title: Design PDF template and populate data at runtime using java,xml etc
body: <p>well i have been looking for a java based PDF solutions...we dont have a clean way i guess-still.. all solutions are primitive and kind of workarounds... No easy solution for this requirement -
  1. Designing a PDF template  using a IDE (eg. Livecycle designer ..which is not free) 
  2. Then at runtime using java, populate data into this PDF template...either using xml or other datasources...</p>
  
  <p>such a simple requirement and NONE has a good "open-source and free" solution yet ! Is anyone aware of any ? I have been searching for since 3-4 years now..for a clean way out...</p>
  
  <p>Eclipse BIRT comes close.. but does not handle Barcode elements ..OOB.
  Jasper - ireport is also good but that tool does not have a table concept and is kind of annoying !  Also barcode support is not good.</p>
  
  <p>XSL-FO  has not free IDE for design .</p>
  
  <p>Looking for a better answer .. got one ?</p>