Creating a fillable PDF form

A sign-up form or questionnaire that people fill in on their computer, without printing it. In LibreOffice Writer, you create it as a document with form fields and export it as a PDF. In Euro-Office, you add the fields directly to the PDF.

In LibreOffice Writer

1. Type the fixed text of your form, for example "Name:", "Email address:" and "I'll attend on Friday".
2. Choose Form > Design Mode.
3. In the Form menu, choose a field: Text Box for free text, Check Box for a tick box, Option Button for a single choice from a few options, or List Box for a fixed list. Draw the field with your mouse where you want it.
4. Double-click a field to open its properties. Give each field a clear Name, and for a list box, enter the choices.
5. Turn off design mode with Form > Design Mode.
6. Choose File > Export As > Export as PDF... and tick Create PDF form. Click Export.

Keep the Writer file as well. If you want to change the form later, edit it there and export it again.

Tip: test the form in a regular PDF reader or in your browser: fill in all the fields, save the file and open it again.

In Euro-Office

1. Open a PDF in your Nextcloud, or create a new PDF form via New.
2. In the top right, choose Editing mode and go to the Forms tab.
3. Choose a field, such as a text box, drop-down list or checkbox, and click where you want it in the PDF. On the right, you set the name and other properties.

More in Creating a PDF form. To read a completed form or fill one in yourself, see Filling in a PDF form.