Skip to main content
Skip table of contents

Create fields in a table

These examples were written in answer to questions such as:


createformintable

JAVA

JAVA
/**
 * Example written by Bruno Lowagie in answer to:
 * http://stackoverflow.com/questions/21028286/itext-editable-texfield-is-not-clickable
 */
package sandbox.acroforms;

import com.itextpdf.text.Document;
import com.itextpdf.text.DocumentException;
import com.itextpdf.text.ExceptionConverter;
import com.itextpdf.text.Phrase;
import com.itextpdf.text.Rectangle;
import com.itextpdf.text.pdf.PdfContentByte;
import com.itextpdf.text.pdf.PdfFormField;
import com.itextpdf.text.pdf.PdfPCell;
import com.itextpdf.text.pdf.PdfPCellEvent;
import com.itextpdf.text.pdf.PdfPTable;
import com.itextpdf.text.pdf.PdfWriter;
import com.itextpdf.text.pdf.TextField;

import java.io.File;
import java.io.FileOutputStream;
import java.io.IOException;
import sandbox.WrapToTest;

@WrapToTest
public class CreateFormInTable {
    
    class MyCellField implements PdfPCellEvent {
        protected String fieldname;
        public MyCellField(String fieldname) {
            this.fieldname = fieldname;
        }
        public void cellLayout(PdfPCell cell, Rectangle rectangle, PdfContentByte[] canvases) {
            final PdfWriter writer = canvases[0].getPdfWriter();
            final TextField textField = new TextField(writer, rectangle, fieldname);
            try {
                final PdfFormField field = textField.getTextField();
                writer.addAnnotation(field);
            } catch (final IOException ioe) {
                throw new ExceptionConverter(ioe);
            } catch (final DocumentException de) {
                throw new ExceptionConverter(de);
            }
        }
    }
    
    public static final String DEST = "results/acroforms/form_in_table.pdf";

    public static void main(String[] args) throws IOException,
            DocumentException {
        File file = new File(DEST);
        file.getParentFile().mkdirs();
        new CreateFormInTable().createPdf(DEST);
    }
    
    public void createPdf(String dest) throws IOException, DocumentException {
        Document document = new Document();
        PdfWriter.getInstance(document, new FileOutputStream(dest));
        document.open();
        PdfPTable table = new PdfPTable(2);
        PdfPCell cell;
        cell = new PdfPCell(new Phrase("Name:"));
        table.addCell(cell);
        cell = new PdfPCell();
        cell.setCellEvent(new MyCellField("name"));
        table.addCell(cell);
        cell = new PdfPCell(new Phrase("Address"));
        table.addCell(cell);
        cell = new PdfPCell();
        cell.setCellEvent(new MyCellField("address"));
        table.addCell(cell);
        document.add(table);
        document.close();
    }

}


createradiointable

JAVA

JAVA
/**
 * Example written by Bruno Lowagie in answer to:
 * http://stackoverflow.com/questions/29393050/itext-radiogroup-radiobuttons-across-multiple-pdfpcells
 */
package sandbox.acroforms;

import com.itextpdf.text.Document;
import com.itextpdf.text.DocumentException;
import com.itextpdf.text.ExceptionConverter;
import com.itextpdf.text.Phrase;
import com.itextpdf.text.Rectangle;
import com.itextpdf.text.pdf.PdfContentByte;
import com.itextpdf.text.pdf.PdfFormField;
import com.itextpdf.text.pdf.PdfPCell;
import com.itextpdf.text.pdf.PdfPCellEvent;
import com.itextpdf.text.pdf.PdfPTable;
import com.itextpdf.text.pdf.PdfWriter;
import com.itextpdf.text.pdf.RadioCheckField;

import java.io.File;
import java.io.FileOutputStream;
import java.io.IOException;
import sandbox.WrapToTest;

