Searching for a strategy to convert Gravity Forms to PDF? That is, a strategy to take some or all the data in a kind submission and plug it right into a PDF template?
This performance might be useful for all the things from functions to contracts, different authorized paperwork, and extra.
Instead of losing time with paper varieties or unstructured knowledge, you may simply create a kind that collects all the data you want and plug it proper right into a PDF doc. You’ll even be capable of accumulate actual signatures if wanted.
In this tutorial, we’ll present you step-by-step tips on how to convert Gravity Forms to PDF with zero technical data required.
Here’s an instance of a filled-in PDF that you simply’ll be capable of generate from a Gravity Forms submission by the top of this submit:
How to Export Gravity Forms to PDF With Fillable PDF Templates
Table of Contents
Now, let’s get into the step-by-step information for tips on how to begin producing customized PDFs utilizing Gravity Forms.
To set this up, you’ll want the assistance of a third-party Gravity Forms plugin. There are a couple of totally different choices that you may select, however we’ll be utilizing the Fillable PDFs plugin from ForGravity for this tutorial as a result of it’s straightforward to make use of, helps key options like signatures and conditional logic, and allows you to embody PDFs in confirmations and notifications.
In addition to the plugin, you’ll additionally want the precise fillable PDF doc to which you wish to add content material. Then, the plugin will allow you to map the fields in your kind to the fillable fields in your PDF doc. We’ll present you tips on how to create the doc.
To get began, just be sure you’ve put in the core Gravity Forms plugin (our review) in addition to the Fillable PDFs plugin from ForGravity.
Let’s undergo it…
1. Create Your Fillable PDF Document
If you don’t have already got the fillable PDF doc that you simply wish to use, your first step is to get that doc.
If you’re attempting to fill an present kind (like a W-9 doc for US taxes), you may simply obtain a fillable model of the prevailing doc. But in case you’re trying to make use of your individual customized PDF template, you’ll have to create it.
You can use any software that allows you to create fillable PDFs for this – listed below are some good choices:
- Adobe Acrobat – paid – a really versatile choice, but it surely’s not free. Tutorial here.
- PDFescape – free/paid – a easy browser-based software with no watermarks.
- JotForm – free/paid – a user-friendly browser-based software, however the free model provides a JotForm watermark to the underside of your doc.
Here’s an instance of how issues look with the free JotForm editor:
2. Add Your Fillable PDF As a Template in WordPress
Once you’ve got your doc, you’ll do all the things else out of your WordPress dashboard.
To start, go to Forms → Fillable PDFs → Templates. You’ll have to be sure to enter your license key earlier than you may see the settings.
Then, add a brand new template:
Give your template a reputation that can assist you bear in mind it after which add the fillable PDF file that you simply ready within the earlier step. Then, click on Create Template:
3. Set Up Your Form in Gravity Forms
Now, you’ll do the remainder of your work from the Gravity Forms interface.
To get began, create a brand new kind or edit an present kind that you simply wish to connect with your fillable PDF.
Make positive that your kind has fields for all the data that you simply wish to map to your fillable PDF.
You can create the shape manually or, that can assist you do that shortly, the Agency license of Fillable PDFs features a built-in PDF import characteristic that allows you to routinely create a brand new kind primarily based on the fields in your PDF (learn more here).
Here’s an instance of what the shape would possibly appear to be for the instance fillable PDF from above – you may see that I’m utilizing the Gravity Forms Signature discipline to gather an actual signature that can be added to the PDF:
4. Set Up Your Fillable PDFs Feed
Once your kind is prepared, go to Settings → Fillable PDFs to attach your kind to the PDF template. Then, click on Add New to create a brand new Fillable PDFs feed:
Give it a reputation that can assist you bear in mind it after which choose the template that you simply added in step #2. This will open some new choices.
Map Your Form Fields
First, you’ll want to map the fields in your kind to the fillable fields in your PDF template. To do this, click on the Map Fields button:
This will open a popup the place you’ll see a reside preview of your PDF kind. To map fields, all you’ll want to do is click on on the PDF discipline to which you wish to map a kind discipline. That will open its settings within the sidebar.
Then, select Form Field because the discipline sort:
Then, you may choose the precise kind discipline utilizing the drop-down. For this case, you would choose the Name (First) discipline:
Repeat the identical course of to map all the fields in your kind.
If you’re utilizing a signature discipline, the Fillable PDFs plugin will insert the precise signature within the discipline.
In addition to mapping kind fields, it’s also possible to map entry meta or merge tags.
For instance, to fill the date discipline, you possibly can both let a person select the date within the kind or you possibly can routinely fill the sector with the date on which a person submitted the shape (entry meta):
Once you’ve mapped all the fields, click on the Apply & Close button.
Configure Other General Settings
To end issues out, you’ll wish to configure the output file title (which helps you to use merge tags). You may also select to connect the generated PDF file to a number of notifications.
Another helpful choice is conditional logic, which helps you to determine whether or not or to not generate a PDF primarily based on the Gravity Forms conditional logic system. This opens up two helpful potentialities. You can…
- Only generate a PDF if the person solutions the shape a sure method.
- Use totally different PDF paperwork relying on how a person solutions the shape. You might do that by creating a number of Fillable PDFs feeds and making use of them in several situations utilizing conditional logic.
Configure Advanced Settings
To configure further choices, you may go to the Advanced Settings tab of the Fillable PDFs feed.
These are elective settings – right here’s what you are able to do:
- Set a password to view or change the PDF. You can use merge tags right here, like setting the password equal to a person’s title and even letting them add a password after they submit the shape.
- Control file permissions for what folks can do with the doc.
- Enable/disable public entry (if public, anybody can obtain the generated PDF).
- Remove interactive kind fields.
- Regenerate the PDF file if the entry is edited.
Once you’ve made your selections, be sure that to click on the Save Settings choice on the backside.
5. (Optional) Display a Link to Download the PDF in Confirmations
Above, we confirmed you how one can connect the completed PDF to some/your entire Gravity Forms notifications.
Another choice is to incorporate a obtain hyperlink within the kind affirmation, which lets customers obtain the shape immediately.
If you wish to add this characteristic, you may arrange a traditional Gravity Forms affirmation after which use Fillable PDF’s merge tags to incorporate a obtain hyperlink:
6. Test!
At this level, you’re just about accomplished – give your kind a take a look at to verify it’s working.
You can submit a take a look at kind submission:
If you added the merge tag to the affirmation, you need to see a hyperlink to obtain the doc:
And then you need to see the data within the PDF’s kind fields:
And that’s it! You simply discovered tips on how to fill Gravity Forms PDF templates.
Convert Gravity Forms to PDF Today
Converting kind submissions into PDF paperwork might be helpful in a ton of various conditions, together with functions, contracts, and different paperwork.
You can cut back paperwork and streamline admin processes whereas nonetheless with the ability to embody essential options like doc signatures.
For a straightforward strategy to convert Gravity Forms to PDF, you should use the Fillable PDFs plugin from ForGravity.
Do you continue to have any questions on organising this performance? Let us know within the feedback!
