IT problem: Automated CAPF31

[Holding Pattern]

Ok, so I have the ability to export data from a CAPF31 into xml or fdf or xfdf or csv format. I can take form data from google and store it in a xls format. What I don't know how to do is to take data from both a google spreadsheet and a stored csv (which google will treat as a spreadsheet for my purposes) and then trigger the generation of a filled PDF and email that PDF.



The idea presented is simple: Only the activity specific information should need to be filled each time by a CAP member when applying for an activity. Furthermore, any additional forms needed should then be able to be filled out at the same time by the script that gets triggered.

I'll post updates here as I solve for this problem.

[Holding Pattern]

Also, I'm assuming (but have never been on the paperwork side, so I could be wrong) that the data in all these activity forms actually has to be submitted somewhere online. These submitted forms could have the data sucked right out of them into another spreadsheet for the purpose of being submitted to such a database.

[JeffDG]

You're going to need to pick up some Google App Script here.

The first thing you do is create a Google Docs file for the CAPF 31.  This is a pain in the backside to duplicate the form in the Google format, but it makes your life SOOOOO much easier down the road.

What you then do with that Google Docs CAPF 31 is you put "Tokens" into it.  Something distinctive like <<LASTNAME>> in the form where the Last Name goes.  For each field you want to fill, put a token in there.  You can use whatever format you like, that <<>> is one that I tend to like, but it really doesn't matter.

When you go to do the form fill, what you do is copy the template document to a new Google Doc, do a Search and Replace for the Tokens (so search for <<LASTNAME>> and replace it with the actual last name), then you can download the filled Google Doc as a PDF, and e-mail it somewhere.

In terms of signature, I've never done EchoSign, but I've had success working with Sertifi as a signature gathering option.

[Holding Pattern]

Ok, here is a regulation question.

If I recreate the functional contents of a CAPF31 as a google doc using the CAPF31, is my CAPF31 of Theseus still a CAPF31?

This is one of the reasons I'm looking for a solution that uses the original forms.