How to Create/Make a Fillable PDF ( With or Without Acrobat )

To create a digital form, you must ensure that the document you create has editable fields. A fillable PDF is one of the most convenient ways to create a form that can be easily circulated and used for data collection. Several institutions use a fillable PDF as their go-to method for collecting information. However, many users wonder how these fillable PDFs are created. 

You see, editing a PDF is a tough task, considering it is a read-only document. Only an individual who has created the file can usually edit it. How is it possible to create a PDF that every user can fill?

In this post, let us look at ways you can create a fillable PDF for your use. We will also learn how to convert any PDF into a fillable document and edit it as you see fit. So, without further ado, let’s get started!

Why Do You Need a Fillable PDF

Manual forms have become a thing of the past. Today, everything you need is digital; the same goes for documents. When you join a Job, apply for a course, or practically fill out any form, you are expected to Email it. You cannot use a hard copy for this purpose. Hence, the ultimate solution to that becomes a Fillable PDF.

There are so many benefits of using a fillable PDF. Some of them are – 

Sorted Workflow & Documentation: The first thing that a fillable PDF eliminates is the effort of manually filling a form and getting it filled by every individual. Printing out forms and handing them over to collect after everyone has filled them out is quite a long process. With fillable PDFs, you can complete such tasks in a single mail with all the recipients. 

Enhanced Precision & No Manipulation: While filling out a form, several users tend to miss out on fields and submit it incomplete. But with a fillable PDF, that can never be the case; a condition that requires all the mandatory fields to be filled out can be introduced. Not to mention, the chances of editing become significantly low, as unlike a Word document, a PDF cannot be edited easily. 

Use of Digital Data Sorting Gets Easier: Another crucial advantage of using fillable PDFs is that using the collected raw data becomes simpler. Think about it: with manual forms, you need an individual to work on entering the data collected into software that will sort the data and process it. However, with a filled PDF, you have to map fields and feed the PDF to the software, and it will get the rest done!

Besides these, the simple fact that a PDF is much more convenient to interact with, considering it can be opened on smartphones and requires no added software, makes it an interesting choice to create forms. 

How Would Fillable PDFs Make A Difference

There are many benefits of using a fillable PDF document. We have highlighted the ones that came to our mind. If you have another use for a fillable PDF, then please drop a note in the comments section below.

• Fillable PDFs are beneficial when signing Agreements and Contracts with un physically present parties. This would help companies make trade agreements across the globe.
• Another use of fillable PDFs is that you can apply for a job anywhere in the world. A fillable PDF with questions would make collecting systematic and relevant information about a candidate easier.
• You can also roll out fillable PDFs with surveys and questionnaires to people far away. It makes it easier and more cost-effective to gather information without using a pen, printing out the questions on paper, sending it by postal mail, etc.
• Event Management companies can roll out event registrations using Fillable PDFs.

3 Ways to Create a Fillable PDF

Method 1 – Create a Simple Form with Google Docs

It is very simple to create a simple form with Google Docs. However, this form will have to be printed before anyone can fill it up with a pen. Here are the steps to create a simple form.

1. Open the Google Chrome browser and in a new tab, type “doc. new” in the address bar followed by Enter.
2. Once the new doc opens, type in the fields you wish to collect information about( Name, Age, etc).
3. Press the underscore key a few times to create a blank line next to the field. You may also make an empty box next to your field.
4. Once you have completed adding the fields on which you require the information. You may design the form with a proper heading, change the fonts, add color, etc.
5. Finally, click the File tab on the top and hover your mouse cursor over Download.
6. Choose the “PDF Document,” which will be saved to your default downloads folder in PDF format.

7. You can double-click the downloaded PDF file and it will open in your default PDF viewer. However, this file will not be fillable and has to be printed on paper and manually filled with a pen.

