      Note: Snippets of JavaScript code needs to be escaped.

    3. The below table describes the settings which can be applied to Checkbox form field:

      Name Value Type Example Description
      checkStyle

      Enum string:

      • check
      • circle
      • cross
      • diamond
      • square
      • Star
      		{"checkStyle": "circle"} Indicates the style of check mark.
      value Boolean {"value": true}

      Indicates the value of Checkbox.

      (If the value is missing, DsExcel automatically tries to convert the cell's value to Boolean, and then, set it to the property after processing the template.)

      defaultValue Boolean {"defaultValue": false} Indicates the default value of Checkbox.

    4. The below table describes the settings which can be applied to Textbox form field:

      Name Value Type Example Description
      value

      String      

      		 {"value": "Hunter"} Indicates the value of Textbox.
      defaultValue String {"defaultValue": "Input your name!"} Indicates the default value of Textbox.
      combo Boolean {"combo":true} Indicates whether the new value is committed as soon as a selection is made with the pointing device.
      password Boolean {"password":true} Indicates whether the field is intended for entering a secure password that should not be visible on the screen.
      spellcheck Boolean {"spellcheck":false} Indicates whether the text entered in the field is spell-checked.
      scrollable Boolean {"scrollable":false} Indicates whether the field is scrollable to accommodate more text than it fits within its annotation rectangle.
      maxLen Integer {"maxLen":10} Indicates the maximum length of the fieldĄ¯s text, in characters.
      multiline Boolean {"multiline":true} Indicates whether the field can contain multiple lines of text.
      justification

      Enum string:

      • left
      • center
      • right
      		{"justification": "center"}

      Indicates the justification to be used while displaying the fieldĄ¯s text.


      Note: DsExcel also supports custom form fields like date, email, password, month etc. which are inherited from Textbox form field. To know more about these, refer Custom Form Fields.
    5. The below table describes the settings which can be applied to Listbox form field:

      Name Value Type Example Description
      value String Array {"value": ["US", "UK"]} Indicates the value of Listbox.
      defaultValue String Array {"defaultValue": ["US", "UK"]} Indicates the default value of Listbox.
      commitOnSelChange Boolean {"commitOnSelChange": true} Indicates whether the new value is committed as soon as a selection is made with the pointing device.
      selectedIndex

      Integer

      		 {"selectedIndex": 0} Indicates the indexes of selected item.
      sort Boolean {"sort": true} Indicates whether the fieldĄ¯s option items should be sorted alphabetically.
      spellCheck Boolean {"spellCheck": true} Indicates whether the text entered in the field is spell-checked.
      selectedIndexes Integer Array {"selectedIndexes": [0, 2, 5]} Indicates the indexes of selected items.
      multiSelect Boolean {"multiSelect": true} Indicates whether more than one of the fieldĄ¯s option items may be selected simultaneously.
      exportValue String {"exportValue": "TheResult"} Indicates the export value of Listbox field.

    6. The below table describes the settings which can be applied to Combobox form field:

      Name Value Type Example Description
      value String Array {"value": ["US", "UK"]} Indicates the value of Combobox.
      defaultValue String Array {"defaultValue": ["US", "UK"]} Indicates the default value of Combobox.
      commitOnSelChange Boolean {"commitOnSelChange": true} Indicates whether the new value is committed as soon as a selection is made with the pointing device.
      selectedIndex

      Integer

      		 {"selectedIndex": 0} Indicates the indexes of selected item.
      sort Boolean {"sort": true} Indicates whether the fieldĄ¯s option items should be sorted alphabetically.
      spellCheck Boolean {"spellCheck": true} Indicates whether the text entered in the field is spell-checked.
      editable Boolean {"editable": true} Indicates whether the Combobox includes an editable text box as well as a drop-down list.

