Narrative Fields Widget: Unable to capture variable text in PDF

  • tecknow
    Asked on June 25, 2018 at 12:51 AM

    Hi

    I am testing a form where I want a letter to be generated as a PDF attachment to be sent with Autoresponder Email.  Since I am unable to intersperse field values and text in the current PDF custom format, I have created a Narrative Field Widget (NFW) on the form itself.

    On submission, this NFW works well in the body of the email.  That is it correctly integrates text and field values and gives output in the email.  However, the same widget when inserted into PDF Editor to send as attachment, does not pick up values of the fields inserted within the text.

    Related question:  How do I insert a page break into the PDF design.  I need three different letters to be generated based on fields entered by the user.  They can all be combined in a single PDF attachment as long as each letter is on a different page.

    If NFW is unable to work in PDF custom attachment, can u suggest an alternative way for me to attain the above objective.

    Thanks and regards,

    Jotform Thread 1507413 Screenshot
  • Nik_C
    Replied on June 25, 2018 at 5:30 AM

    In order to use Narrative fields widget, you have to add Textbox like this:

    1529918515Capture Screenshot 10

    So your users will be able to actually enter information.

    And that is working fine in PDF that is received with Notifier/Autoresponder: 

    1529918696Capture Screenshot 21

    Regarding your adding break to PDF question, I'm afraid that we do not have a feature to add a page break in the PDF Submissions Template.

    If you have any further questions, please let us know.

    Thank you!

  • tecknow
    Replied on June 26, 2018 at 12:54 AM

    Thank you for the response.  Yes, NFW works the way you have described.  I was hoping to have the NFW auto-complete based on fields imported via URL from an earlier form.  That looks unlikely now.

    Is there any other widget that would help.

    What I need is a boilerplate letter inside a form, that can get auto-populated from fields filled out in an earlier form and updated on this form via URL.  Any workaround that you can think of based on your experience and expertise with jotform would help.

    I wish we could add multiple PDF designs to each form -- each for a different purpose.  But I believe that feature does not exist at this point too.

    ---------------------

    Please consider two feature requests for your team:

    (1) adding page-break feature to PDF attachment editor

    (2)  ability to have multiple PDF designs per form

    Both these features would really be of great help.

    Best regards,

  • Nik_C
    Replied on June 26, 2018 at 2:19 AM

    You can use a Text field instead:

    1529993841Screen Shot 2018 06 26 at 8 Screenshot 10

    And insert your fields there:

    1529993914Screen Shot 2018 06 26 at 8 Screenshot 21

    So it will look like this:

    1529993930Screen Shot 2018 06 26 at 8 Screenshot 32

    You can check my test form as well: https://form.jotform.com/81761163451959

    Regarding your feature requests. Our backend team is currently working on new PDF designer that should be released soon, so please stay tuned.

    Thank you!