Articles on: Forms

How to Create a Form

Forms allow you to easily collect data from users and automatically generate documents without writing any code. You can create Forms from templates built within our editor or convert your existing PDF Forms into interactive Web Forms. This lets you efficiently gather information from customers, internal teams, or partners and automate document creation within your workflow.


In this tutorial, we’ll guide you through the process of creating a form using the PDF Generator API, covering three scenarios:



Create a New Form with a Custom Template (with PDF Generation)


1. Create a template in PDF Generator API editor


  1. Open the PDF Generator API editor - Go to the Templates page and click New template.
  2. Design your template - Use the editor to create the layout of your document.


If you're unfamiliar with how to use the editor, we’ve prepared a tutorial to guide you through the process.


2. Create a form to collect data and generate the document


  1. Create the form - Navigate to the Forms page and click New form.
  2. Set up main settings - Give your form a name, select the template you created earlier, and add a title, introductory, and outro text.
  3. Define form actions - Choose what happens after the user submits the form.
  4. Add form fields - Create the individual fields for data collection (e.g., name, date, signature). After you've added the fields, save your form by clicking the Save button and then reopen it.


For more information on available field types and actions, see our detailed article.


  1. Connect form fields to the template - To link your fields, click the arrow next to the Save button and select Save & Edit Template. This will open your template in the editor, along with the form fields you created. The template will open in the editor with your created form fields visible in the left sidebar. You can then drag and drop these fields anywhere in the template or insert them directly into predefined components using the Insert Data Field button. Once you're done, be sure to save your template.
  2. Save and share - Once everything is set up, click Save & Share to get a unique URL for your form.


For a detailed walkthrough of the entire process, watch our video.



Create a Form Based on an Existing PDF Form (with PDF Generation)


If you already have an editable PDF form, there's no need to start from scratch! You can easily import your existing file and automatically generate a digital form based on its structure.


Editable PDF Form


  1. To automatically generate your pre-made editable PDF after a user submits the form, simply head over to the Forms page, click the arrow next to the New Form button, and select Import editable PDF. This will automatically extract editable fields into the form builder and import the PDF as a static template with matching editable components automatically added in their original positions.


Importing Editable PDF


The newly created template and form will both be assigned random names. To keep your workspace organized, it’s recommended to rename them early on — you can rename the form easily in the form builder, and the template via the three-dot menu next to the template on the Templates page or directly in the editor.


  1. Once your editable PDF is imported, you’ll need to configure your form settings. Start by renaming your form, selecting the imported PDF template for document generation, and adjusting other relevant settings, as well as actions after the form is submitted.


Form Builder with Extracted Fields


If an editable field in your PDF doesn't have a predefined name, the system will assign it a randomly generated one. To ensure your form is clear and user friendly, we recommend reviewing and fine tuning each field including labels, placeholders, and required options before sharing it.


  1. Since the editable fields were automatically extracted and added to the template, the final step before sharing your form is to review the template to ensure all fields were correctly extracted and positioned. Click the arrow next to Save and select Save & Edit Template to verify the fields are properly added, mapped, and placed.


Some fields may still require manual adjustment or mapping. For guidance on how to do this, continue from step 5 in the "Create a form to collect data and generate the document" section. A detailed walkthrough is also available in the video located at the end of that section.


  1. Once confirmed, you can click Save & Share to share your form.



Create a Form to Collect Data without Generating a PDF


Not every form needs to generate a PDF. You can also create a form used only for collecting data, which can then be sent directly to third-party services for further action or integration.


If you want to create a form only for data collection, select the No template option in the Template section of the form:


Setting Up a Form for Data Collection Only


Once you select the No template option, check the box for Send data and document to third-party service, and define the Callback URL where the data should be sent. You can also add custom headers by specifying the Header Name and its corresponding Header Value. These headers will be included when PDF Generator API makes a POST request to the callback URL.


You can define up to 10 headers for the callback.


Configuring Callback URL to Send Data


Response Example for Data Collection Only


{
  "form_data": {
     "name": "John Smith",
     "date": "2025-08-07",
  },
  "form_public_id": "d830f695-538b-42f9-a753-8b662233cdb6"
}


Updated on: 25/09/2025

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