This Is More Of A "Can?" Question....

[LSLD]

Hello All:

I am Very New...be kind, please!

I recently purchased the TSB version software.

My first in what will probably be a line of several questions is simply:

Can the TSB used in the capacity of "forms-filling" or "forms-data mapping" for either a word document or more specifically, .pdf formatted documents? If so, can someone explain a bit for me? Thank you!:)

David
(LSLD)

[TigerSoftware]

Hello All:

I am Very New...be kind, please!

I recently purchased the TSB version software.

My first in what will probably be a line of several questions is simply:

Can the TSB used in the capacity of "forms-filling" or "forms-data mapping" for either a word document or more specifically, .pdf formatted documents? If so, can someone explain a bit for me? Thank you!:)

David
(LSLD)

Hi David,

I am not sure what you mean what you say form filling.

Basically, every niche, business or person will require managing some sort of data.

Pick a niche, tell us a little bit about it and we can brainstorm right here. That may give you a better answer and open up the creative side.


Thomas

[Alton]

That sounds like what an old software program did. I used it. I think it was called Make Your Own Software. There were two of them. They came out about 3 or 4 years ago. I think the other was called ISB or Instant Software Builder. I am not sure of the names. They used something called "recipes". All they did was place your information in predetermined fields. And, that is not what this program is about.

Maybe, that is what you are asking about? Those two programs were very limited in what you could do with them.

Alton

[LSLD]

Thomas and Alton, thank you both for responding so quickly.

Alton, I am familiar with that software program. I created something similar using that concept. Yes, it is very limiting. That is not quite what I want to do. Too simple. Too limiting as you said.

I am compiling and creating legal forms mostly in .pdf format. I would like to create a program using a database of these forms with fill-in fields created (I can and will do that) in the various .pdf docs.

I want to create a program with TSB that will allow my users the ability to answer specific questions based on the type of legal docs desired, geographic location, and several other variables. Then have these docs accessed from the database and each of the various forms completed based on the answers provided from the questions asked. Then have these forms ready for printing and file saving. There are more bells and whistles for this program and mutiple uses....but in a nutshell...that is the core of what I am desiring to do.

I know that there are many software programs out there that will "programmatically" fill in .pdf formatted documents. One such program is pdf field-merge. However, most, if not all such programs are not user friendly and definitely not customizable to my particular application.

Here is a discussion/tutorial on creating or writing program language that could do what I desire. Unfortunately, while I do understand the basic logic...I am NOT a programmer and was hoping that with TSB I could create the "mapping" of text to complete documents without having to go to through such a dramatic school of learning. http://www.codeproject.com/KB/recipes/mgpdfreader.aspx


All suggestions are greatly appreciated.

Thank you.

David
(LSLD)

[Dexx]

heh I'm going to throw out a wild-guess and say that TSB can't currently do what you are asking :P

[LSLD]

heh I'm going to throw out a wild-guess and say that TSB can't currently do what you are asking :P


That's not encouraging!

There has to be a way....

[TigerSoftware]

That's not encouraging!

There has to be a way....

Mail merger will be in the Pro version this year. That will be the only way to create a merge field. Once the fields are merged in the document, you will be able to save them to pdf. :)


Thomas

[LSLD]

Thomas:

I am persistent and determined to figure out a way to make this work with what I just purchased.

What if I generated a .csv file through creating my own software program that would obtain answers and input to a .csv file format? Then, take the .csv file and submit or import or export the data file into pre-constructed .pdf (form field compatible and matched) documents to complete form filling and generate the end or output documents? Could this work?

OR Could I simply create my own .pdf document database (form field ready documents) and then write code to send data (answers generated by specific questions for specific .pdf forms) that would fill the forms and generate the completed document? If code could work, what language would I use...what is compatible?

Here is a link similar to what I am referring to: CTDeveloping.

I know you are busy....but would truly appreciate your comments and the comments and advise of others.

THANK YOU!!

David
(LSLD)

[fortesque]

Thomas:

I am persistent and determined to figure out a way to make this work with what I just purchased.

What if I generated a .csv file through creating my own software program that would obtain answers and input to a .csv file format? Then, take the .csv file and submit or import or export the data file into pre-constructed .pdf (form field compatible and matched) documents to complete form filling and generate the end or output documents? Could this work?

OR Could I simply create my own .pdf document database (form field ready documents) and then write code to send data (answers generated by specific questions for specific .pdf forms) that would fill the forms and generate the completed document? If code could work, what language would I use...what is compatible?

Here is a link similar to what I am referring to: CTDeveloping.

I know you are busy....but would truly appreciate your comments and the comments and advise of others.

THANK YOU!!

David
(LSLD)

David:
You could construct an application using TSBPro and have the data exported to a csv file. Then with another program you wrote, have the csv file data written into a .pdf document.

There are several ways to do this or even reverse the flow of data. First, without referencing TSBPro at all.

Write a program that creates a form. Send the form data to a database (Excel like or MySql database). Then write another program that will take the data in the csv file or MySql database and populate a .pdf file.
Perl is one programming language that will allow you to do that. C++ and Visual C are others. Python is another.

However, since Perl is open source there is a large support community available with robust scripts already written to accomplish various tasks, plus excellent help sites.

Still, iif you are not a Perl programmer it will not be an easy task. Perl stands for program extraction and retraction language (if I recall correctly0 and is very flexible in building reports using numbers and words. I have written such programs including designing a form using Perl Tk (Perl graphics) that sent its input to a database. It is tedious particularly if you have lots of data fields (text or numbers, doesn't matter). However, it provides enormous flexibility in the use of logic, and managing regular expressions. For example, checking whether the user entered the correct data, parsing words or numbers, searching for specific text or number sequences, and managing "what if's."