Method 2 – Create a Fillable Form From Word Doc

You can use the Word document to make a fillable PDF. You can easily create a Word document and leave the fields blank so Adobe Acrobat Pro can detect it later. Check out the steps below to find out how things work. 

Step 1 – Open the Word document in MS Word to ensure you have created the blank fields.
Step 2 – Save this file as a PDF so that you can open it in the Adobe Acrobat Reader.

Step 3 – Launch Adobe Acrobat Pro and navigate to Tools.
Step 4 – Select the Prepare Form option from the Forms and Signatures sections in the tools.

Step 5 – Select the converted file to open in the Adobe Acrobat.
Step 6 – Once the file is open, the tool automatically detects the fields you left blank.

Step 7 – You may find added tools in the top bar to help you select more fields if the autodetect fails. 

Once all the fields are set, save the file and exit your tool. Now open the editable file and check if you can simply edit it. 

Method 3 – Create a Fillable PDF Online Free

There are several conversion tools available to you for creating a fillable PDF. There are online tools for everything. Online tools are the best, especially when it comes to conversions, as they are accessible from anywhere. All you need to do is – 

Step 1 – Open an online PDF form converter platform on your computer.
Step 2 – Upload a document that you want to convert. Choose from the format mentioned on the tool for processing.

Step 3 – Click on Convert to open the online editor for conversion.

Step 4 – Map your fields to set the form as you see fit. Make sure all the fields are blank.

Step 5 – Generate your output file and recheck it to find the editable document.

The only downside with such tools is that you are unsure which tool does the job without errors. Also, uploading your documents is not advised, as privacy policies can be shady, so be careful. 

How To Make Your Existing PDF Fillable (With Form Fields)?

To make your form editable on a browser you need to make your PDF form Fillable. We have explained how to create a simple form and save it as a PDF. This PDF file can be converted into a fillable form by using Smallpdf PDF Editor, which is an online web tool. Here are the steps-

1. Open the Smallpdf PDF Editor online. (https://smallpdf.com/edit-pdf)
2. To make the PDF fillable, drag and drop it.
3. Click the “Add text box” button under the Annotate tab.
4. After selecting the desired location for the form field, enter your placeholder text.
5. To create blank fields to fill out, add an underline or box (see below).
6. To add all the form fields, repeat as needed.
7. To download or distribute your PDF, click “Export.”

Fill Any PDF Form With Systweak PDF Editor:  Convert Any PDF into Form

If you are at the receiving end of a PDF form and the file is not editable, do not worry; we have a tool just for you. Systweak PDF editor allows you to edit PDF documents as you see fit. This means that even if there’s a form that does not have editable fields in it, you can fill it out. 

How? Well, Systweak PDF Editor is a complete editing suite that allows you to create your fields in the document, sign a PDF, add text and annotations to it, and whatnot. And the best part is that you do not need a fillable PDF. You can use any PDF and edit it to fill out the form. 

Here’s how it works – 

Step 1 – Download and Install the tool on your PC via the link below.

Step 2 – Launch the Application and click on Open PDF to select a document you want to fill/edit.

Step 3 – Click the Edit PDF tab on the top bar to find multiple options after the PDF opens.
Step 4 – You Can click on Add Text to create a text field and enter your answer manually.

Step 5 – If you feel that the space is taken up by something else that is not useful, click Edit Text and remove it easily. 

The tool is handy if you use PDF documents regularly, as it allows you to alter text in PDF and do much more. Download today to make the best of your PDF documents. 

Are You Able To Make Your PDF Fillable (With Form Fields)?

We hope that you are now capable of making your form fillable by adding Form Fields like dropdown, radio buttons, checkboxes, etc. In addition to this, if you are looking for a PDF editor that works offline and allows editing text and images and converting, compressing, and extracting pages from PDF look no further, Systweak PDF Editor is your go-to tool.

You can get the free version now from the below link.

Recommended :

PDF Editing 101 – How to Add a Blank Page to Existing PDF