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How to fill PDF form from database using C# and VB.NET?
7 mins read
Syncfusion Essential PDF is a .NET PDF library used to create, read, and edit PDF documents. Using this library, you can fill PDF form from database using C# and VB.NET.
Steps to fill PDF form from database programmatically:
- Create a new C# console application project.
- Install the Syncfusion.Pdf.WinForms NuGet package as reference to your .NET Framework application from NuGet.org.
- Include the following namespaces in Program.cs file.
C#
using Syncfusion.Pdf.Parsing; using System.Data.OleDb;
VB.NET
Imports Syncfusion.Pdf.Parsing Imports System.Data.OleDb
- Use the following code snippet to fill PDF form from database.
C#
//Connection string
string dbFile = System.IO.Path.GetFullPath(path) + "Database.mdb";
string connectionString = "Provider=Microsoft.Jet.OLEDB.4.0;Data Source=" + dbFile;
//SQL Query
string strSQL = "SELECT * From Table1";
//Create a connection
OleDbConnection connection = new OleDbConnection(connectionString);
//Create a command and set its connection
OleDbCommand command = new OleDbCommand(strSQL, connection);
//Open the connection and execute the select command
connection.Open();
//Execute command
OleDbDataReader reader = command.ExecuteReader();
//Load the PDF document
PdfLoadedDocument loadedDocument = new PdfLoadedDocument("FormTemplate.pdf");
//Get the loaded form
PdfLoadedForm loadedForm = loadedDocument.Form;
while (reader.Read())
{
//Get the values from database
string name = reader["Name"].ToString();
string phone = reader["Phone"].ToString();
string email = reader["Email Address"].ToString();
//Assign values to fields
(loadedForm.Fields["Name"] as PdfLoadedTextBoxField).Text = name;
(loadedForm.Fields["Phone"] as PdfLoadedTextBoxField).Text = phone;
(loadedForm.Fields["Email address"] as PdfLoadedTextBoxField).Text = email;
}
//SQL Query for another table
strSQL = "select * from Table2";
//Create a connection
connection = new OleDbConnection(connectionString);
//Create a command and set its connection
command = new OleDbCommand(strSQL, connection);
//Open the connection and execute the select command
connection.Open();
//Execute command
reader = command.ExecuteReader();
while (reader.Read())
{
//Get values from database
string qualification = reader["Qualification"].ToString();
bool isSelected = Convert.ToBoolean(reader["IsSelected"]);
//Check the checkbox
PdfLoadedCheckBoxField loadedCheckBoxField = loadedForm.Fields[qualification] as PdfLoadedCheckBoxField;
loadedCheckBoxField.Checked = isSelected;
}
//Save the document
loadedDocument.Save("Form.pdf");
//Close the document
loadedDocument.Close(true);
//This will open the PDF file so, the result will be seen in default PDF Viewer
Process.Start("Form.pdf");
VB.NET
'Connection string
Dim dbFile As String = System.IO.Path.GetFullPath(path) & "Database.mdb"
Dim connectionString As String = "Provider=Microsoft.Jet.OLEDB.4.0;Data Source=" & dbFile
'SQL query
Dim strSQL As String = "SELECT * From Table1"
'Create a connection
Dim connection As OleDbConnection = New OleDbConnection(connectionString)
'Create a command and set its connection
Dim command As OleDbCommand = New OleDbCommand(strSQL, connection)
'Open the connection and execute the select command
connection.Open()
'Execute command
Dim reader As OleDbDataReader = command.ExecuteReader()
'Load the PDF document
Dim loadedDocument As PdfLoadedDocument = New PdfLoadedDocument("FormTemplate.pdf")
'Get the loaded form
Dim loadedForm As PdfLoadedForm = loadedDocument.Form
While reader.Read()
'Get the values from database
Dim name As String = reader("Name").ToString()
Dim phone As String = reader("Phone").ToString()
Dim email As String = reader("Email Address").ToString()
'Assign values to fields
TryCast(loadedForm.Fields("Name"), PdfLoadedTextBoxField).Text = name
TryCast(loadedForm.Fields("Phone"), PdfLoadedTextBoxField).Text = phone
TryCast(loadedForm.Fields("Email address"), PdfLoadedTextBoxField).Text = email
End While
'SQL query for another table
strSQL = "select * from Table2"
'Create a connection
connection = New OleDbConnection(connectionString)
'Create a command and set its connection
command = New OleDbCommand(strSQL, connection)
'Open the connection and execute the select command
connection.Open()
'Execute command
reader = command.ExecuteReader()
While reader.Read()
'Get values from database
Dim qualification As String = reader("Qualification").ToString()
Dim isSelected As Boolean = Convert.ToBoolean(reader("IsSelected"))
'Check the checkbox
Dim loadedCheckBoxField As PdfLoadedCheckBoxField = TryCast(loadedForm.Fields(qualification), PdfLoadedCheckBoxField)
loadedCheckBoxField.Checked = isSelected
End While
'Save the document
loadedDocument.Save("Form.pdf")
'Close the document
loadedDocument.Close(True)
'This will open the PDF file so, the result will be seen in default PDF Viewer
Process.Start("Form.pdf")
A complete working sample can be downloaded from PDFFormFillingSample.zip.
By executing the program, you will get the PDF document as follows. 
Take a moment to peruse the documentation, where you will find other options like creating PDF form, modifying existing form fields, removing editing capability, removing form fields, importing FDF file to PDF, export PDF file to FDF, adding actions to form fields with code examples.
Refer here to learn more about .NET PDF Forms.
An online sample link to generate .NET PDF Forms
Note:
Starting with v16.2.0.x, if you reference Syncfusion assemblies from trial setup or from the NuGet feed, include a license key in your projects. Refer to link to learn about generating and registering Syncfusion license key in your application to use the components without trail message.
