How to Make a PDF Fillable Using Acrobat or Other Tools

A form field is a specific input area in a digital or paper form that lets users enter or display data. For example, type names in a text box, select an option with a radio button, or check boxes.

These fields act as containers for different data types (text, numbers, dates, files), making data collection structured and user-friendly.

Here are some common form field types.

• Text Field: Used for entering single or multi-line text, numbers, dates, or other formatted data.
• Image Field: Allows a recipient to attach an image file.
• Check Box: Allows users to select multiple options in a "check-all-that-apply" scenario.
• Radio Button: Used in groups where only a single selection can be made from a list of mutually exclusive options (e.g., Yes/No).
• Drop Down/Combo Box: Provides a list of predefined items for single selection. A combo box also allows the user to enter custom text.
• List Box: Similar to a drop-down, but can be configured to allow multiple selections from the list.
• Button: An interactive element in a PDF that performs actions like submitting forms, saving files, resetting fields, or navigating pages when clicked.
• Date Field: An interactive form element that lets users easily input dates, often via a calendar picker, and can be set to automatically populate with the current date.
• E-signature Field: Allows signers to type, draw, or upload an image of their signature. It offers options for simple e-signatures or more secure certificate-based Digital Signatures.
• Barcode: Lets users embed scannable codes (like QR, PDF417, Data Matrix) in PDF forms.

How to create a fillable PDF? This post will show you several methods.

How to Create a Fillable PDF in Adobe

When it comes to how to make a fillable PDF, Adobe Acrobat will be the first tool that comes to our mind. It is an industry-leading PDF tool, capable of creating, viewing, editing, and managing PDF files.

It enables secure information sharing across platforms with features like text/image editing, form filling, e-signatures, password protection, conversion to/from other formats, and AI tools.

Here is how to add fillable fields in PDFs with Adobe Acrobat:

1. Open Adobe Acrobat.
2. From All tools, click Prepare a form.
3. Choose an option to create a form (Select a file, Scan a document, or Start from blank page), and then click Create form.
4. Under Add Form Components, select a type of form field.
5. The mouse pointer will change to a square. Place it where you want to add the form field and click the mouse.
6. Right-click the newly-added form field and choose Properties. Here, you can change the General, Appearance, Position, Options, and Actions of the form field.

Sometimes, you have a PDF containing unfillable forms. Then, you may want to convert it into a fillable form. Adobe Acrobat can complete this job easily.

Here is how to make a PDF fillable with Adobe Acrobat:

1. Open the PDF file in Adobe Acrobat and select Prepare a form from All tools.
2. When it asks you to choose an option to create a form, pick the Select a file option.
3. The opened PDF file is selected by default. If you want to change it, click Change file and select another PDF file.
4. Auto-detect form field is ON by default.
5. Click Create form.
6. Adobe Acrobat will scan the PDF for visual cues like lines and boxes, automatically placing interactive fields (text boxes, checkboxes).

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How to Make a Fillable PDF in Word

Many people may have Microsoft Word installed on PCs. It is a powerful word processing application for creating, editing, and formatting professional documents like letters, reports, and resumes. Users can add text, images, and tables, and use templates for efficiency. In addition, it has a developer mode, allowing users to add form fields.

Word can’t create a fillable PDF directly. To make a fillable PDF in Word, users need to make a fillable form in Word, save the file as a PDF, and then convert the PDF to a fillable form.

Here is how to make a fillable form in Word:

Step 1: Enable the Developer Mode.

1. Open a Word file and click File > Options > Customize Ribbon.
2. On the right panel, in the right list section, tick the box of Developer and then click OK.

Step 2: Add various form fields.

1. Back to the Word file, on the ribbon, click Developer.
2. In the Controls section, click Design Mode.
3. Use the buttons on the left to insert text fields, image fields, check box fields, combo box fields, drop-down lists, and date pickers.

Here is how to save the file as a PDF:

Once the fillable form is complete, click File > Save As, select a place, change Save as type to PDF (*.pdf), and then click Save. This will save the fillable file as a PDF. Unfortunately, this PDF file is unfillable. You need to convert it into a fillable PDF file using Adobe Acrobat or other PDF editing tools.

How to turn a PDF into a fillable form? Here are several tools for you.

• Use Adobe Acrobat: Open the PDF file in Adobe Acrobat, click Prepare a form, pick the Select a file option, and then click Create form.
• Use Foxit: Open the PDF file in Foxit, choose Form > Run Form Field Recognition.
• Use Nitro PDF: Open the PDF file in Nitro PDF and click Forms > Create Forms button in the Auto Form section.
• Use UPDF: Open the PDF file in UPDF and click Tools > Form > More >Form Field Recognition.

If you want to convert PDF to fillable form free, try using online tools like Jotform and pdfFiller. Upload the PDF file and then download the converted fillable PDF file.

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How to Make a Fillable PDF in Google Docs

Like Word, Google Docs doesn’t have the ability to create a fillable PDF. You need to create a fillable form in Google Docs, save it as a PDF, and then convert the PDF file to a fillable form.

How to create a fillable form in Google Docs? Here are the steps.

1. Log in to Google Docs and click Blank document.
2. Click File > New > From a template. Select a template to insert.
3. If there is no suitable template, click File > New > Help me create. Then, use the AI tool to generate a suitable form (for example, type “create a quote table” and press Enter). After that, adjust the form.

Once the form is complete, click File > Download > PDF Document (.pdf) to download it as a PDF file. Then, convert the PDF to a fillable PDF with Adobe Acrobat’s Prepare Form feature, Foxit’s Run Form Field Recognition feature, Nitro PDF’s Auto Form feature, etc.

How to Make a Fillable PDF in Canva

Canva is a web-based design platform that lets users create professional-looking visuals like social media posts, presentations, posters, and videos. Similarly, it doesn’t support making fillable PDFs.

However, you can use its form templates and elements to create a form. Then, save it as a PDF file and convert the PDF to a fillable PDF. Here are the steps.

Step 1: Create forms in Canva.

1. Log in to Canva and click File in the top left corner. Then, click Create new design.
2. On the pop-up window, click More and select a paper size. Document (A4 Portrait) is recommended.
3. In the left sidebar, click Design and then search for form templates. Click a template to use it.
4. Click Elements and search for form elements. Click an element to use it.

Step 2: Download the form file as a PDF file.

1. After completing the file, click the Share button in the top right corner.
2. Select Download.
3. Set the File type to PDF Standard or PDF Print.
4. Tick the box of the Flatten PDF option.
5. Select Download. If you used paid elements, select Pay and Download.

Step 3: Convert the PDF file to a fillable form using Adobe Acrobat, Foxit, Nitro PDF, or other PDF editing tools.

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Bottom Line

This post shows you how to create a fillable PDF in Acrobat, Word, Google Docs, and Canva, respectively. Note that the latter 3 methods require you to convert a PDF to a fillable form using professional PDF editing tools. This post also explains the detailed steps. Just pick a method according to your needs.