Export PDF Form Data from Vue PDF Viewer

4 Feb 20268 minutes to read

The PDF Viewer allows you to export form field data in multiple formats for easy storage or integration. Supported formats:

FDF
XFDF
JSON
JavaScript Object (for custom persistence)

Available methods

exportFormFields(destination?, format) — Exports data to a file in the specified format.
exportFormFieldsAsObject(format) — Exports data as a JavaScript object for custom handling.
importFormFields(sourceOrObject, format) — Import data back into the PDF.

How to export

Use exportFormFields() with an optional destination path and the format type.

Export as FDF

The following example exports form field data as FDF.

Composition API (~/src/App.vue)
<template>
  <div>
    <button @click="exportFdf">Export FDF</button>
    <ejs-pdfviewer id="pdfViewer" ref="pdfviewer" :documentPath="documentPath" :resourceUrl="resourceUrl" style="height:640px" />
  </div>
</template>

<script>
import {
  PdfViewerComponent,
  Toolbar,
  Magnification,
  Navigation,
  Annotation,
  TextSelection,
  TextSearch,
  FormFields,
  FormDesigner,
  PageOrganizer,
} from '@syncfusion/ej2-vue-pdfviewer';
import { FormFieldDataFormat } from '@syncfusion/ej2-pdfviewer';

export default {
  components: { 'ejs-pdfviewer': PdfViewerComponent },
  provide: { PdfViewer: [Toolbar, Magnification, Navigation, Annotation, TextSelection, TextSearch, FormFields, FormDesigner, PageOrganizer] },
  data() {
    return {
      documentPath: 'https://cdn.syncfusion.com/content/pdf/form-filling-document.pdf',
      resourceUrl: 'https://cdn.syncfusion.com/ej2/31.1.23/dist/ej2-pdfviewer-lib',
    };
  },
  methods: {
    exportFdf() {
      const pdfviewer = this.$refs.pdfviewer.ej2Instances;
      // Destination is optional; if omitted the browser will prompt.
      pdfviewer.exportFormFields('FormData', FormFieldDataFormat.Fdf);
    }
  }
};
</script>

Export as XFDF

The following example exports form field data as XFDF.

Composition API (~/src/App.vue)
<template>
  <div>
    <button @click="exportXfdf">Export XFDF</button>
    <ejs-pdfviewer id="pdfViewer" ref="pdfviewer" :documentPath="documentPath" :resourceUrl="resourceUrl" style="height:640px" />
  </div>
</template>

<script>
import {
  PdfViewerComponent,
  Toolbar,
  Magnification,
  Navigation,
  Annotation,
  TextSelection,
  TextSearch,
  FormFields,
  FormDesigner,
  PageOrganizer,
} from '@syncfusion/ej2-vue-pdfviewer';
import { FormFieldDataFormat } from '@syncfusion/ej2-pdfviewer';

export default {
  components: { 'ejs-pdfviewer': PdfViewerComponent },
  provide: { PdfViewer: [Toolbar, Magnification, Navigation, Annotation, TextSelection, TextSearch, FormFields, FormDesigner, PageOrganizer] },
  data() {
    return {
      documentPath: 'https://cdn.syncfusion.com/content/pdf/form-filling-document.pdf',
      resourceUrl: 'https://cdn.syncfusion.com/ej2/31.1.23/dist/ej2-pdfviewer-lib',
    };
  },
  methods: {
    exportXfdf() {
      const pdfviewer = this.$refs.pdfviewer.ej2Instances;
      pdfviewer.exportFormFields('FormData', FormFieldDataFormat.Xfdf);
    }
  }
};
</script>

Export as JSON

The following example exports form field data as JSON.

Composition API (~/src/App.vue)
<template>
  <div>
    <button @click="exportJson">Export JSON</button>
    <ejs-pdfviewer id="pdfViewer" ref="pdfviewer" :documentPath="documentPath" :resourceUrl="resourceUrl" style="height:640px" />
  </div>
</template>

<script>
import {
  PdfViewerComponent,
  Toolbar,
  Magnification,
  Navigation,
  Annotation,
  TextSelection,
  TextSearch,
  FormFields,
  FormDesigner,
  PageOrganizer,
} from '@syncfusion/ej2-vue-pdfviewer';
import { FormFieldDataFormat } from '@syncfusion/ej2-pdfviewer';

export default {
  components: { 'ejs-pdfviewer': PdfViewerComponent },
  provide: { PdfViewer: [Toolbar, Magnification, Navigation, Annotation, TextSelection, TextSearch, FormFields, FormDesigner, PageOrganizer] },
  data() {
    return {
      documentPath: 'https://cdn.syncfusion.com/content/pdf/form-filling-document.pdf',
      resourceUrl: 'https://cdn.syncfusion.com/ej2/31.1.23/dist/ej2-pdfviewer-lib',
    };
  },
  methods: {
    exportJson() {
      const pdfviewer = this.$refs.pdfviewer.ej2Instances;
      pdfviewer.exportFormFields('FormData', FormFieldDataFormat.Json);
    }
  }
};
</script>

Export as Object

Use exportFormFieldsAsObject() to obtain form data as a JavaScript object for database or API integration.

Composition API (~/src/App.vue)
<template>
  <div>
    <button @click="exportObj">Export Object</button>
    <ejs-pdfviewer id="pdfViewer" ref="pdfviewer" :documentPath="documentPath" :resourceUrl="resourceUrl" style="height:640px" />
  </div>
</template>

<script>
import {
  PdfViewerComponent,
  Toolbar,
  Magnification,
  Navigation,
  Annotation,
  TextSelection,
  TextSearch,
  FormFields,
  FormDesigner,
  PageOrganizer,
} from '@syncfusion/ej2-vue-pdfviewer';
import { FormFieldDataFormat } from '@syncfusion/ej2-pdfviewer';

export default {
  components: { 'ejs-pdfviewer': PdfViewerComponent },
  provide: { PdfViewer: [Toolbar, Magnification, Navigation, Annotation, TextSelection, TextSearch, FormFields, FormDesigner, PageOrganizer] },
  data() {
    return {
      documentPath: 'https://cdn.syncfusion.com/content/pdf/form-filling-document.pdf',
      resourceUrl: 'https://cdn.syncfusion.com/ej2/31.1.23/dist/ej2-pdfviewer-lib',
      exportedData: null
    };
  },
  methods: {
    exportObj() {
      const pdfviewer = this.$refs.pdfviewer.ej2Instances;
      pdfviewer.exportFormFieldsAsObject(FormFieldDataFormat.Fdf).then(data => {
        this.exportedData = data; // Persist or send to server
        console.log('Exported object:', this.exportedData);
      });
    }
  }
};
</script>

Common Use Cases

Save user-entered data to your server without altering the original PDF.
Export as JSON for REST API integration.
Export as FDF/XFDF for compatibility with other PDF tools.
Export as Object to merge with app state or store securely.
Automate exports after validation using validateFormFields()

View Sample on GitHub

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