@WrapToTest
public class CreateRadioInTable {
    
    class MyCellField implements PdfPCellEvent {
        protected PdfFormField radiogroup;
        protected String value;
        public MyCellField(PdfFormField radiogroup, String value) {
            this.radiogroup = radiogroup;
            this.value = value;
        }
        public void cellLayout(PdfPCell cell, Rectangle rectangle, PdfContentByte[] canvases) {
            final PdfWriter writer = canvases[0].getPdfWriter();
            RadioCheckField radio = new RadioCheckField(writer, rectangle, null, value);
            try {
                radiogroup.addKid(radio.getRadioField());
            } catch (final IOException ioe) {
                throw new ExceptionConverter(ioe);
            } catch (final DocumentException de) {
                throw new ExceptionConverter(de);
            }
        }
    }
    
    public static final String DEST = "results/acroforms/radio_in_table.pdf";

    public static void main(String[] args) throws IOException,
            DocumentException {
        File file = new File(DEST);
        file.getParentFile().mkdirs();
        new CreateRadioInTable().createPdf(DEST);
    }
    
    public void createPdf(String dest) throws IOException, DocumentException {
        Document document = new Document();
        PdfWriter writer = PdfWriter.getInstance(document, new FileOutputStream(dest));
        document.open();
        PdfFormField radiogroup = PdfFormField.createRadioButton(writer, true);
        radiogroup.setFieldName("Language");
        PdfPTable table = new PdfPTable(2);
        PdfPCell cell;
        cell = new PdfPCell(new Phrase("English:"));
        table.addCell(cell);
        cell = new PdfPCell();
        cell.setCellEvent(new MyCellField(radiogroup, "english"));
        table.addCell(cell);
        cell = new PdfPCell(new Phrase("French:"));
        table.addCell(cell);
        cell = new PdfPCell();
        cell.setCellEvent(new MyCellField(radiogroup, "french"));
        table.addCell(cell);
        cell = new PdfPCell(new Phrase("Dutch:"));
        table.addCell(cell);
        cell = new PdfPCell();
        cell.setCellEvent(new MyCellField(radiogroup, "dutch"));
        table.addCell(cell);
        document.add(table);
        writer.addAnnotation(radiogroup);
        document.close();
    }

}


checkboxcell

JAVA

JAVA
/**
 * Example written by Bruno Lowagie in answer to:
 * http://stackoverflow.com/questions/21342034/resizing-a-form-field-in-itextsharp
 * 
 * Given a cell, how do you add a check box with a specific size at a specific position.
 */
package sandbox.acroforms;

import com.itextpdf.text.Document;
import com.itextpdf.text.DocumentException;
import com.itextpdf.text.ExceptionConverter;
import com.itextpdf.text.Rectangle;
import com.itextpdf.text.pdf.PdfContentByte;
import com.itextpdf.text.pdf.PdfPCell;
import com.itextpdf.text.pdf.PdfPCellEvent;
import com.itextpdf.text.pdf.PdfPTable;
import com.itextpdf.text.pdf.PdfWriter;
import com.itextpdf.text.pdf.RadioCheckField;

import java.io.File;
import java.io.FileOutputStream;
import java.io.IOException;

import sandbox.WrapToTest;

@WrapToTest
public class CheckboxCell {
    
    public static final String DEST = "results/acroforms/checkbox_in_cell.pdf";
    
    public static void main(String[] args) throws IOException, DocumentException {
        File file = new File(DEST);
        file.getParentFile().mkdirs();
        new CheckboxCell().createPdf(DEST);
    }
    
    public void createPdf(String dest) throws IOException, DocumentException {
        Document document = new Document();
        PdfWriter.getInstance(document, new FileOutputStream(dest));
        document.open();
        // We create a table with 5 columns
        PdfPTable table = new PdfPTable(5);
        PdfPCell cell;
        // We add 5 cells
        for (int i = 0; i < 5; i++) {
            cell = new PdfPCell();
            cell.setCellEvent(new CheckboxCellEvent("cb" + i));
            // We create cell with height 50
            cell.setMinimumHeight(50);
            table.addCell(cell);
        }
        document.add(table);
        document.close();
    }
    
