Forms filler to dbf format?

[Raymond Lyons]

This is not specifically an Alpha Five question, but maybe someone can help.

Many people have qualms (quite rightly, it seems to me) about sending their Social Security number, drivers license number and so on over the internet. But if they got a small form file they could fill in with such data they would send it back via regular mail on a diskette.

Does anyone know of a small forms filler type program that could be used for this purpose and be such that when the file comes back you could extract the data in dbf, Ascii or some other format readily imported into A5? Of course, one could send out a copy of the A5 runtime with the form, but that would be sending out way more than I would want to send out. (Hmm, maybe put a version of the runtime on a CD that could be run from the CD and then save the data file to a diskette. I believe everything needed to run A5 could be on the CD without installing anything, correct? Might work with a CD but preferably I would like to be able to e-mail whatever is needed--something comparatively small-- to the recipient.)

Something like a PDF with a fill-in form would be ideal. As for an actual PDF form file, the Acrobat Reader has no way of saving a PDF file once the form is filled in, and even if it did I know of no easy way to extract the data items out of a PDF file (I think there is a plug-in for extracting PDF table data but I know of none for extracting forms data unless it is done on a web site).

One thought is to use an Excel file on the theory that everyone has Excel, but in fact that theory is incorrect, just as not everyone has the Acrobat Reader. Preferably what they need to fill in the form would be sent to them with the form and it would be a comparatively small file and would not need to be installed on the recipient's computer to run it on a one time basis. Hmm again, seems like I vaguely remember there being such a program for Excel files from years ago but I can't remember the name and a search of the web isn't ringing any bells or finding anything useful.

Any help/thoughts would be appreciated.

Ray

[Stephen Williams]

RE: Forms filler to dbf format?

When I use the U.S. mail I use paper... would this be too difficult?

Loading a diskette, import data, Loading another diskette...
or simply type in 20 digits or so.

Otherwise, just use good old text... You set up the template and use file read_line() looking for Social Security and Drivers License... Keep those items on a seperate line in the document.

And nothing is totally secure. Personally I have no problem with a web page using security encryption - I figure this is probably the MOST secure method available. All the others leave hardware/copies available for theft and perusal.

[Jim Chapman]

RE: Forms filler to dbf format?

Hello Ray,
A small executable file could be written that would open a primative 'dos' box and ask the questions, writing the respones to the same disk. This type of exe would be very small and fit on the disk along with the data file.

Jim

[Raymond Lyons]

RE: Forms filler to dbf format?

>>When I use the U.S. mail I use paper... would this be too difficult?
Loading a diskette, import data, Loading another diskette...
or simply type in 20 digits or so.

[Raymond Lyons]

RE: Forms filler to dbf format?

>>A small executable file could be written

[Raymond Lyons]

RE: Forms filler to dbf format?

In case anyone is interested, I finally found a reference to the software I was thinking about. It used to be called Baler Spreadsheet Complier and I guess is now called Visual Baler. Although I am sure it would work for what I wanted, it costs $250, which is more than I am willing to pay.

Ray