# Import Form Fields from Adobe PDF Documents

> TX Text Control X16 imports AcroForm fields from Adobe PDF documents, supporting text fields, checkboxes, radio buttons, list boxes, combo boxes, and buttons. A DocumentServer extension published on GitHub provides typed classes to process and read imported form field data.

- **Author:** Bjoern Meyer
- **Published:** 2018-12-28
- **Modified:** 2026-03-05
- **Description:** TX Text Control X16 imports AcroForm fields from Adobe PDF documents, supporting text fields, checkboxes, radio buttons, list boxes, combo boxes, and buttons. A DocumentServer extension published on GitHub provides typed classes to process and read imported form field data.
- **3 min read** (402 words)
- **Tags:**
  - Document Server
  - Forms
  - PDF
  - Reporting
- **Web URL:** https://www.textcontrol.com/blog/2018/12/28/import-form-fields-from-adobe-pdf-documents/
- **LLMs URL:** https://www.textcontrol.com/blog/2018/12/28/import-form-fields-from-adobe-pdf-documents/llms.txt
- **LLMs-Full URL:** https://www.textcontrol.com/blog/2018/12/28/import-form-fields-from-adobe-pdf-documents/llms-full.txt
- **GitHub Repository:** https://github.com/TextControl/TXTextControl.DocumentServer.Forms

---

Since TX Text Control X16, the Adobe PDF import filter is able to import form fields. Interactive forms in the Adobe PDF format are also known as *AcroForm* - the de-facto standard for PDF forms processing. Internally, the forms structure of a PDF document can be imported using the Adobe PDF import functionality of TX Text Control.

We just published a [GitHub](https://github.com/TextControl/TXTextControl.DocumentServer.Forms) project that shows how to process the output of the PDF import process using an extension in the DocumentServer namespace. We implemented all base classes and inherited classes of supported form field elements:

- TextField
- CheckBox
- RadioButton
- Listbox
- ComboBox
- Button

![AcroForms in TX Text Control](https://s1-www.textcontrol.com/assets/dist/blog/2018/12/28/a/assets/ClassDiagram_AcroForms.webp "AcroForms in TX Text Control")

After adding a reference to the *TXDocumentServer.Forms* project, a PDF form can be imported using the following code:

```
AcroForm[] listAcroForms = TXTextControl.DocumentServer.Forms.PDF.ImportForms("form.pdf");
```

The static *ImportForms* method returns a list of *AcroForm* objects:

![AcroForms in TX Text Control](https://s1-www.textcontrol.com/assets/dist/blog/2018/12/28/a/assets/debug_forms.webp "AcroForms in TX Text Control")

The list of *AcroForm* objects contains all types of contained form fields. In order to access the properties, they can be casted to their special type. The following code loops through all elements in order to read the options of contained combo boxes:

```
AcroForm[] listAcroForms = TXTextControl.DocumentServer.Forms.PDF.ImportForms("form.pdf");

foreach (AcroForm formElement in listAcroForms)
{
    if(formElement.GetType() == typeof(AcroFormComboBox))
    {
        string[] saOptions = ((AcroFormComboBox)formElement).Options;
    }
}
```

This new feature allows you to import forms that have been sent to users for completion in order to analyze and process the forms automatically.

### Sample Project

The following Windows Forms sample project uses a pre-compiled version of the extension and comes with a sample PDF document.

[Download Project ](https://s1-www.textcontrol.com/assets/dist/blog/2018/12/28/a/assets/TXDocumentServer.PDF.Forms.zip)

#### Instructions

- Download the sample project, open it in Visual Studio 2017 and start the application.
- Click the button *Import Forms* and select a PDF file you would like to import. A sample PDF named *fw9.pdf* is shipped with the project.

The sample loops through all elements in order to write the element type, name and value into a text box.

You can download the full extension sources from the GitHub project below.

---

## About Bjoern Meyer

As CEO, Bjoern is the visionary behind our strategic direction and business development, bridging the gap between our customers and engineering teams. His deep passion for coding and web technologies drives the creation of innovative products. If you're at a tech conference, be sure to stop by our booth - you'll most likely meet Bjoern in person. With an advanced graduate degree (Dipl. Inf.) in Computer Science, specializing in AI, from the University of Bremen, Bjoern brings significant expertise to his role. In his spare time, Bjoern enjoys running, paragliding, mountain biking, and playing the piano.

- [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/bjoernmeyer/)
- [X](https://x.com/txbjoern)
- [GitHub](https://github.com/bjoerntx)

---

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