Can PlatoForms generate different PDFs based on user input?

Question

Can PlatoForms automatically generate a different PDF depending on what a user selects in a form?

Answer

Yes. Using the Master Form feature combined with conditional logic, you can build one form that generates a different PDF based on what each user selects — no coding required.

Here’s how it works:

1. Create a Master Form and add a Single Choice field (e.g. “What would you like to request?”) with one option for each PDF — in this example: “Leave Request”, “Expense Reimbursement”, and “Equipment Request”.

2. Add all the fields needed across your PDFs. Fields shared by all PDFs (e.g. name, email) stay visible. For fields unique to a specific PDF, add them to the Master Form and check Hidden on Form in their attributes — they will stay hidden until the user selects the relevant option.

3. On the Dashboard, click Link New PDF to upload each PDF. Then open each linked PDF’s form builder. In the left panel, hover over a field and click + Add To PDF — the field will appear on the right side of the PDF. Drag and drop it into the correct position. Repeat for all fields across each PDF, then publish each one when done.

4. Go to Logics in the Master Form and set up two groups of rules:

   • Show fields: For each option, add a rule — if the user selects “Leave Request”, then set the action to show and select the fields specific to that request from the dropdown. Repeat for the other two options.
   • Skip PDF print: For each option, add another rule — if the user selects “Leave Request”, then set the action to skip PDF print and select the PDFs to skip from the dropdown (in this case, the Equipment Request Form and the Expense Reimbursement Form). Repeat for the other two options.

When a user submits the form, only the PDF matching their selection is generated.

Video Tutorial

For a full step-by-step walkthrough, see the video tutorial below.

Have more questions? Visit our FAQs page or contact us.