Also, a database such as MySql has its own language and its (my experience) easy to make mistakes in coding.

Another approach is to create a data form for use on the Internet. Using Php and html you can manage data input from the user (who sees your form on a web page) and then store the data inputed into the form in a csv file or MySql database. You then would extract the data from the database and do what you will with it, such as populate another form, run calculations, etc.

As Thomas moves TSBPro along it will have significant capability.

Unless you plan to be a programmer I caution you to think long and hard before entering the self programming world. I was in a similar situation to yours several years ago. I started out learning Visual Basic, and found it didn't do what I wanted. Moved on to C++ and then stepped over to Perl. Then I had to learn Php to accomplish building a rich program with a nice interface.

It took me over 4 years of hellish work to get through it. Granted Ii'm not the swiftist computer person around, but you have to be very dedicated to enormous detail and study to learn some of the archane expressions and command sequences.

Consider outsourcing the programming work. In today's market there are lots of qualified folks looking for work. It that's too expensive, then maybe self programming is the only option provided you don't go with TSBPro. But beware!

Regards,

John Burns

[TigerSoftware]

Thomas:

I am persistent and determined to figure out a way to make this work with what I just purchased.

What if I generated a .csv file through creating my own software program that would obtain answers and input to a .csv file format? Then, take the .csv file and submit or import or export the data file into pre-constructed .pdf (form field compatible and matched) documents to complete form filling and generate the end or output documents? Could this work?

OR Could I simply create my own .pdf document database (form field ready documents) and then write code to send data (answers generated by specific questions for specific .pdf forms) that would fill the forms and generate the completed document? If code could work, what language would I use...what is compatible?

Here is a link similar to what I am referring to: CTDeveloping.

I know you are busy....but would truly appreciate your comments and the comments and advise of others.

THANK YOU!!

David
(LSLD)

Hi David,

The best thing I can come up with is to recreate the forms using the reports within the TSB Pro version.

That way your user can enter in the necessary data and the reports will be generated from that data.

Any type of programming language should be able to take a csv file and do what you want. I really don't think this is a good idea though. You are making it a lot more difficult for you and the support will be great. Due to licensing, you would not be able to tap into the TSB with your own code. There is no api and there will never be one because of licensing of some of the components I am using. So that would not help you in regards to your software application.

Some things are so specific that they need custom software. I can't fulfill some of these requests because it would only benefit one person compared to the whole group.

Once the mail merge functionality is done for the Pro version, this will give people a lot more functionality with what they want to create. Honestly, a lot of that stuff can be accomplished with the reports since the mail merge will work similar to those.


Sorry I can't be of more help. We can continue to throw back ideas and brainstorm it more if that helps. I know I will post more ideas when or if they come to me. :)


Thomas

[LSLD]

Thank you very much, John.

I truly appreciate you taking the time to read what I am trying to accomplish. I also appreciate your wisdom and advice.

You provided a wonderful reply! Very insightful and helpful.

I was beginning to lean in the direction of html, online database and was also beginning to explore Php. Well, I have a lot to think about. I agree with everything you suggested and expressed. My head was spining and counterclockwise with all the research and studying I have been doing trying to figure out how to make this whole thing work.

Your suggestions will most likely be my guiding force with what I want to do...and most likely I will go the html, java and / or Php route. I just purchased the TSB and will think further about the TSBPro version when Thomas has it available and perfected further...hopefully later this year.

Wish you lived closer....I would truly like to pick your brain and learn more from you.

Very best to you,

David
(LSLD)

[LSLD]

Hi David,

The best thing I can come up with is to recreate the forms using the reports within the TSB Pro version.

That way your user can enter in the necessary data and the reports will be generated from that data.

Any type of programming language should be able to take a csv file and do what you want. I really don't think this is a good idea though. You are making it a lot more difficult for you and the support will be great. Due to licensing, you would not be able to tap into the TSB with your own code. There is no api and there will never be one because of licensing of some of the components I am using. So that would not help you in regards to your software application.

Some things are so specific that they need custom software. I can't fulfill some of these requests because it would only benefit one person compared to the whole group.

Once the mail merge functionality is done for the Pro version, this will give people a lot more functionality with what they want to create. Honestly, a lot of that stuff can be accomplished with the reports since the mail merge will work similar to those.


Sorry I can't be of more help. We can continue to throw back ideas and brainstorm it more if that helps. I know I will post more ideas when or if they come to me. :)


Thomas

Hello Thomas:

I do appreciate your reply....and mostly your candor!

John Burns provided some good suggestions and comments previously. I also appreciate what you expressed. It appears I have a few options; either go with doing this all myself (I could probably figure it out after many, many hours of frustration), hire a programmer to create my own application OR wait a bit until the TSBPro is ready and available for me to acquire. From what you expressed, the report function probably will do what I need for this application.

I was so hoping that TSB would do what I wanted for this particular application. I guess I will have to figure out other great uses for TSB and apply other ideas I have for software applications. :)

I am excited to see the PRO version when it becomes available....and in the meantime begin to work another way to make my idea come to life.

In the interim, with all the spare time you have ;), if any ideas come to mind or suggestions PLEASE share them with me. Thanks so much!!

Kindest regards,

David
(LSLD)

[TigerSoftware]

Thomas has it available and perfected further...hopefully later this year.


David
(LSLD)

The Pro version will always be an on going work of art David. :D



Thomas