    7. The below table describes the settings which can be applied to Radiobutton form field:

      Name Value Type Example Description
      checkStyle

      Enum string:

      • check
      • circle
      • cross
      • diamond
      • square
      • Star
      		{"checkStyle": "circle"} Indicates the style of check mark.
      groupName

      String

      		 {"groupName": "Teams"}

      Indicates the name of radio button group.

      Radio buttons with the same group name are added in the same group.

      (If the value is missing, DsExcel automatically adds radio buttons expanded from the same template cell to the same group after processing the template)

      radiosInUnison Boolean {"radiosInUnison": true}

      Indicates whether a group of radio buttons within a radio button field that use the same value for the on state will turn on and off in unison.

      If one is checked, they are all checked. If clear, the buttons are mutually exclusive (the same behavior as HTML radio buttons).

      checkedChoice String {"checkedChoice": "Team5"} Indicates the value of checked option.
      defaultCheckedChoice String {"defaultCheckedChoice": "Team1"} Indicates the value of checked option when the user first opens the form.

    8. The below table describes the settings which can be applied to Pushbutton form field:

      Name Value Type Example Description
      highlighting

      Enum string:

      • none
      • invert
      • outline
      • push
      		{"highlighting": "outline"} Indicates the annotationĄ¯s highlighting mode.
      caption

      String

      		 {"caption": "Push"} Indicates the button's caption.
      image Base64 String {"image": "The base64 image data."} Indicates the buttonĄ¯s image.
      captionImageRelation

      Enum string:

      • captionOnly
      • imageOnly
      • captionBelowIcon
      • captionAboveIcon
      • captionAtRight
      • captionAtLeft
      • captionOverlaid
      		{"captionImageRelation": "captionBelowIcon"} Indicates the positioning of button's caption relative to image.
      downCaption String {"downCaption": "Push Down"} Indicates the button's caption when user presses the button.
      downImage Base64 String {"downImage": "The base64 image data."} Indicates the buttonĄ¯s image when user presses the button.
      rolloverCaption String {"rolloverCaption": "Rollover"} Indicates the button's caption when the user rolls the cursor into its active area without pressing the mouse button.
      rolloverImage Base64 String {"rolloverImage": "The base64 image data."} Indicates the buttonĄ¯s image when the user rolls the cursor into its active area without pressing the mouse button.
      imageScale mode

      Enum string:

      • always
      • bigger
      • smaller
      • never
      		 {"imageScale": {"mode": "bigger"}} Indicates the scaling mode.
      proportional Boolean

      {"imageScale": {"proportional": true}}

      		 Indicates whether an image should be scaled proportionally.
      x Float

      {"imageScale": {"proportional": true, "x": 0.6}}

      Indicates the position of an image.


      The two numbers between 0.0 and 1.0 indicates the fraction of leftover space to allocate at the left and bottom of an image. A value of (0.0, 0.0) positions the image at the bottom-left corner of the button rectangle. A value of (0.5, 0.5) centers it within the rectangle.


      This value is used only if the image is scaled proportionally.

      y Float {"imageScale": {"proportional": true, "y": 0.8}}
      ignoreBorder Boolean {"imageScale": {"ignoreBorder": true}}

      Indicates whether a button's appearance should be scaled to fit fully within the bounds of the annotation without taking into consideration the line width of the border.


    9. The below table describes the settings which can be applied to Signature form field:

      Name Value Type Example Description
      lockType

      Enum string:

      • all
      • specifiedOnly
      • allButSpecified
      		{"lockType": "specifiedOnly"} Indicates the type of locked fields.
      fieldNames String Array {"fieldNames": ["signerName", "time"]} Indicates the list of field names which should be included or excluded from processing depending on lockType property.
      LockedFields Boolean {"LockedFields": true} Indicates whether to lock the fields when SignatureFormField is signed or not.

      Note: DsExcel Template generates only digital signature fields in PDF documents. If you want to add signatures on signature fields, you need to use DsPdf or PDFBox to process.

    Apart from the above mentioned standard PDF form fields, DsExcel also supports custom form fields to generate PDF forms. Refer to Custom Form Fields for more information.