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PDF Fillable Form Importing
Larry Royer 
        
3 years ago
Is there a way to import data directly from a fillable PDF form into an Access table. That is without having to export the data to an Excel spreadsheet and then importing the PDF Excel data into an Access table? In other words directly from PDF form into Access table
Kevin Yip  @Reply  
     
3 years ago
Access doesn't have the built-in feature to import from PDF, but Excel does (go to Data -> Get Data -> From file -> From PDF).  If the PDF contains tabular info, Excel can import it and retain the tabular appearance.  If the PDF is a fillable form, you need Adobe Acrobat, I'm afraid, which is a paid app.  A fillable form with a simple layout is more likely to be imported successfully than a fillable form with a complex layout (like the 1040 tax form).  I'll have some pictures to show you in a few hours to better illustrate all this.
Kevin Yip  @Reply  
     
3 years ago
Figure 1 below shows a PDF containing neat tabulated data, which Excel can easily import with Excel -> Data -> Get Data -> From file -> From PDF without needing any extra software.

Figure 2 shows a filled-in PDF form.  You need go into the paid app Acrobat (I use Acrobat XI here) -> Tools -> Forms -> More Form Options -> Merge Data Files into Spreadsheet.  You will get an Excel file as shown, with column headers and a row of data.  You can easily export this back to Access.  Access has the built-in feature to import from Excel.

Figure 3 shows a PDF form with a complex layout, which is too tough for Excel and Acrobat to handle.  I got no column headers, or simply gibberish data.
Kevin Yip  @Reply  
     
3 years ago

Kevin Yip  @Reply  
     
3 years ago

Kevin Yip  @Reply  
     
3 years ago

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