Are these things possible in PDF forms? Questions for the experts

Question

Hi,
I have a project where I need to create an online application system, where the user has to fill in a form where the results have to be saved into a database.
I wanted to create a html based form, but then someone told me PDF can also do cool things, so I’m researching that road.
I already managed to create a simple form and submitting it to a web service (java servlet in my case) and that works pretty nicely.
I'm new to the whole PDF form creating and I’m wondering if certain things are possible. So I’m trying the experts in this form for a yes/no answer.
Are the following things possible with PDF forms:
1) validation: number & date checks, eg, a number should be higher than 4, or be a valid number/date
2) If I answer A at question 1, I should skip Question 2 and go directly to Question 3. Is it possible to hide Question 2, depending on what I answered at Question 1?
3) Is it possible to attach files to the form, like a photo? And also upload it to the web service.
4) After I submit the form, is it possible to lock the form so that no other changes can be made? In other words, you may only submit once.
5) Possible to activate the print button after the form has been submitted?
6) Can a drop-down lists be dynamic? Instead of hard coding the list, calling a web service to fill the values?
Thanks in advance for any insight,
Kind regards
Ido

Answer 1

Hi Paul,
thanks for the quick answer. No my next challange is how to do things
1) validation: number & date checks, eg, a number should be higher than 4, or be a valid number/date
<answer> Yes
I think this is done through the object properties
2) If I answer A at question 1, I should skip Question 2 and go directly to Question 3. Is it possible to hide Question 2, depending on what I answered at Question 1?
<answer> Yes
This is done with subforms and scripting?
3) Is it possible to attach files to the form, like a photo? And also upload it to the web service.
<answer> PDF does support the ability to have attachments. They would be includeed as part of the PDF so you woudl have to submit the entire PDF and then extract the attachments when you get the file to the server. Note that you will require to Reader Extend the document to allow a Reader user to add the attachment. This is not a requirement if you are using Acrobat.
Have to look into this one.
4) After I submit the form, is it possible to lock the form so that no other changes can be made? In other words, you may only submit once.
<answer> Yes
Also through scripting?
5) Possible to activate the print button after the form has been submitted?
<answer> If you add a print button on the form then the answer is Yes. The application that houses the PDF will jhave print capabilities and that one is much more difficult to hide. You can set it up so that the form cannot be printed then return back the locked version with printing enabled but a round trip to the server is required for that.
Print button will be fine by now, probably also done by scripting
6) Can a drop-down lists be dynamic? Instead of hard coding the list, calling a web service to fill the values?
<answer> Yes but the form will require LiveCycle Reader Extensions if you are using Reader. Reader Extensions is not required if you are Acrobat.
Ahh, perhaps fixed list will be ok for version 1