Written February 2020
When you need to submit data on an existing form, there are several possible approaches to take. You would normally use A-Shell's GDI printing commands to position report data on the form, and then:
| • | Physically print the data onto a pre-printed form using a printer as the "combining" mechanism. This is the method that was used in the early days of computers. |
| • | Create (scan) an image of the form. By then using the IMAGE directive, followed by the form data, you create a single document that is ready for printing. |
| • | Use GDI print commands to actually create the form in A-Shell, then print the data in the form areas you have created. |
| • | If you use A-Shell's PDFX module, you also have the option of using the official PDF form (from a government agency, typically) as an unaltered "overlay" onto which you print the data. |
In all of these except the first, "printing" is understood to mean both actual physical printing, and virtual printing which normally means sending to a printer-like PDF creator.
For an in-depth discussion of the issues involved in creating forms in A-Shell, refer to this discussion on the A-Shell forum.
