Export Form Data, Store PDF Form Values, API Tool

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Request

POST

Headers

Api-Key

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Response-Type

Poll for the status of a request by ID. Request IDs can be found in the JSON response of POST requests sent to any pdfRest endpoint.

Required Parameters

file

File to be uploaded and processed

Alphanumeric ID (UUID) of existing file on server to be processed

data_format

Format of the exported data file. Supported data file formats vary, depending on the form type in the input PDF. Acroforms: fdf, xfdf, xml. XFA: xdp, xfd, xml.

Optional Parameters

output

Name of the generated output file, without extension

Code

curl -X POST "https://api.pdfrest.com/exported-form-data" \ 
  -H "Accept: application/json" \ 
  -H "Content-Type: multipart/form-data" \
  -H "Api-Key: xxxxxxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxxxxxxxxxx" \

Response

The response for your API Call will display here.

Once you've sent your POST request and received a valid response, you can download your output file using the output URL.

Pro

What are Pro Tools?

Pro Tools are powerful API Tools that require a Pro or Enterprise plan for unrestricted access. All plans may be used to test Pro Tools, but output will be watermarked or otherwise limited below the Pro plan level.

Build Your Solution

You have document processing problems, we have Solutions. Explore the many ways pdfRest can align your documents with your business objectives.

Browse all solutions

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Control your Backend with pdfRest API Toolkit Self-Hosted

Why is pdfRest the best API to export PDF form data?

pdfRest offers the best solution for exporting data from filled PDF forms, because it supports data aggregation, XFA forms and Acroforms, and professional results.

Aggregate Data Collection

Unlock and unite all of the data supplied to you by PDF forms with pdfRest Export Form Data. This API Tool extracts values entered in PDF form fields to external data files that facilitate easy database entry and integration with other services. No matter where the forms originated, how complex they are, or which form technology they use, Export Form Data will get the job done. Trust pdfRest with your aggregate data collection strategy for quick, easy, and reliable results.

Full XFA and Acroform Support

Not all PDF forms are built the same! There are different underlying technologies used in practice to add forms to PDF documents, and these require different technologies to export data or otherwise interact with forms through manual or programmatic processing. In particular, full support for XFA forms is rare, with some tools capable of handling static XFA documents and most tools unable to handle dynamic XFA documents.

Only pdfRest offers full support for exporting data from static and dynamic XFA forms, as well as Acroforms, all with one streamlined API Tool.

Pro Tools for Pro Users

Export Form Data is part of the PDF Forms Pro toolkit, designed for enterprise-grade PDF forms processing. This series of Pro Tools is powered by gold-standard Adobe® Forms technology to achieve industry-leading results, and our team of PDF experts has spent years enhancing this underlying technology to ensure it supports the most rigorous processing requirements, including complex forms and powerful, automated workflows.

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Start from Code Examples

See more code examples in our GitHub repository

Need more help?

Start with a Tutorial for step-by-step guidance

How to Export PDF Form Data with .NET C#

How to Export PDF Form Data with cURL

How to Export PDF Form Data with JavaScript

How to Export PDF Form Data with PHP

How to Export PDF Form Data with Python

5 items

Customize Your Solution

Learn about the parameters for this tool to create your custom solution.

File

The file parameter allows you to select a local file to be uploaded to pdfRest’s processing server.

See Documentation

The id parameter allows you to submit a resource ID generated by one of our API Tools. Each API Tool assigns a unique resource ID to your output files, allowing you to chain requests together without having to download intermediate files between requests.

For example, you could use the Query PDF tool to determine the kind of form contained within a PDF before sending its resource ID to the Export Form Data tool.

See Documentation

Data Format

The data_format parameter lets you specify the format of the exported file containing data from your PDF.

The format of your data file should match a valid file type based on the kind of PDF form in your document.

Acroform: fdf, xfdf, or xml
XFA: xdp, xfd, or xml

NOTE: The value of data_format must not include the '.' separator.

See Documentation

Output

The output parameter lets you set a filename (without extension) for your exported data file.

See Documentation