#  `dump_data_fields`

Print PDF form field data with XML-style escaping
## Usage
> pdftl `<input>` `dump_data_fields` `[output` `<output>]`

## Details
Extracts data from all interactive form fields (AcroForm
fields) within the input PDF.

The output uses a stanza-based format compatible with
`pdftk`. All string values (such as the field's content)
are processed with XML-style escaping.

This output is for informational purposes or for use in
external scripts. It is **not** designed to be read by the
`update_info` operation. To fill form fields, use the
`fill_form` operation.

### Field Stanza Format

Each field is represented by a single stanza. Each stanza
consists of a separator line `---`, followed by:

* `FieldName: <full_field_name>`

  The unique identifying name of the field (e.g., `form1.name`).

* `FieldNameAlt: <tooltip_text>`

  The alternate name (tooltip) of the field, if present.

* `FieldType: <Text|Button|Choice|Signature|...>`

  The readable type of the field.

* `FieldValue: <current_value>`

  The current value of the field.

* `FieldValueDefault: <default_value>`

  The default value of the field, if defined.

* `FieldFlags: <integer>`

  An integer representing a bitmask of field properties.

* `FieldJustification: <Left|Center|Right>`

  Text alignment for text fields.

* `FieldStateOption: <option_value>`

  Available options for Choice (dropdown/list) fields or Button
  (checkbox/radio) fields. Multiple lines may appear.

* `FieldStateOptionDisplay: <display_text>`

  The display text corresponding to the preceding `FieldStateOption`,
  used when the export value differs from the display value.
## Examples

> Print XML-escaped form field data for in.pdf
```
pdftl in.pdf dump_data
```

> Save XML-escaped form field data for in.pdf to data.txt
```
pdftl Form.pdf dump_data_fields output data.txt
```


**Tags**: info, forms

*Source: pdftl.operations.dump_data_fields*

*Read online: [https://pdftl.readthedocs.io/en/stable/operations/dump_data_fields.html](https://pdftl.readthedocs.io/en/stable/operations/dump_data_fields.html)*

*Type: Operation*