How to Create Fillable Form using PDF.co and Zapier

Create Fillable Form – Step-by-Step Guide

  1. Make a Zap
  2. Select PDF.co app and Custom API Call
  3. Custom API Call Configuration
  4. PDF.co Test Result
  5. Created Fillable Form

In this tutorial, we will show you how to create a Fillable Form using PDF.co and Zapier. We will use this Non-fillable sample form and turn this into an interactive fillable form.

Non- fillable Sample Form
Non- fillable Sample Form

Step 1: Make a Zap

For the first step, click the Make Zap button at the upper-left corner of your dashboard.

Step 2: Select PDF.co App and Make an API Call

Next, select the PDF.co app for the App Event and choose the Custom API Call as the Action Event. The Custom API Call will allow us to use PDF.co endpoints that are not currently listed in the action event.

Select PDF.co App And Make An API Call

Step 3: Custom API Call Configuration

Now, let’s set up the Custom API Call configuration.

  • In the PDF.co API Endpoint field, select the /v1/pdf/edit/add . You can create a fillable PDF form from the existing PDF by adding editable text boxes. For more details kindly click on this link.
  • In the Input JSON field, type the API code of the body payload. The body payload is composed of the async, encrypt, name, URL, and annotations. To get the x and y coordinates, you can use the Simple PDF Viewer.

Custom API Call Configuration


Here’s the Create a Fillable Form cURL Code Snippet.

curl --location --request POST 'https://api.pdf.co/v1/pdf/edit/add' \
--header 'Content-Type: application/json' \
--header 'x-api-key: your-api-key' \
--data-raw '{
    "async": false,
    "encrypt": true,
    "name": "Sample Form",
    "url": "https://drive.google.com/file/d/1SMFv3eM5xaMXp5SXyTXjAWJzQCSKBRkd/view?usp=sharing",
    "annotations":[        
       {
            "text":"                                      ",
            "x": 393,
            "y": 175,
            "size": 20,
            "pages": "0-",
            "type": "TextField",
            "id": "Employee"
        },

         {
            "text":"                                      ",
            "x": 277,
            "y": 194,
            "size": 22,
            "pages": "0-",
            "type": "TextField",
            "id": "Date"
        },
          {
            "text":"                                      ",
            "x": 85,
            "y": 209,
            "size": 20,
            "pages": "0-",
            "type": "TextField",
            "id": "Employer"
        },
        {
            "text":"                                      ",
            "x": 402,
            "y": 210,
            "size": 14,
            "pages": "0-",
            "type": "TextField",
            "id": "Company"
        },
        {
            "text":"                                      ",
            "x": 174,
            "y": 226,
            "size": 20,
            "pages": "0-",
            "type": "TextField",
            "id": "Address"
        }
    ]
}'

Now, let’s send the Custom API Call to PDF.co to make sure there are no errors in the setup.

Step 4: PDF.co Test Result

Excellent! PDF.co processed our request successfully. You can copy and paste the URL to view the output.

PDF.co Test Result

Step 5: Created Fillable Form

Here’s the Fillable Form that we successfully created. You can try to fill out this form.

Created Fillable Form
Created Fillable Form

Now, we will show you how to get the x and y coordinates using the Simple PDF Viewer.

  • First, open the PDF.co dashboard. You can click on this direct link to open the PDF Viewer.
  • Then, click the Helper tools menu and choose the PDF Viewer w/ coordinates for PDF Filler.

 

PDF.co Dashboard

 

Next, open your PDF document and click on the area where you want to add text field. Give the area a unique name to easily identify it from the rest. You will find all the coordinates just above your document.

X And Y Coordinates

 

 

In this tutorial, you learned how to create a Fillable Form using PDF.co and Zapier. You learned how to set up the Custom API Call to make PDF.co requests using the endpoint and input JSON. You also learned how to use the PDF Simple Viewer to get the x and y coordinates.