Create your first online form in PlatoForms

Choose the path that matches what you are starting with. The full walkthrough below follows the PDF Fillable Form path: from an existing PDF to a tested submission and completed PDF.

Choose your starting point

Not sure? Compare all form types.

1. Start a PDF Fillable Form

1. Log in to PlatoForms. If you do not have an account, create one first.

2. From the Dashboard, click Start to build in the bottom-left corner.

   

3. Select PDF → Online Form, then select PDF Fillable Form.

   

2. Upload your PDF

Upload the PDF you want people to complete online.

Optional: compress a large PDF

A PDF can be up to 20 MB. The upload screen has an Automatic PDF Compression switch, on by default for every upload, which reduces the file size to improve loading and delivery.

After the upload, confirm PDF Fillable Form on the Choose your desired form type screen. Your earlier selection is marked Your earlier pick.

Click Build a PDF Fillable Form to open the form builder.

3. Detect and review the fields

In the form builder, use AI to create a first draft of the fields:

1. In the AI-Powered form recognition banner, click Start Now!. If the banner is no longer visible, open the ••• menu and select AI Recognition Form.

   

2. When processing finishes, click Load Form!.

3. Check every detected field. Correct its position, label, format, and required setting where needed.

AI field detection is optional. You can also add fields manually from the toolbar and drag them into position on the PDF.

For detailed instructions, see Auto-detect fields with AI, add fields to a PDF Fillable Form, and the form field reference.

4. Preview and configure the form

1. Click Preview & Design in the top-left corner of the form builder.

   

2. Fill each field as a respondent would. Check field order, required fields, validation, signatures, and the form on both desktop and mobile.

3. If needed, customize the form appearance.

4. Return to the builder, open the ••• menu, and select Manage Form.

   

5. Review the settings you need, such as the thank-you message, notifications, languages, and completed PDF delivery, then click Save.

   

See Manage form settings for every available option.

5. Publish and share

In the form builder, click Publish in the top-left corner.

After publishing, choose how to share the form:

• Public URL: Copy a direct link that opens the form in a browser.
• Embed Script: Place the form on your website using a standard embed, modal, floating button, or full-page layout.
• QR code: Let people scan a code to open the form on a mobile device.

See Publish and share for all sharing options.

6. Submit a test and check the completed PDF

Before sending the form to other people:

1. Open the Public URL in a private or incognito browser window.
2. Complete and submit the form with test information.
3. In PlatoForms, open Submissions from the left navigation. A PDF-based submission appears there once its PDF has been created.
4. Find the test submission and open or download its generated PDF.
5. Confirm that every answer and signature appears in the correct place on the original layout.

Live test submissions count toward your plan’s monthly submissions (except during the free trial), and deleting them does not give the count back.

If something is misplaced, return to the builder, adjust the fields, and test again. See Manage submissions and generated PDFs for submission actions.

Your first PDF workflow is now complete: the respondent fills and signs in the browser, and you receive a completed PDF in the original layout.

Build your first Web Form

A Web Form has no PDF behind it. You build it in the browser, and every submission still gets a PDF of the answers.

1. From the Dashboard, click Start to build. In the Web Form column, choose how to start:
   • Classic Web Form opens an empty form in the builder.
   • Conversational Form opens an empty form in the Conversational style.
   • Start with AI chat asks you to describe the form (at least 30 characters), then the Form Assistant builds it in the builder. See AI Form Generator.
   • Start from a template opens the template library. See Create a web form with templates.
2. In the builder, set the title on the first page, add fields from the toolbar, and use Add Page for a multi-page form.
3. Click Preview & Design to check the form on desktop and phone, choose Classic or Conversational, and set the look in Design Form.
4. Open More > Manage Form for notifications, the thank-you page and other settings.
5. Click Publish, then share the form as described in 5. Publish and share.
6. Submit a test from the public link. A Web Form submission appears on the Submissions page right away.