PDF production

Introduction

Orbeon Forms can produce PDF output in two ways:

Automatically
- The PDF is produced based on the appearance of the form in your web browser. This is similar to printing a read-only version of your form.
- As a form author, you do not need to take any action to enable this mode.
- For more, see Automatic PDF.
From one or more PDF templates
- You upload one or more PDF files using the "Attach PDF Templates" dialog. At runtime, Form Runner fills-out Acrobat fields in the template.
- This mode is automatically enabled for a form if a PDF template is attached.
- For more, see PDF Templates.

Here are examples of an invoice PDF automatically generated by Orbeon Forms, as well as a PDF template filled by Orbeon Forms:

Availability

Automatic PDF generation is available in Orbeon Forms CE and PE
PDF Templates are an Orbeon Forms PE feature.

Setup

Using buttons

PDF files can be accessed directly from the Form Runner Summary Page and Detail Page using the pdf button.

Example for the Detail Page:

<property as="xs:string" name="oxf.fr.detail.buttons.acme.order">
    summary wizard-prev wizard-next pdf tiff save review
</property>

Example for the Summary Page:

<property as="xs:string"  name="oxf.fr.summary.buttons.acme.order">
    home review pdf tiff delete duplicate new
</property>

See also [Predefined buttons](/form-runner/advanced/buttons-and-processes/README.md#predefined buttons).

Sending

You can send the URL of a PDF file using the content = "pdf-url" parameter. See Sending a PDF URL.

Email

You can email the PDF file using the following property:

<property
    as="xs:boolean"
    name="oxf.fr.email.attach-pdf.*.*"
    value="true"/>

Production of TIFF images

[SINCE Orbeon Forms 2016.1]

PDF files can be converted to TIFF images. See TIFF Production.

Third-party software requirements

Orbeon Forms produces PDF files without the need for any third-party software installation.

All modern web browsers are able to read and render PDF files, which means that you don't need any third-party software at all to read PDF files either.

If you wish so, however, you can use Adobe Acrobat Reader to read PDF files. If you are on a Mac, the built-in Preview app also handles PDF files very well without the need for Adobe software.

If you wish to create or update PDF files for PDF templates, then you need Adobe Acrobat Pro DC or an alternative like PDFpenPro. However, if you use automatic PDFs then you don't need PDF authoring software.