[poppler] question / possible bounty - XFA support

Wed Aug 30 03:13:13 UTC 2017

The current XFA spec is at http://partners.adobe.com/public/developer/en/xml/xfa_spec_3_3.pdf  (all previous version since 1.0 have also been published).

Leonard

-----Original Message-----
From: Nikola Ciprich [mailto:nikola.ciprich at linuxbox.cz] 
Sent: Tuesday, August 29, 2017 2:25 AM
To: Leonard Rosenthol <lrosenth at adobe.com>
Cc: poppler at lists.freedesktop.org
Subject: Re: [poppler] question / possible bounty - XFA support

Hello Leonard,

thanks for you reply..

On Sun, Aug 27, 2017 at 03:42:34PM +0000, Leonard Rosenthol wrote:
> For a PDF 1.x, as defined by ISO 32000-1, XFA is as much as part of the standard as JPEG and TrueType.  
> 
> XFA, even though it is a publicly documented specification from Adobe, is just that – publicly documented!   You can find all the specs on our web site.  XFA support has been implemented by at least a half-dozen PDF vendors, so if someone wants to do it for poppler – it can be done!

hmm, didn't know docs were publically available.. 

I've found this:
https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwwwimages.adobe.com%2Fcontent%2Fdam%2FAdobe%2Fen%2Fdevnet%2Flivecycle%2Fpdfs%2FAdobe_XML_Form_Object_Model_Reference.pdf&data=02%7C01%7C%7C573405525d0d49644e6608d4eeae8f64%7Cfa7b1b5a7b34438794aed2c178decee1%7C0%7C1%7C636395880886948954&sdata=DZuzAmfuUHNwMdDEtDveaRNEhsWJ8G%2F029sZ51e5YEQ%3D&reserved=0

seems to be long reading, 412 pages :) I'll have a look at it, thanks.
are you aware of some other docs, or is this the best source?

> 
> Using AcroRead on Unix won’t necessarily help you either, as that version of Adobe Reader is quite dated and doesn't support the current XFA specification (which is most likely what the SAP tool is generating).  You should test that option out before you go down that path, as it might not work out anyway.

for now, it seems to work, of course it's possible that after some SAP upgrade, it'll just stop working, which is just another reason why I would'n like to stick to such workaround.. :(

BR

nik

> 
> Leonard
> PDF Architect, Adobe Systems
> 
> On 8/26/17, 7:31 AM, "poppler on behalf of Nikola Ciprich" <poppler-bounces at lists.freedesktop.org on behalf of nikola.ciprich at linuxbox.cz> wrote:
> 
>     Hello dear poppler developer(s),
>     
>     I'd like to ask question many times asked, but also possibly
>     offering bounty for resolution..
>     
>     Our customer has issue displaying one particular PDF file generated by SAP
>     HR portal they use. Changing it on SAP side is not possible in reasonable
>     time and due to security, as well as stability reasons, I'd really hate
>     to install adobe reader just to be able to view one particular file type..
>     
>     problem is, that under evince (or anything poppler based, or even other PDF
>     viewers), I do not see file content properly, due to lack of XFA support.
>     
>     example file can be obtained here:
>     
>     
> https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnik.lb
> ox.cz%2Fdownload%2Fodmeny.pdf&data=02%7C01%7C%7C472a5b9bdd0f424951d108
> d4ec760106%7Cfa7b1b5a7b34438794aed2c178decee1%7C0%7C1%7C63639343898537
> 8621&sdata=rfUaLLGvQwoTXDvCnd6VOLDgCIQZyFnO%2BISiN73YU4o%3D&reserved=0
>     
>     I also understand that XFA is not really standard and implementing support
>     is certainly not easy, due to lack of documentation.
>     
>     My question is, can you estimate how hard it would be to implement at least
>     subset of needed functionality to be able to display such files?
>     
>     If it would be possible at all, and with reasonable effort, would
>     you be interested in doing it for a bounty? I mean adding support
>     to poppler so it's working in evince at least then..
>     
>     Or has anyone any other tips on how to deal with such file under
>     linux desktop, other then using acroread?
>     
>     thanks a lot in advance
>     
>     with best regards
>     
>     nikola ciprich
>     
>     
>     
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--
-------------------------------------
Ing. Nikola CIPRICH
LinuxBox.cz, s.r.o.
28.rijna 168, 709 00 Ostrava

tel.:   +420 591 166 214
fax:    +420 596 621 273
mobil:  +420 777 093 799
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