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modeling a complex business form

 
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I am in need of creating a Java application that models all the fields on a business form. The form is pretty long, about 10 pages, and I need to create a Java GUI in Swing that will allow the user to fill in all the form fields electronically. Is there anything out there that can model the pages of a business form so that I can easily create a nice-looking GUI? If not, what is the best way to go about finishing this project? Should I use an MVC approach? Thank you for any assistance.
 
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I've created alot of my forms using Adobe Acrobat and FDFToolkit for Java. The Toolkit is a great API which allows you to dynamically populate pdf forms with user-supplied data. Basically, you create your form template as a pdf, use the FDFToolkit API as a middle-tier, so to speak, which translates the user input into FDF (Form Data Format), and dumps it into the pdf form.

Most of my forms are web-based, so form creation and user interface is a breeze if you know your way around HTML/CSS and javascript. The FDFToolkit implementation itself resides in a Servlet.

I've never used it with Swing, but I don't see any reason why it wouldn't be just as easy.

Check out the toolkit here.

You can view some of the forms I've created here. (look under the performance appraisal project (thumbnails 7 & 8))
[ June 07, 2004: Message edited by: Jeffrey Hunter ]
 
Donald Milk
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actually I have to do it in swing. thanks for the suggestion though. what pattern did you use to create your application?
 
Jeffrey Hunter
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Originally posted by Donald Milk:
...what pattern did you use to create your application?



MVC design pattern:
  • Model - Oracle 9i DB
  • View - JSP / DHTML
  • Controller - Servlet / JSP

  • The FDFToolkit is not exclusive to web-based architectures. You should be able to use it with Swing just fine.
     
    With a little knowledge, a cast iron skillet is non-stick and lasts a lifetime.
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