To merge and analyze the data in the fields of multiple pdfs filled by the customers is a common application. FormDataConverter can help you collect these data and import them into the database. Conversely, FormDataConverter also can export the data in the database into the files with many fields. Currently, the supported file types are FDF,XML,XFDF,PDF, the supported database are OLEDB, OdbcDB.

 

To use this class, just follow these steps:

 

• Create a table in the database if the table doesn't exist.
• Define the FormDataConverter.Table to map the fields' names to the table's columns' names.
• Call the API to export or import data.

 

Code Snippet

 

[C#]

 

//Import data into the database

FormDataConverter converter = new FormDataConverter();

 

//Define the DataTable.

DataTable mDataTable = new DataTable();

mDataTable.TableName = "TestConvertor";

 

DataColumnCollection columns = mDataTable.Columns;

columns.Add("Company",typeof(string));

columns.Add("Address.1",typeof(string));

columns["Address.1"].Caption = "Address1";

columns.Add("Address.2",typeof(string));

columns["Address.2"].Caption = "Address2";

 

converter.Table = mDataTable;

DataType sourceType = DataType.XML;

 

FileStream[] sourceStreams = new FileStream[2];

 

sourceStreams[0] = new FileStream("Convertor.xml", FileMode.Open);

sourceStreams[1] = new FileStream("Convertor2.xml", FileMode.Open);

 

converter.ConvertToDataTable(sourceStreams, sourceType);

 

string TestPath = @".\UnitTest\form\FormFiller\";

string connectString = "Provider=Microsoft.Jet.OLEDB.4.0;Data Source=" + TestPath + "test.mdb";

 

DataType dbType = DataType.OLEDB;

converter.ImportIntoDataBase(connectString, dbType);

 

//Export data from the database

converter = new FormDataConverter();

converter.Table = mDataTable;

 

DataType destType = DataType.XML;

dbType = DataType.OLEDB;

TestPath = @".\UnitTest\form\FormFiller\";

connectString = "Provider=Microsoft.Jet.OLEDB.4.0;Data Source=" +

TestPath + "test.mdb";

//Export data from the databse into the FormDataConverter.Table

converter.ExportFromDataBase(connectString, dbType);

 

FileStream[] destStreams = new FileStream[converter.Table.Rows.Count];

destStreams[0] = new FileStream("ConvertorNew.xml", FileMode.Create);

destStreams[1] = new FileStream("ConvertorNew2.xml", FileMode.Create);

 

converter.ConverToStreams(destStreams, destType);

 

[Visual Basic]

 

'Import data into the database

Dim converter As FormDataConverter =  New FormDataConverter()

 

'Define the DataTable.

Dim mDataTable As DataTable =  New DataTable()

mDataTable.TableName = "TestConvertor"

 

Dim columns As DataColumnCollection =  mDataTable.Columns

columns.Add("Company",Type.GetType(String))

columns.Add("Address.1",Type.GetType(String))

columns("Address.1").Caption = "Address1"

columns.Add("Address.2",Type.GetType(String))

columns("Address.2").Caption = "Address2"

 

converter.Table = mDataTable

Dim sourceType As DataType =  DataType.XML

 

Dim sourceStreams() As FileStream =  New FileStream(2) {}

 

sourceStreams(0) = New FileStream("Convertor.xml", FileMode.Open)

sourceStreams(1) = New FileStream("Convertor2.xml", FileMode.Open)

 

converter.ConvertToDataTable(sourceStreams, sourceType)

Dim TestPath As String =  ".\UnitTest\form\FormFiller\"

String connectString = "Provider=Microsoft.Jet.OLEDB.4.0;Data Source=" +

TestPath + "test.mdb"

Dim dbType As DataType =  DataType.OLEDB

converter.ImportIntoDataBase(connectString, dbType)

 

'Export data from the database

converter = New FormDataConverter()

converter.Table = mDataTable

 

Dim destType As DataType =  DataType.XML

dbType = DataType.OLEDB

TestPath = ".\UnitTest\form\FormFiller\"

connectString = "Provider=Microsoft.Jet.OLEDB.4.0;Data Source=" + TestPath + "test.mdb"

'Export data from the databse into the FormDataConverter.Table

converter.ExportFromDataBase(connectString, dbType)

 

Dim destStreams() As FileStream =  New FileStream(converter.Table.Rows.Count) {}

destStreams(0) = New FileStream("ConvertorNew.xml", FileMode.Create)

destStreams(1) = New FileStream("ConvertorNew2.xml", FileMode.Create)

 

converter.ConverToStreams(destStreams, destType)