Can A Form Auto-Populate a Fillable PDF?

[jthurston]

When a student enrolls in our program, we need to collect demographic data from them. We then need to enter this data into a fillable PDF. Is there a way to automate this process?

I was able to create a workflow that uses a Google Doc template to automatically generate a PDF with all the necessary information when a student completes the AppSheet form, which is great. But I’m told we need to provide a PDF that is formatted in a very specific way. It’s not enough to have all of the right info.

Is there a way I can use a fillable PDF file as a template? AppSheet does let me upload the fillable pdf as the template file. But when it generates the PDF, it’s just the blank copy. I’m wondering if I can somehow go into the fillable PDF and tell it what columns to pull from.

I was considering just using an image of the fillable form as a background in the Google Doc and trying that. But the form has a lot of checkboxes, and I don’t know how (or if it’s even possible) to tell AppSheet what box to check.

Thank you!

[Steve · Accepted solution]

Justin_Thurston:

Is there a way I can use a fillable PDF file as a template?

Nope.

[jthurston]

Ah. That’s too bad. Thank you for the response!

[Colby_Boyko]

Best option I found is have an app that opens PDFFILLER directly and than the PDFFILLER will send an auto email once form completed

[Asa]

@Justin_Thurston would you mind sharing your process for creating that workflow that uses the Google Doc template to automatically generate a PDF when user completes the AppSheet form?

I’m interested in the same result you are (a PDF formatted in a very specific way), and am willing to try creating a template (HTML or Google Doc) with variables that fill in the blanks (with form data and/or check marks), possibly using a background image to achieve the result we’re looking for.

Thanks!

[Steve]

Asa:

I’m interested in the same result you are (a PDF formatted in a very specific way), and am willing to try creating a template (HTML or Google Doc) with variables that fill in the blanks (with form data and/or check marks), possibly using a background image to achieve the result we’re looking for.

Not gonna work.

[1minManager]

Why not use Appsheet to capture the data and then, upon saving, send the filled in PDF documetn via email?