PDFTK and removing the XFA format -

are there issues can come of removing xfa format pdf form? i'm using pdftk fill form, , found if forms xfa, pdftk doesn't work unless drop_xfa command first create new template form. 1 thing did notice if didn't drop_xfa, see fields pre-filled on acrobat reader not acrobat pro. other views ubuntu document viewer, fine. don't mind doing drop_xfa checking there might issues me doing forms not aware of.

example: if form filled, , it's read on system grab fields/values process.

thank in advance.

there 3 types of forms in pdf:

• forms using acroform technology. in case, each field corresponds 1 or more widgets fixed positions on specific pages. form described using nothing pdf syntax.
• dynamic forms using xml forms architecture (xfa). in case, pdf file nothing container xml file describes whole form. refer dynamic xfa, because form can expand or shrink based on data added: 1-page form can turn 100-page form adding more data.
• hybrid forms combine acroform , xfa technology. in case, form described twice: once using pdf objects; once using xml. obviously, such form not dynamic: acroform part still defines widget annotations defined @ absolute positions on specific pages. form can't adapt data.

if have dynamic xfa form, dropping xml remove complete form. there won't left.

however, seems confronted hybrid form consists of both acroform , xfa syntax. hybrid forms pain because lead confusion. instance: viewer not xfa aware, show data stored in acroform. viewer xfa aware, can give preference data stored in xfa form. what's problem, might ask? aren't both forms equivalent?

ideally, both versions of form indeed equivalent, but:

• if form isn't filled out correctly, acroform can different xfa form.
• xfa has more functionality acroform technology. instance: text field in xfa form can justified (similar <p align="justify"> in html). however, option doesn't exist in acroform text field (you can have left, center or right alignment). hence if have text justified in xfa form, @ acroform, text won't justified (because justified text doesn't exist in acroform text field).

this long answer explain that, if have hybrid form, in cases ok throw away xfa part. may have small differences, if ok form looks in ubuntu document viewer (a viewer doesn't support xfa), should fine.

disclaimer: ceo of itext group. pdftk third party tool based on obsolete , no longer supported version of itext. itext group not endorse use of pdftk.