Import Form Data

Import Form Data

Pro

Import Form Data is a REST API tool designed to support programmatic PDF form filling by importing data from external data files into Acroforms, static XFA, and dynamic XFA.

Key Benefits of Import Form Data API

  • Built upon the foundation of Adobe's PDF forms technology, ensuring robust and reliable form filling capabilities.
  • Offers unmatched support for dynamic XFA files, in addition to static XFA and Acroforms, providing unparalleled flexibility for complex forms.
  • Seamlessly imports data from external files to automatically populate PDF form fields, eliminating manual data entry.
  • Facilitates the programmatic filling of PDF forms, minimizing errors associated with manual input and ensuring data accuracy.
  • Easily integrates with existing applications and workflows to automate document generation and data management processes.
Pro
What are Pro Tools?
Pro Tools are a suite of advanced and specialized API tools designed to tackle more complex document processing challenges. These powerful features, offering enhanced capabilities, are included with Pro and Enterprise plans. Premium plan users can also access Pro Tools on a per-call basis, allowing flexible access to premium functionalities when needed.
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Why is pdfRest the best API to fill PDF forms with data?
pdfRest offers the best solution for importing data into PDF forms, because it supports automated form filling, comprehensive XFA forms and Acroform compatibility, and robust data protection for professional results.

Automate PDF Form Filling with Precision and Scale

The pdfRest Import Form Data API is your ultimate solution for automated PDF form filling. This powerful API loads values into any and all form fields specified in an external data file, regardless of the form's complexity or its underlying form technology. Whether you're programmatically filling out government forms for your users, auto-populating invoices, or systematically updating your own custom forms on a repeated basis, you need technology you can trust to consistently get the job done right.

With fast, reliable results, Import Form Data allows you to easily configure an automated process for loading data from external sources into PDF form templates. This works just as well for small-scale and large-scale PDF form automation workflows, saving you valuable time and resources across a wide range of PDF forms processing objectives. Leverage our API for efficient and accurate programmatic PDF form data import at any volume.

Unmatched XFA and Acroform Compatibility for Data Import

There are different technologies used to create forms within PDF documents, and these require specialized approaches to interact with them programmatically. In particular, full support for XFA form filling is exceptionally rare across many PDF processing tools, with some capable of handling static XFA documents but most struggling or failing entirely with complex, dynamic XFA forms.

pdfRest is unique in offering full support for importing data into both static and dynamic XFA forms, in addition to comprehensive capabilities for Acroforms data importing. This ensures that regardless of your PDF form's origin or complexity, you have one streamlined API Tool that can reliably populate all fields. Choose pdfRest for XFA data importing and Acroforms data population without the headaches, guaranteeing you can fully automate your form workflows.

Flatten and Secure Filled PDF Data

The pdfRest cloud service offers powerful Pro Tools that pair perfectly together to deliver a complete end-to-end data entry and data protection solution for PDF form documents. Our Import Form Data API kicks off the process by filling PDF forms with values from an external data source. This automation minimizes manual errors and ensures data consistency across all your documents.

Once the data is accurately imported, the Flatten Forms API allows you to lock the data into the PDF, turning the document into a standard, non-editable PDF for maximum compatibility and preventing further modifications. This critical step ensures PDF data protection and document integrity. With pdfRest, you can customize PDFs at scale with variable data added and securely protected in one quick, efficient, and automated workflow, ensuring both data security in PDF forms and compliance.

Check out other videos
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 Import Data to PDF Forms in .NET with C#
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How to Import Data to PDF Forms with JavaScript in NodeJS
How to Import Data to PDF Forms with PHP
How to Import Data to PDF Forms with Python
How to Programmatically Fill PDF Forms
Customize Your Solution

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

Data File

The data_file parameter lets you upload a file containing data to be imported into PDF form fields.

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
See Documentation

Safe & Secure

Confidently process your sensitive data with pdfRest. Our platform is fortified for robust, Enterprise-grade security and compliance, including GDPR, HIPAA, and SOC 2 Type 2 certification in progress. Your data's protection is our priority.