    class CheckboxCellEvent implements PdfPCellEvent {
        // The name of the check box field
        protected String name;
        // We create a cell event
        public CheckboxCellEvent(String name) {
            this.name = name;
        }
        // We create and add the check box field
        public void cellLayout(PdfPCell cell, Rectangle position,
            PdfContentByte[] canvases) {
            PdfWriter writer = canvases[0].getPdfWriter(); 
            // define the coordinates of the middle
            float x = (position.getLeft() + position.getRight()) / 2;
            float y = (position.getTop() + position.getBottom()) / 2;
            // define the position of a check box that measures 20 by 20
            Rectangle rect = new Rectangle(x - 10, y - 10, x + 10, y + 10);
            // define the check box
            RadioCheckField checkbox = new RadioCheckField(
                    writer, rect, name, "Yes");
            // add the check box as a field
            try {
                writer.addAnnotation(checkbox.getCheckField());
            } catch (Exception e) {
                throw new ExceptionConverter(e);
            }
        }
    }
}


checkboxcell2

JAVA

JAVA
/**
 * Example written by Bruno Lowagie in answer to:
 * http://stackoverflow.com/questions/34439850
 */
package sandbox.acroforms;

import com.itextpdf.text.Document;
import com.itextpdf.text.DocumentException;
import com.itextpdf.text.ExceptionConverter;
import com.itextpdf.text.Rectangle;
import com.itextpdf.text.pdf.PdfContentByte;
import com.itextpdf.text.pdf.PdfPCell;
import com.itextpdf.text.pdf.PdfPCellEvent;
import com.itextpdf.text.pdf.PdfPTable;
import com.itextpdf.text.pdf.PdfWriter;
import com.itextpdf.text.pdf.RadioCheckField;

import java.io.File;
import java.io.FileOutputStream;
import java.io.IOException;

import sandbox.WrapToTest;

@WrapToTest
public class CheckboxCell2 {
    
    public static final String DEST = "results/acroforms/checkbox_in_cell2.pdf";
    
    public static void main(String[] args) throws IOException, DocumentException {
        File file = new File(DEST);
        file.getParentFile().mkdirs();
        new CheckboxCell2().createPdf(DEST);
    }
    
    public void createPdf(String dest) throws IOException, DocumentException {
        Document document = new Document();
        PdfWriter.getInstance(document, new FileOutputStream(dest));
        document.open();
        // We create a table with 5 columns
        PdfPTable table = new PdfPTable(6);
        PdfPCell cell;
        // We add 5 cells
        for (int i = 0; i < 6; i++) {
            cell = new PdfPCell();
            cell.setCellEvent(new CheckboxCellEvent("cb" + i, i));
            // We create cell with height 50
            cell.setMinimumHeight(50);
            table.addCell(cell);
        }
        document.add(table);
        document.close();
    }
    
    class CheckboxCellEvent implements PdfPCellEvent {
        // The name of the check box field
        protected String name;
        protected int i;
        // We create a cell event
        public CheckboxCellEvent(String name, int i) {
            this.name = name;
            this.i = i;
        }
        // We create and add the check box field
        public void cellLayout(PdfPCell cell, Rectangle position,
            PdfContentByte[] canvases) {
            PdfWriter writer = canvases[0].getPdfWriter(); 
            // define the coordinates of the middle
            float x = (position.getLeft() + position.getRight()) / 2;
            float y = (position.getTop() + position.getBottom()) / 2;
            // define the position of a check box that measures 20 by 20
            Rectangle rect = new Rectangle(x - 10, y - 10, x + 10, y + 10);
            // define the check box
            RadioCheckField checkbox = new RadioCheckField(
                    writer, rect, name, "Yes");
            switch(i) {
                case 0:
                    checkbox.setCheckType(RadioCheckField.TYPE_CHECK);
                    break;
                case 1:
                    checkbox.setCheckType(RadioCheckField.TYPE_CIRCLE);
                    break;
                case 2:
                    checkbox.setCheckType(RadioCheckField.TYPE_CROSS);
                    break;
                case 3:
                    checkbox.setCheckType(RadioCheckField.TYPE_DIAMOND);
                    break;
                case 4:
                    checkbox.setCheckType(RadioCheckField.TYPE_SQUARE);
                    break;
                case 5:
                    checkbox.setCheckType(RadioCheckField.TYPE_STAR);
                    break;
            }
            checkbox.setChecked(true);
            // add the check box as a field
            try {
                writer.addAnnotation(checkbox.getCheckField());
            } catch (Exception e) {
                throw new ExceptionConverter(e);
            }
        }
    }
}


