PlatoForms User Guide
Ctrl+K
  • Form Builder

    Creating an Online Form for an Existing PDF

  • Custom Domain

    With Builder you can build three types of forms: online web forms, online PDF forms, and master forms.

  • Master Form Builder

    you will arrive at the Form Builder. On the form Builder, there are three main sections:

Create a PDF form

For complete control over form design and structure, start by creating a PDF form from scratch in PlatoForms, then convert it into an interactive online form. You can customize forms to your specific needs.

Before you begin

Make sure you’ve created a PDF form before starting the editing process.

PDF form editor page

For instructions on creating one, refer to our guide on Create your online form.

Explore the form builder

After successfully creating your PDF form, you’ll be directed to the form builder.

PDF form editor page

  • Top left Action Buttons: Preview PDF, convert to online form, and more.

  • Top Toolbar: Choose form fields to add.

  • Left Page Thumbnails Panel: Preview PDF pages, add new pages, and navigate.

  • Right PDF Form Area: Modify your PDF form by adding, deleting, or editing fields.

Edit your form

Now you can make edits and customizations to your PDF form.

Add fields

To add fields, select a field type from the top Toolbar by clicking the corresponding icon. After adding the desired field, the field’s widget will appear on the right PDF Form Area, highlighted by a red border.

Available fields

PlatoForms offers various field options for your self-created PDF form, including:

Fields for PDF form from Scratch

Field Description Scenarios
Input For entering text, numbers, or data. Collecting names, addresses, dates, and more.
Choice For selecting one or more predefined options. Single or multiple-choice questions.
Dropdown For displaying a condensed list of options. Saving space while offering multiple choices.
Signature For electronic document signing. Legal documents and consent verification.
Image For inserting images, such as logos or graphics, into your PDF form. Adding branding elements, company logos, or visual representations to your forms.
Shapes For inserting various shapes into your PDF forms. Decorative or functional purposes.
Text For displaying uneditable fixed text or labels. Providing instructions, descriptions, headings, and guides.

Adjust the field

Select a field widget from the PDF Form Area to expand the left attributes panel.

  • In the left attributes panel, modify the field’s attributes as needed.

    Caution

    Be sure to provide information for the “Label,” “Help text,” or “Placeholder” attributes. This information generates an auto-completion menu, improving user form-filling experience.

  • In the right PDF Form Area:

    • Drag the field widget to your desired position on the PDF.

    • Resize the widget by dragging any of its four sides.

If your PDF has multiple pages:

  • In the left Page Thumbnails Panel, click on a different Page. The right panel will switch to the corresponding PDF page.

  • Alternatively, use the page toggle located at the bottom of the right PDF Form Area.

Reorder and delete pages

When no field widget is selected, the left Page Thumbnails Panel appears.

  • Reorder pages

    To reorder pages, drag and drop them in the left panel to your preferred sequence.

  • Delete pages

    To delete a page, in the left panel, click the Delete button located at the bottom left of the specific page preview, then confirm by clicking Remove.

    Delete pages

Preview your form

Click the Preview PDF button in the top left corner of the form builder.

Note

PDF in preview mode can’t be filled with data; you need to convert it to an online form.

Convert to online form

To convert your form into an online form, follow these steps:

  1. After finishing your form, click the Make Online Form button in the top left corner.

    PlatoForms will convert your PDF into an online form, mapping all the widgets to online form fields.

  2. Once the conversion is complete, choose your desired form type:

    Choose form type.png

    • To convert into an online PDF form, select Build a PDF fillable form.
    • To convert into a web PDF Form, select Build a web PDF Form.

Edit the online form

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