connect Acrobat form to MS Access database

[MJH]

What is the best way to connect a Acrobat PDF form to a Microsoft Access database (mdb) file (which will reside in same directory, not on a server)?  I suppose I could convert the mdb file to XML and link that way, but it would be nice to connect directly.  Any other suggestions in general for connecting Acrobat PDF forms to a database (that don't involve a server or Web service)?

[Dave Watts]

If you're not serving the PDF over the web, you can use OLEDB to
connect the form to the Access database. This only works if users can
access the database from their computers just like they'd access the
form from their computers. And of course it has to be a LiveCycle form
instead of an Acroform.

Dave Watts, CTO, Fig Leaf Software
http://www.figleaf.com/
http://training.figleaf.com/

Fig Leaf Software is a Veteran-Owned Small Business (VOSB) on
GSA Schedule, and provides the highest caliber vendor-authorized
instruction at our training centers, online, or onsite.

[MJH]

thanks for the reply....can you point me to a good reference?  I found this one so far:
http://help.adobe.com/en_US/livecycle/9.0/designerHelp/index.htm?content=000553.html

[Jono Moore]

There are a bunch of threads about it over at the Adobe forums:

http://forums.adobe.com/search.jspa?q=access+oledb&resultTypes=MESSAGE&resultTypes=COMMUNITY&peopleEnabled=true&dateRange=all&communityID=3318&username=&numResults=15&rankBy=9

and a Tech Talk by Paul Guerett:

http://adobechats.adobe.acrobat.com/p69655795/

I haven't tried doing it myself, so not much help otherwise. :)

[Hemant]

I agree with Dave to use OLEDB connection to connect MDB database
directly.

Following link demonstrate with screen shots to configure your local
system to connect to database thru PDF.
http://forms.stefcameron.com/2006/09/18/connecting-a-form-to-a-database/

Hope this helps!!

Regards,
Hemant Garg

On Feb 11, 7:07 am, Jono Moore <jono.mo...@gmail.com> wrote:
> There are a bunch of threads about it over at the Adobe forums:http://forums.adobe.com/search.jspa?q=access+oledb&resultTypes=MESSAG...

[MJH]

thanks, VERY helpful, esp. the webcast!

[MJH]

According to

Tech Talk by Paul Guerett:

http://adobechats.adobe.acrobat.com/p69655795/

he warns against using OLEDB to connect a database source to more than 10 or so computers on a network since the administrator will have to physically configure each computer's DNS to allow the database connection...in other words, it quickly becomes an IT nightmare using OLEDB

What are other options?  Maybe a local XML data file that the pdf can bind to?  Or do we run into the same configuration issues?

[Dave Watts]

> he warns against using OLEDB to connect a database source to more than 10 or
> so computers on a network since the administrator will have to physically
> configure each computer's DNS to allow the database connection...in other
> words, it quickly becomes an IT nightmare using OLEDB

If you're using something like SQL Server, this could actually work ok
- this is how client/server applications worked for many years! You
can push DSN information to Windows machines using Group Policy.

But the standard multiuser alternative here would be LiveCycle ES
server - this is exactly what it's designed for (among other things).

[tarekahf]

In my case, I am using ASP.NET to generate XDP and push the result to
the Browser. I wish I could use Adobe LC ES Server, but we havn't yet
reached that stage.

Using .NET XML APIs, I generate the needed XML, and when the XDP
String is formatted properly, the result is the PDF Template is Merged
with the XDP Data and the PDF is rendered properly on the client
browser.

I have develoepd Standard Generic .NET Classes that help to generate
XDP and Submitting PDF from/to browser/server, and reduce the effort
of development.

Tarek.