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How to make a PDF fillable?

How to make a PDF fillable?

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March 17, 2023

Unlock the Power of PDF Forms: Learn How to Create Custom Fillable PDFs and Streamline Your Workflow!

PDF fillable

Table of Contents

Introduction

PDFs are a common way to share documents, forms, and other materials online. However, if a PDF is not fillable, it can be difficult for recipients to complete and submit the information. Fortunately, there are several tools available to make a PDF fillable. We will explore four popular options: Adobe Acrobat DC, JotForm, DocFly, and Sejda.

Comparison Table:

ToolEase of UseCostKey FeaturesAdditional Features
Adobe Acrobat DCEasyPaid SubscriptionEdit PDFs, create forms, convert files, OCRCollaboration, PDF Security, Electronic Signature, PDF Sharing
JotFormEasyFree/Paid PlansCreate and share online forms, customizable templates, analyticsForm Analytics, Advanced Form Fields, Payment Processing, CRM Integration
DocFlyEasyFree/Paid PlansMerge, split, and edit PDFs, fillable form creation, e-signaturesPassword Protection, OCR, Form Recognition, Watermarking, Digital Signature
SejdaModerateFree/Trial/Paid PlansEdit PDFs, add fields, e-signatures, OCR, protect documents, watermarksPDF Compression, PDF Conversion, PDF Page Management, Batch Processing

We will cover the basic steps for each software application and provide tips to help you create a professional and effective fillable PDF form.

#1 Make a PDF fillable Using Adobe Acrobat DC

Adobe Acrobat DC is one of the most popular and professional tools for working with PDF documents. With this program, you can easily create fillable PDF forms by adding text fields, check boxes, drop-down menus, and more. You can also customize the appearance of your form by changing fonts, colors, and other design elements.

Adobe Acrobat DC is a paid program, but you can try it out with a free trial.

We will guide you through the steps to make a PDF fillable with Adobe Acrobat DC:

Step 1: Open the PDF in Acrobat DC

Open the PDF file that you want to make fillable in Adobe Acrobat DC. Click on “Tools” in the top menu bar and select “Prepare Form” from the drop-down menu.

Step 2: Choose the form creation option

Acrobat DC will prompt you to choose a form creation option. If you have a non-interactive PDF form, choose “Start with an existing PDF” and then click “Next“. If you have a paper form or a scanned document, choose “Scan a paper form” and follow the instructions to scan the document and create a fillable form.

Step 3: Add form fields

Acrobat DC will automatically detect fields that can be turned into fillable fields. Review the fields and make any necessary adjustments by clicking on the field to select it, and then using the options on the right-hand side of the screen to adjust the properties of the field. To add a new form field, click on the “Add New Field” option in the top toolbar.

Step 4: Customize the form fields

You can customize the form fields by changing the font size, color, and style, and by adding instructions or formatting restrictions. To do this, click on the form field to select it, and then click on the “Properties” button on the right-hand side of the screen.

Step 5: Test the form

Once you have added all of the form fields and customized them to your liking, it’s important to test the form to make sure it works properly. Click on the “Preview” button in the top toolbar to preview the form, and then test each field to make sure it can be filled out and submitted correctly.

Step 6: Save and distribute the form

Once you’re satisfied that the form works correctly, save the PDF file by clicking on “File” in the top menu bar and selecting “Save” or “Save As“. You can then distribute the form to your intended audience by sharing the file via email or posting it on a website.

Adobe Acrobat DC makes it easy to create fillable PDF forms that can be used to collect information electronically. By following the steps outlined in this paragraph , you can create a custom fillable form in no time.

Make a PDF fillable

#2 Make a PDF fillable Using JotForm

JotForm is a online form builder that enables users to create professional-looking forms quickly and easily. One of the many features of JotForm is the ability to create fillable PDF forms. With this feature, you can create PDF forms that can be filled out online, printed, or downloaded.

Creating a fillable PDF form with JotForm is a straightforward process that can be completed in just a few steps.

To create a fillable PDF form, follow the steps below:

Step 1: Create your form

The first step in creating a fillable PDF form with JotForm is to create your form. You can use one of JotForm’s pre-made templates or create your form from scratch. Once you have created your form, you can customize it by adding fields, changing the layout, and adding your branding.

Step 2: Convert your form to a PDF

Once you have created your form, the next step is to convert it to a PDF. To do this, go to the “Publish” tab and select “PDF Form” from the dropdown menu. You can then choose to download the PDF form, save it to your JotForm account, or share it with others.

Step 3: Make your PDF form fillable

After converting your form to a PDF, the next step is to make it fillable. To do this, open the PDF form in Adobe Acrobat or another PDF editor that supports form filling. Select the “Add Text Field” option from the toolbar and then click on the area where you want to add a field. You can then customize the field by changing its size, font, and color.

Step 4: Save and share your PDF form

Once you have added all the fields to your PDF form, save it and share it with others. You can share the form by sending it as an attachment in an email or by sharing the link to the form. You can also embed the form on your website or social media pages.

JotForm also offers a variety of advanced features that can further enhance your PDF forms. For example, you can add conditional logic to your form, which allows you to show or hide fields based on the user’s responses. You can also add digital signatures to your form, which can be useful for collecting signatures on contracts or other legal documents.

