b_p_smith
join:2002-02-13
 ·RipNet
| [Need Info] "Offline" form filling
I have a form of my own design that I have in Word & PDF formats, and I have access to InfoPath if required.
I don't have the "real" Acrobat, but using several trial packages like Nitro PDF and Nuance PDF Converter Pro, I managed to get a pretty decent PDF version. Of course, it suffers from the usual limitation that Adobe Reader won't let you save the filled-in form, just print (though FoxIt will let me SaveAs the filled in form). I've also played with InfoPath, which has its own pros and cons.
So here's the thing, I'd like to find a *simple* (and ideally cost-free) way to deploy the form and have it filled out and the contents stored (as full PDFs/whatever is fine, or into a database). *But*, the vast majority of the time the person filling in the form will be totally offline, so InfoPath's Sharepoint/InfoPath Server approach won't do. Ideally, once the user goes online, we'll have a way to retrieve/print the saved data/forms.
Seems simple, and I can see a couple of options, but all seem kinda klunky to me. I'm not afraid to do my own programming (.NET), which is a backup plan. But perhaps people have options that I haven't heard of yet, so I'm tossing this out for comment.
Brad.
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atangel
Now What??
Premium
join:2002-02-18
Bronx, NY
| Sounds custom to me all the way, especially since what you want to do is sort of store and forward/synch (like handheld models, store the data somewhere and somehow and later synch when connected to some database somewhere, either through a cable or an internet connection is sensed). so something will need to be run locally at the client to either permit the send when they want (could be as basic as open form, click submit) or sense when online.
Just thinking out loud.
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The reason you think I'm way on the left is cause you're so far to the right. |
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b_p_smith
join:2002-02-13
·RipNet
| FoxIt (possibly with one of the add-ins I installed along the way) *does* let me save completed PDFs for later printing. That's a short-term strategy.
But yeah, to really go for the gusto, custom is the route. I probably won't get into that now, but if the need is great enough, I'll write something in .NET to collect the data.
Thanks for the thinking.
Brad. |
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