Existing PDF files made into forms through Infopath

M

Melanie

I want to know whether or not you can take an existing PDF file into a form
through InfoPath without making them into an XMLfile.
 
A

Alex [MSFT]

No, unfortunately, this is not possible. You will have to recreate the form
layout in InfoPath. However, this time investment will give you the great
powers that InfoPath offers - it's definitely worth the effort!

Good luck,
Alex @ Microsoft
 
M

Melanie

That was not the answer that I was looking fow however I have one more
question. If I made my PDF files into DOC files would, it be possible to
move those files into InfoPath?
 
R

Renee in Juneau

Not if it is saved as a .DOC file.

Since there's no context accompanying your questions, they seem a
little bizarre, sort of like someone asking if they can store their
pickup in the refrigerator...

What are you considering doing, Melanie?

For instance, are you looking to create a form that will have a lot of
contract language in it, but you want to avoid having to retype all
the verbiage?
 
M

Melanie

Yes, we have 100's of forms that are already created and we do not want to
have to recreate them all. We want to be able to get all of our current
forms into infopath. I am not sure where to go from here except recreate all
of them and start from scratch......
 
M

Melanie

Is there a way to get an existing file into inforpath without having to re-do
the entire form?
 
R

Renee in Juneau

Hundreds. Wow.

I supposed the thing to do would be create a form-interpreter process
that reads the FDF (form definition format) of your pdf forms and
generates a new form and the appropriate infopath fields from that.
The results wouldn't be taking advantage of all the nifty features
that Infopath has to offer...you'ld DEFINITELY want somebody to go
back and optimize the forms once they were done, but I'd be willing to
bet the bulk-importer process could be created for the first pass form
creation...

I think your best bet would be to talk to Patrick Halstead (or Greg
Collins) at InfopathDev.com about creating the process. They pretty
much set the standard for Infopath expertise.

Here's their contact page:
http://www.infopathdev.com/about/default.aspx
 
M

Melanie

Thank you for all of your help...............

Renee in Juneau said:
Hundreds. Wow.

I supposed the thing to do would be create a form-interpreter process
that reads the FDF (form definition format) of your pdf forms and
generates a new form and the appropriate infopath fields from that.
The results wouldn't be taking advantage of all the nifty features
that Infopath has to offer...you'ld DEFINITELY want somebody to go
back and optimize the forms once they were done, but I'd be willing to
bet the bulk-importer process could be created for the first pass form
creation...

I think your best bet would be to talk to Patrick Halstead (or Greg
Collins) at InfopathDev.com about creating the process. They pretty
much set the standard for Infopath expertise.

Here's their contact page:
http://www.infopathdev.com/about/default.aspx
Click to expand...
 
L

Lee

I was able to do a select all in an MS Word form and then paste it into
infopath. It kept the layout but I needed to redo all the fields. Overall
it was alot easier then making the forms from scratch

Lee
 
M

Melanie

Thank you for that. I may not have as much work to do and I thought. I do
have one more question. Does Infopath have a user manual? I do a lot better
with a book.
 
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