Ceating a fillable PDF form with JotForm is a simple and powerful way to create professional-looking forms that can be filled out online, printed, or downloaded. With JotForm’s powerful online form builder and advanced features, you can create custom PDF forms that meet your specific needs. Whether you’re looking to collect data, conduct surveys, or create contracts, JotForm’s fillable PDF forms are a great tool to help you get the job done.

PDF form

#3 Make a PDF fillable Using DocFly

DocFly is an online tool that makes it easy to convert various document formats into PDFs, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. One of the great features of DocFly is the ability to create fillable PDF forms. With this feature, you can create PDF forms that can be filled out online, printed, or downloaded.

Creating a fillable PDF form with DocFly is a simple and straightforward process that can be completed in just a few steps.

To create a fillable PDF form, follow the steps below:

Step 1: Upload your document

The first step in creating a fillable PDF form with DocFly is to upload your document. You can upload a document in any format, including Word, Excel, or PowerPoint. Once you have uploaded your document, you can customize it by adding fields, changing the layout, and adding your branding.

Step 2: Convert your document to a PDF

Once you have customized your document, the next step is to convert it to a PDF. To do this, click on the “Save As” button and select “PDF” from the dropdown menu. You can then choose to download the PDF form, save it to your DocFly account, or share it with others.

Step 3: Make your PDF form fillable

After converting your document to a PDF, the next step is to make it fillable. To do this, open the PDF form in Adobe Acrobat or another PDF editor that supports form filling. Select the “Add Text Field” option from the toolbar and then click on the area where you want to add a field. You can then customize the field by changing its size, font, and color.

Step 4: Save and share your PDF form

Once you have added all the fields to your PDF form, save it and share it with others. You can share the form by sending it as an attachment in an email or by sharing the link to the form. You can also embed the form on your website or social media pages.

Creating a fillable PDF form with DocFly is a simple and powerful way to create professional-looking forms that can be filled out online, printed, or downloaded. With DocFly’s online document converter and the ability to create fillable PDF forms, you can create custom PDF forms that meet your specific needs.

DocFly also offers a variety of advanced features that can further enhance your PDF forms. For example, you can add conditional logic to your form, which allows you to show or hide fields based on the user’s responses. You can also add digital signatures to your form, which can be useful for collecting signatures on contracts or other legal documents.

DocFly

#4 Make a PDF fillable Using Sejda

Sejda is an online PDF editor that allows you to edit, merge, split, compress, and convert PDFs. One of the key features of Sejda is the ability to create fillable PDF forms. With Sejda’s intuitive and user-friendly interface, creating a fillable PDF form is quick and easy.

To create a fillable PDF form using Sejda, follow these steps:

Step 1: Upload your PDF file

The first step is to upload your PDF file to the Sejda editor. You can upload a PDF from your computer or cloud storage, or you can use a URL to import the PDF.

Step 2: Add fillable fields

Once you have uploaded your PDF, select the “Add Fillable Fields” option from the menu. Sejda offers a variety of field types, including text boxes, checkboxes, radio buttons, and dropdown menus. Click on the type of field you want to add, and then click on the location on the PDF where you want to add the field. You can also adjust the size and position of the field as needed.

Step 3: Customize the fillable fields

After adding the fillable fields to your PDF, you can customize them by changing their font size, color, and style. You can also add default values to the fields and specify the format of the data that should be entered.

Step 4: Save and download the fillable PDF

Once you have added and customized the fillable fields, save your PDF by selecting the “Save” option from the menu. You can then download the fillable PDF to your computer or cloud storage, or share it with others by using a link or embedding it on a webpage.

Sejda’s fillable PDF forms also support a variety of advanced features, such as form calculations, which can be used to calculate totals or other values based on user input. You can also add digital signatures to your fillable PDF forms, making them ideal for contracts and other legal documents.

Sejda’s fillable PDF forms are a powerful tool for creating professional-looking forms that can be filled out online, printed, or downloaded. With Sejda’s intuitive interface and advanced features, you can create custom PDF forms that meet your specific needs. Whether you’re looking to collect data, conduct surveys, or create contracts, Sejda’s fillable PDF forms are a great tool to help you get the job done.

Sejda's fillable PDF forms

Conclusion

In conclusion, there are several tools available to make a PDF fillable, including Adobe Acrobat DC, JotForm, DocFly, and Sejda.

  • Adobe Acrobat DC is a powerful tool for creating and editing PDFs, and offers advanced features such as collaboration, PDF security, electronic signatures, and PDF sharing.
  • JotForm is a web-based form builder that allows you to create and share forms online, and offers advanced features like payment processing and CRM integration.
  • DocFly is an online PDF editor that provides a range of features including form recognition, form creation, and e-signatures, and also offers password protection, OCR, watermarking, and digital signature features for added security.
  • Sejda is an online PDF editor that offers various features including form creation and editing, and also offers a range of features like document protection, e-signatures, OCR, watermarks, PDF compression, PDF conversion, PDF page management, and batch processing.

Each tool has its own unique set of features and benefits, and the choice of which tool to use will depend on your specific needs and preferences. Ultimately, all four tools can help you create professional and functional fillable PDFs quickly and easily.

If you want to know about how to Optimizing a PDF file, you can read about it in our previous blog article.

Optimizing a PDF file

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