Frequently Asked Questions
Need more help? Contact Us or visit our documentation.

The Import Form Data API is a REST API tool for programmatically filling PDF forms. It automates the process of populating Acroforms, static XFA, and dynamic XFA documents with data from external files, which minimizes manual data entry and improves accuracy.

This API provides robust support for a variety of PDF form technologies. It can import data into both Acroforms - a standard PDF form type - and complex XFA forms, including both static and dynamic XFA formats. The required data file format depends on the type of form in your PDF. For Acroforms, the API accepts .fdf, .xfdf, or .xml files. For XFA forms, it accepts .xdp, .xfd, or .xml files.

Yes, this API is an excellent solution for programmatically filling out government forms. Many government forms use Acroforms or XFA forms, including the complex, dynamic XFA format, which this tool is uniquely designed to handle. Automating this process saves time and reduces errors associated with manual data entry.

The recommended workflow for programmatic form filling is a two-step process. First, you use the Export Form Data API to export a sample of your PDF form's structure to a data file. This blueprint reveals the field names and their structure. You then use this information to prepare a data file with your desired values. Finally, you use the Import Form Data API to import your prepared data file and automatically populate the blank PDF form.

Yes, a common workflow is to use the Flatten Forms API after importing data. Flattening the form locks the data into the PDF, making it non-editable and ensuring document integrity. This is an important step for securing the data and preparing the document for archival or distribution.

The Import Form Data API is designed to match form fields in the PDF to corresponding entries in your data file. If a field in your data file does not have a matching name in the PDF form, that data will not be imported. This functionality ensures data accuracy by only populating fields with a precise name match, preventing incorrect data from being inserted.

Ensuring the security and privacy of your data is a top priority for pdfRest. Our platform is built for robust, enterprise-grade security and compliance, with certifications like GDPR and HIPAA. To protect your data, all files are secured with encryption during both transit and at-rest, and they are permanently deleted after the stated file retention period (30 minutes for most plans). For complete details, please see our Data Processing Agreement (DPA).

To facilitate GDPR compliance for your form-filling tasks, pdfRest processes your data within the European Union and adheres to other strict data protection requirements. Simply send your API calls to the dedicated EU endpoint at http://eu-api.pdfrest.com/pdf-with-imported-form-data to ensure all processing occurs within the EU. Please note that a GDPR usage fee may apply for some plans. For more information on how we handle data, please review our Data Processing Agreement.

Integrating the pdfRest Import Form Data API is straightforward. We offer comprehensive API documentation and code samples in many programming languages. The API Lab also allows you to test and generate code snippets directly from your browser, simplifying the setup and ensuring a smooth integration experience.

Yes, you can perform this task with our no-code tools. Our API Lab is an online tool that allows you to upload files, choose parameters, and send API calls directly from your browser. For an even more convenient workflow, you can import data into PDF forms online with pdfAssistant.ai, an AI Assistant that automates PDF tasks. You simply chat in natural language to describe what you want, and the assistant will handle the processing for you.

Yes, pdfRest offers two self-hosted options. The pdfRest API Toolkit on AWS allows you to deploy and manage your own backend processing infrastructure within your AWS environment with pay-as-you-go pricing through the AWS Marketplace. Alternatively, the pdfRest API Toolkit Container offers ultimate environmental control as a Docker Container, giving you the flexibility to run the API in on-premises data centers or public/private cloud environments with a flexible, custom licensing model.

We offer several tutorials to help you get started with the Import Form Data API in various programming environments. You can find step-by-step guidance in tutorials for common languages like:

The Import Form Data API is ideal for a wide range of use cases that require automation at scale. This includes auto-populating government forms, generating invoices or purchase orders, and creating personalized reports or documents. The API streamlines these workflows by eliminating manual data entry, ensuring consistency and accuracy across all your documents.

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