Importing and Exporting forms data from a PDF form

Karl De Abrew

April 03, 2018

There are many reasons to export and import PDF forms data within a company. One way to do this is to use an FDF (Forms Data Format) file, which is a simple file format that can be used to store the data from within a PDF form.

This is a screenshot of a PDF file called “demo.pdf” that contains 2 text fields and one checkbox:

Exporting the data from this to an FDF file looks as follows:

%FDF-1.2 1 0 obj  <</FDF <</UF(demo.pdf) /F(demo.pdf) /Fields[<</T(TextFieldFirstName) /V(John)>> <</T(Text FieldLastName) /V(Smith)>> <</T(CheckBoxOver18) /V/Yes>> ]>>>> endobj trailer <</Root 1 0 R>> %%EOF

Below are simple ways to export and import FDF information using PhantomPDF.

To export from a PDF form:

1. After filling out information in a form select the Form tab in the ribbon,
2. Select Export under the Form Data section and then the to File option,
3. Select the location you wish to save the file to and save.

To import data from a PDF form:

1. After opening PhantomPDF select the Form tab in the ribbon,
2. Select Import under the Form Data section,
3. Select the file you wish to import and openI