Adobe acrobat reader 7.0 User Manual

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Importing and exporting form data
If the author of the Adobe PDF document enabled special usage rights, you can export the 
form data that you entered to a separate file. Exporting form data lets you save the existing 
data separate from the PDF file, which you can then send via email or the Internet. You 
can save the form data as a tab-separated text file, Forms Data Format (FDF), or in XFDF 
(XML-based FDF files). The exported file will be considerably smaller than the original 
PDF file. A smaller file is preferable for archiving or sharing data electronically. You can 
also import data from the exported file into another form if that form has fields with the 
same names.
You can also import file data from a text file. Each row in the text file must be tab-
delimited to create columns, as in a table. When a row of data is imported, each cell 
becomes the value of the form field that corresponds to the column name.
Note: You cannot export or import data in Adobe Reader unless the Adobe PDF file has 
special usage rights assigned.
To export form data to a file:
1.  Open the Adobe PDF form and fill it out.
2.  Choose File > Form Data > Export Data From Form.
3.  Specify a location and filename, and then click Save.
To import form data from a file:
1.  Open the Adobe PDF form.
2.  Choose File > Form Data > Import Data To Form.
3.  Select a file, and click Select.
Note: If you import form data from a form that does not match the form you are importing 
into, only the form fields that match are updated, and those that do not match are ignored. 
Existing text in text form fields is replaced if you import data to those fields.