Java PDF Stamper writing below checkbox (text being covered by checkbox)

Question

Im trying to write to an existing pdf using the java pdf stamper, but for some reason there is a certain checkbox in the pdf that the text appears to be drawn under.

Code for Reading pdf:

PdfReader reader = new PdfReader(Testing.getImagePath() + "form.pdf");
File dir = new File(Testing.getResourcePath() + id + "/");
String destination = Testing.getResourcePath() + id + "form" + id + ".pdf";
File exist = new File(destination);

dir.mkdirs();
PdfStamper stamper = new PdfStamper(reader, new FileOutputStream(destination));
stamper.setFormFlattening(true);
PdfContentByte over;
over = stamper.getOverContent(1);

Code for Drawing text:

over.beginText();
over.setFontAndSize(bf, 11);
over.setTextMatrix(169, 322);
over.showText("X");
over.endText();

looking good so far. Placing an X at the location of the checkbox (only it appears under) sound a lot like you want to SELECT that checkbox? — Jan, May 26 '17 at 15:32
Yeah, the goal is to fill out an existing pdf and I want to check the checkbox but the only way I know how to do this is by covering it with an "X" — King, May 26 '17 at 15:34
AcroFields form = stamper.getAcroFields(); is your friend for this — Jan, May 26 '17 at 15:40
Will this allow me to check the checkbox, if so how do I reference certain checkboxes through code? — King, May 26 '17 at 15:45

Jan · Accepted Answer · 2017-05-26T16:28:29.117

1

First off:

Iterate over the FormFields in your PDF and find out the valid values to set:

        AcroFields form = stamper.getAcroFields();
        for(Entry<String, Item> field : form.getFields().entrySet()) {
            System.out.println(field.getKey() + ": " + field.getValue());
            String[] values = form.getAppearanceStates(field.getKey());
            StringJoiner sb = new StringJoiner(",");
            for (String value : values) {
                sb.add(value);
            }
            System.out.println("Possible Options: " + sb.toString());
        }

Now you should be able to select the checkbox by setting it's allowed value:

        form.setField("myCheckbox", "myYesValue");

edited May 26 '17 at 16:28

answered May 26 '17 at 15:56

Jan

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Where did you get your AcroFields from? From the Stamper / the writer or from the reader (in which case they'd be read-only). Share the code in an edit to your question? – Jan May 26 '17 at 16:18
yeah I used different code to output the id's from the pdf, and was reading from the reader instead of the stamper. Got it to work, Thanks! – King May 26 '17 at 16:21

Java PDF Stamper writing below checkbox (text being covered by checkbox)

1 Answers1