radiogroupmultipage2

JAVA

JAVA
/*
 * This example was written by Bruno Lowagie in answer to the following question:
 * http://stackoverflow.com/questions/30895930/issue-with-itext-radiocheckfield-when-displayed-on-multiple-pages
 */
package sandbox.acroforms;

import com.itextpdf.text.Document;
import com.itextpdf.text.DocumentException;
import com.itextpdf.text.Phrase;
import com.itextpdf.text.Rectangle;
import com.itextpdf.text.pdf.PdfContentByte;
import com.itextpdf.text.pdf.PdfFormField;
import com.itextpdf.text.pdf.PdfPCell;
import com.itextpdf.text.pdf.PdfPCellEvent;
import com.itextpdf.text.pdf.PdfPTable;
import com.itextpdf.text.pdf.PdfWriter;
import com.itextpdf.text.pdf.RadioCheckField;

import java.io.File;
import java.io.FileOutputStream;
import java.io.IOException;

/**
 * @author Bruno Lowagie (iText Software)
 */
public class RadioGroupMultiPage2 {
    
    public static final String DEST = "results/acroforms/multipage_radiobutton2.pdf";
    public static void main(String[] args) throws DocumentException, IOException {
        File file = new File(DEST);
        file.getParentFile().mkdirs();
        new RadioGroupMultiPage2().createPdf(DEST);
    }
    public void createPdf(String dest) throws IOException, DocumentException {
        Document document = new Document();
        PdfWriter writer = PdfWriter.getInstance(document, new FileOutputStream(dest));
        document.open();
        PdfFormField radiogroup = PdfFormField.createRadioButton(writer, true);
        radiogroup.setFieldName("answer");
        PdfPTable table = new PdfPTable(2);
        PdfPCell cell;
        for (int i = 0; i < 25; i++) {
            cell = new PdfPCell(new Phrase("Question " + i));
            table.addCell(cell);
            cell = new PdfPCell(new Phrase("Answer " + i));
            table.addCell(cell);
        }
        for (int i = 0; i <25; i++) {
            cell = new PdfPCell(new Phrase("Radio: " + i));
            table.addCell(cell);
            cell = new PdfPCell();
            cell.setCellEvent(new MyCellField(writer, radiogroup, "answer" + i));
            table.addCell(cell);
        }
        document.add(table);
        writer.addAnnotation(radiogroup);
        document.close();
    }
    
    class MyCellField implements PdfPCellEvent {

        protected PdfWriter writer;
        protected PdfFormField radiogroup;
        protected String value;
        
        public MyCellField(PdfWriter writer, PdfFormField radiogroup, String value) {
            this.writer = writer;
            this.radiogroup = radiogroup;
            this.value = value;
        }
        
        public void cellLayout(PdfPCell cell, Rectangle position, PdfContentByte[] canvases) {
            try {
                RadioCheckField radio = new RadioCheckField(writer, position, null, value);
                PdfFormField field = radio.getRadioField();
                writer.addAnnotation(field);
                radiogroup.addKid(field);
            } catch (IOException ex) {
                // do nothing
            } catch (DocumentException ex) {
                // do nothing
            }
        }
    }
}


