Chapter 1, Introduction to XML Forms Architecture (XFA)
XFA Specification
Scenarios for Using an Interactive Form Described by XFA
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Interacting with a User
An XFA form interacts with a user in several ways. It presents an electronic version of an electronic form,
which the user fills out. In supply data or selecting buttons, the user may trigger a variety of actions, that
affect the form or that initiate an interaction with another server. The user may also invoke features that
make the form more accessible.
Form Appearance
After opening a template, a user sees an interactive form that represents the layout, graphics, and fields
defined in the XFA template.
The interactive form presents data associated with fields. Initially, the only data in the form are default
values defined in the template. As the user provides data in fields, the default values are replaced with
user-provided values. Date, time, and numeric values are displayed in a manner appropriate for the user’s
locale.
The user interacts with the form, supplying values and selecting options. The user’s input and selections
are reflected in the form.
As the user enters data, parts of the form or fields may automatically grow to accommodate data entered
by the user or a machine-generated source.
Actions the User Can Trigger
XFA templates may be designed to allow a user to initiate various actions, such as the following:
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Calculations. Entering data into a field may cause the values of other fields to be recalculated.
Data checks. Entering data into a field may initiate a series of validity checks on the entered value.
Web Services (WSDL) interactions.
Submission of data to a server.
Accessibility and Field Navigation
XFA templates can specify form characteristics that improve accessibility and guide the user through filling
out a field.
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Visual clues.
Fields may display default values that provide hints about the desired input values. In
addition to fields, XFA template may aid the user, by providing radio buttons, check boxes, and choice
lists.
Accelerator keys.
An XFA template may include accelerator keys that allow users to move from field to
field, by typing in a control sequence in combination with a field-specific character.
Traversal order.
An XFA template may be defined with a traversal order, which allows the user to tab
from one field to the next.
Speech.
An XFA template supports speech enunciation, by allowing a form to specify the order in which
text descriptions associated with a field should be spoken.
Visual aids.
XFA template may specify text displayed when the tooltip hovers over a field or a subform.
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