FillFaster lets you create online forms from PDF documents and collect data from your users and clients.
Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to create your first form using our tool.
Table of Contents
Template Form Guide (Video)
Single-Use Guide (Video)
Step 1: Prepare your PDF document
Make sure your PDF document has blank spaces for the data you want to collect. For example, if you want the recipient to fill out their name, email, and signature, your document should have enough space for them to write those down.
How to save a PDF document
If you’re editing from a Microsoft Word document:
• Select File > Save As > Save as type: PDF
If you’re editing from Google Docs:
• Select File > Download > Save as type: PDF
You can use a PDF document with a maximum file size of 5 MB. However, it is recommended to keep the size up to 300 KB.
💡 Pro Tip:
Compressing your PDF before uploading makes your forms load faster. We recommend using free tools such as iLovePDF.
Step 2: Access the form builder
Log in to your FillFaster account to access the form builder.
➡️ Don’t have an account yet? Sign up for FREE! ⬅️
Go to your dashboard and click “Create a New Form“.
Select the type of form you want to create.
- Single Use Form: This is a regular form you create for a specific one-time purpose. It includes all the information inside and just needs the recipient’s signature. This is typically used in customized contracts, reports, and agreements.
- Template Form: This is a template document with blank areas for the recipient data/dynamic data like prices and can be used over and over. Alternatively, a template form can be used to collect submissions from people when you don’t have all the information about them with one static link. Examples of these are consent forms, employment contracts, and rental agreements.
Step 3: Upload your PDF document
The form builder may look different depending on the type of form you’re creating, but the step will still be the same.
- You can drag and drop the PDF file or click “Choose PDF File” to upload.
- The “Form Title” will automatically be populated with the same filename as your document. You have the option to edit this field.
(Optional) Update Form Setting
You can update the Form setting by:
- Adding a logo
- Updating the language
- Enabling preview mode before filling out and signing the form
- Allowing downloading/printing of the document
You can do this right away or later by clicking the “Edit Form” from the dashboard.
When done, click “Start Building” to open the drag-and-drop builder.
Step 4: Add your data fields
A data field in a form refers to a form element that allows collecting or inputting data from the user filling out the form. Some common examples of data fields are:
- Text fields: For entering any type of text, such as names, email addresses, and addresses.
- Number fields: For entering numerical values like phone numbers and ID numbers.
- Signature fields: For capturing signatures from the user
- Date fields: For selecting date values in a date picker or calendar interface.
To add a new field:
- Click “Add new data field.”
- Choose the type of data field you want to collect. In this example, it’s the email address.
- Add a field name. This label will be displayed to your users when they fill out the form. Make sure it is clear and informative.
- Drag the data field to the appropriate space on your document.
- Click “Required Field” for mandatory data fields.
(Optional) Add helper components
Helper components make your online form look better and more informative. These fields are only visible on the form and not on the document. You can choose between:
- Header: A large text used as a heading or a section divider.
- Helper Text: Texts used as a description or an instruction.
- Divider Line: A horizontal line used to separate different parts of the form.
- HTML: Text with HTML tags and inline css. Can be used to bold text, change colors and even embed a video etc.
You can find these options under the “Add new data field” dropdown.
To add a helper component, choose from these options. Enter a field name, which is also the text or a brief description of the field. This is shown on the recipient’s end, so make sure it’s clear.
You can change the order of the fields by dragging the fields up or down.
(Optional) Set non-editable fields
Check the “Non-editable field” on the field’s settings to set fixed values for each submission, such as amounts, prices, and dates. You can also use our API to set these values before sending a new submission.
Step 5: Add Recipient Information (for Single-Use Form)
After marking the necessary fields, click “Add Recipient Info.”
Step 6: Create and get a link
For single-use forms:
After adding the recipient information, click “Create Submission Link” to get a link for your online form to share with your recipient.
You can then share your form with your clients or users who need to fill and sign the document by clicking on one of the “Quick Share” buttons. Here you can see a link that you can copy and paste into any channel you prefer, such as email, SMS, and WhatsApp.
The recipients will be able to access your form from any device and browser without downloading any app or software. They will be able to fill out and sign your form online with ease and convenience. Also, they can save their progress and resume later if they to.
For template forms:
After mapping out the fields, just click on “Create and Get Link”.
Again, you can quickly share the form or copy and paste the link into any of your preferred channels. With template forms, you also have the option to edit the form.
Step 7: Receive and view submissions
After the recipient fills out and submits the form, you will receive the signed PDF with all the data via the email you registered with or the one you set in the form settings.
You can also choose from different options such as:
- Webhook: You can receive a webhook notification with all the data in JSON format.
- CRM: You can integrate your form with popular CRM platforms.
- API: You can use our API to send or receive data from any app or platform.
You can view all your submissions on your dashboard by clicking “View Submissions.”
You can also download the PDFs, see when they were opened, and view/add your notes.
💡 Pro Tip: You can use our API and integrations to automate your workflows.
🎉 And that’s it! Congratulations! You have created your first online form with FillFaster.
Contact us if you need help setting up your first form. Our FillFaster’s friendly team is here to assist! You can also reach us via WhatsApp.