C# merge PDF solution without using iTextSharp

Question

I have some PDFs which I would like to fill out automatically using C#. I know about iTextSharp, but I am unsure about licensing issues for business use, and would rather find a different solution.

Basically, I would like to open a PDF, specify the field (or give coordinates for a textbox) and be able to insert text (& possibly small images?). Then I need to merge and save the pdf.

Any suggestions for a good way to accomplish this where I don't have to purchase / worry about licenses?

Answer 1

Not sure what the advantages of iTextSharp are, but I found a solution that is working perfectly so far using PDFSharp! As documentation seems to be a little on the light side for PDFSharp, I also found this thread to be very helpful...

If this helps anybody, here is my sample program:

using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.ComponentModel;
using System.Data;
using System.Drawing;
using System.Linq;
using System.Text;
using System.Windows.Forms;
using System.IO;
using PdfSharp.Fonts;
using PdfSharp.Pdf;
using PdfSharp.Pdf.IO;
using PdfSharp.Pdf.AcroForms;

namespace PDFSharpTest
{
    public partial class Form1 : Form
    {
        public Form1()
        {
            InitializeComponent();
        }

        private void goButton_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
        {
            //TestPDF();  //uncomment this to find out whether acroform will work correctly         

            //open file
            PdfDocument pdf = PdfReader.Open(@"YOURFILEPATHandNAME", PdfDocumentOpenMode.Modify);

            //fix some odd setting where filled fields don't always show                   SetupPDF(pdf);

            //find and fill fields
            PdfTextField txtEmployerName = (PdfTextField)(pdf.AcroForm.Fields["txtEmployerName"]);
            txtEmployerName.Value = new PdfString("My Name");

            PdfTextField txtEmployeeTitle = (PdfTextField)(pdf.AcroForm.Fields["txtEmployeeTitle"]);
            txtEmployeeTitle.Value = new PdfString("Workin'");

            PdfCheckBoxField chxAttached = (PdfCheckBoxField)(pdf.AcroForm.Fields["chxAttached"]);
            chxAttached.Checked = true;

            //save file
            pdf.Save(@"NEWFILEPATHandNAMEHERE");
        }

        private void SetupPDF(PdfDocument pdf)
        {
            if (pdf.AcroForm.Elements.ContainsKey("/NeedAppearances") == false)
            {
                pdf.AcroForm.Elements.Add("/NeedAppearances", new PdfSharp.Pdf.PdfBoolean(true));
            }
            else
            {
                pdf.AcroForm.Elements["/NeedAppearances"] = new PdfSharp.Pdf.PdfBoolean(true);
            }
        }

        private void PDFTest()
        {
            OpenFileDialog ofd = new OpenFileDialog();
            if (ofd.ShowDialog() == DialogResult.OK)
            {
                PdfDocument _document = null;
                try { _document = PdfReader.Open(ofd.FileName, PdfDocumentOpenMode.Modify); }
                catch (Exception ex)
                {
                    MessageBox.Show(ex.Message, "FATAL");             //do any cleanup and return             
                    return;
                }
                if (_document != null)
                {
                    if (_document.AcroForm != null)
                    {
                        MessageBox.Show("Acroform is object", "SUCCEEDED");
                        //pass acroform to some function for processing          
                        _document.Save(@"C:\temp\newcopy.pdf");
                    }
                    else
                    {
                        MessageBox.Show("Acroform is null", "FAILED");
                    }
                }
                else
                {
                    MessageBox.Show("Unknown error opening document", "FAILED");
                }
            }
        }
    }
}

Answer 2

This is a free and open source solution: SharpPDF

But in all honesty iTextSharp is probably the best thing you'll find.

Answer 3

You might try Docotic.Pdf library for your task. The library is not free but probably there is nothing to worry about (licensing wise).

Here are samples available online that might help you:

• Fill existing form
• Find control by name

Other samples from Forms and Annotations group could also prove to be useful in your case.

Disclaimer: I work for the vendor of the library.