comboboxitems

JAVA

JAVA
/**
 * Example written by Bruno Lowagie in answer to:
 * http://stackoverflow.com/questions/28236902/itext-combobox-width-of-selected-option-issue
 */
package sandbox.acroforms;

import com.itextpdf.text.BaseColor;
import com.itextpdf.text.Document;
import com.itextpdf.text.DocumentException;
import com.itextpdf.text.Element;
import com.itextpdf.text.ExceptionConverter;
import com.itextpdf.text.PageSize;
import com.itextpdf.text.Rectangle;
import com.itextpdf.text.pdf.BaseFont;
import com.itextpdf.text.pdf.PdfBorderDictionary;
import com.itextpdf.text.pdf.PdfContentByte;
import com.itextpdf.text.pdf.PdfFormField;
import com.itextpdf.text.pdf.PdfPCell;
import com.itextpdf.text.pdf.PdfPCellEvent;
import com.itextpdf.text.pdf.PdfPTable;
import com.itextpdf.text.pdf.PdfWriter;
import com.itextpdf.text.pdf.TextField;

import java.io.File;
import java.io.FileOutputStream;
import java.io.IOException;
import sandbox.WrapToTest;

@WrapToTest
public class ComboBoxItems {

    class SelectCellEvent implements PdfPCellEvent {
        protected PdfFormField selectGroup;
        protected String name;
        protected String[] exports;
        protected String[] options;
        protected BaseFont font;
        
        public SelectCellEvent(PdfFormField selectGroup, String name, String[] exports, String[] options) throws DocumentException, IOException {
            this.selectGroup = selectGroup;
            this.name = name;
            this.exports = exports;
            this.options = options;
            font = BaseFont.createFont(BaseFont.TIMES_ROMAN, BaseFont.CP1250, BaseFont.NOT_EMBEDDED);
            font.setSubset(false);
        }
        
        public void cellLayout(PdfPCell cell, Rectangle position, PdfContentByte[] canvases) {
            PdfWriter writer = canvases[0].getPdfWriter();
            TextField tf = new TextField(writer, position, name);
            tf.setFont(font);
            tf.setBorderStyle(PdfBorderDictionary.STYLE_BEVELED);
            tf.setVisibility(TextField.VISIBLE_BUT_DOES_NOT_PRINT);
            tf.setBorderColor(BaseColor.GRAY);
            tf.setChoiceExports(exports);
            tf.setChoices(options);
            tf.setAlignment(Element.ALIGN_CENTER);
            try {
                selectGroup.addKid(tf.getComboField());
            } catch (Exception e) {
                throw new ExceptionConverter(e);
            }
        }
    }
    
    public static final String DEST = "results/acroforms/combobox.pdf";

    public static void main(String[] args) throws IOException, DocumentException {
        File file = new File(DEST);
        file.getParentFile().mkdirs();
        new ComboBoxItems().createPdf(DEST);
    }
    
    public void createPdf(String dest) throws IOException, DocumentException {
        Rectangle pagesize = PageSize.LETTER;
        Document document = new Document(pagesize);
        PdfWriter writer = PdfWriter.getInstance(document, new FileOutputStream(dest));
        document.open();
        PdfPTable table = new PdfPTable(2);
        PdfPCell cell;
        //Add rows with selectors
        PdfFormField selectGroup = PdfFormField.createEmpty(writer);
        selectGroup.setFieldName("myCombos");
        String[] options = {"Choose first option", "Choose second option", "Choose third option"};
        String[] exports = {"option1", "option2", "option3"};
        table.addCell("Combobox:");
        cell = new PdfPCell();
        cell.setCellEvent(new SelectCellEvent(selectGroup, "combo1", exports, options));
        cell.setMinimumHeight(20);
        table.addCell(cell);
        document.add(table);
        writer.addAnnotation(selectGroup);
        document.close();
    }

}
JavaScript errors detected

Please note, these errors can depend on your browser setup.

If this problem persists, please contact our support.