How to Export Acrobat PDF Form Responses to XML or XFDF
Question details
The user wants to know how to export responses from a fillable PDF form into an XML or XFDF file, and how to format it for custom systems.
- Product
- Adobe Acrobat
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Extracting and exporting user-submitted data from a fillable PDF form to an XML or XFDF format for use in other applications.
- Observed behavior
- Needs to configure the PDF form submission to output XFDF data or route the data through a server for custom XML transformation.
Ensure your fillable PDF form contains properly named interactive fields and that you have a designated server or destination setup if you require a customized XML schema.
Configure Form Submission to Export as XFDF
Use the built-in Adobe format to quickly submit and export form data as an XFDF (XML-based) file.
Open your fillable PDF document in your PDF editing software.
Insert a button form field onto the page where users will click to submit their responses.
Right-click the button, select 'Properties', and navigate to the 'Actions' tab.
Choose 'Submit a form' from the Select Action dropdown list and click the 'Add' button.
In the Submit Form Selections dialog, enter your destination URL and choose 'XFDF' or 'XML' as the export format, then click 'OK' to save the changes.
Handle Custom XML Formats via Server-Side Processing
When another system requires a specific XML schema, process the submitted XFDF data on your server rather than using complex client-side PDF scripts.
Manage and Fill PDF Forms Easily with WPS Office
WPS Office includes a powerful built-in PDF editor that allows you to effortlessly view, fill out, and manage interactive PDF forms. It provides seamless compatibility with standard PDF form fields, making it easy to handle your documents without needing heavy, expensive software.
- 1. Download and Install: Get WPS Office from the official website and install it on your device.
- 2. Open your PDF Form: Launch WPS Office and open your fillable PDF document.
- 3. Fill and Manage Data: Easily input data into the interactive fields, save your progress, or export your completed document.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I export PDF form data directly to Excel instead of XML?
Yes, you can export PDF form data to a CSV (Comma Separated Values) format using professional PDF editors, which can then be directly opened and managed in spreadsheet applications like Excel or WPS Spreadsheet.
What is the difference between XML and XFDF?
XML is a broad markup language used for structuring various types of data, while XFDF is a specific XML-based file format created by Adobe exclusively for representing PDF form data and annotations.
Do I need to write JavaScript in the PDF to export custom XML?
While it is technically possible to use client-side JavaScript to format XML within the PDF, it is highly recommended to submit the standard form data to a server and handle the custom XML formatting there for better reliability and performance.
Will exporting to XFDF keep the visual layout of my PDF?
No, exporting to XFDF only extracts the text and values entered into the form fields. It does not save the visual layout, formatting, fonts, or colors of the original PDF document.
