PDF Forms SDK

Create, Edit, and Process Interactive Forms

PDF Forms SDK: Create, Edit, and
Process Interactive Forms

The Forms feature set within our PDF SDK provides developers with comprehensive tools for creating, manipulating, and processing interactive PDF forms without dependencies on Adobe Acrobat or other third-party applications. This core functionality enables your applications to generate dynamic forms, add various field types, control form behavior, and handle form data programmatically.

Whether you're building document automation workflows, creating data collection systems, or developing form-based applications, these capabilities give you complete control over PDF forms while maintaining compatibility with standard PDF viewers. The Forms module supports various submission methods, data formats, and integration patterns to accommodate different business requirements and technical environments.

Features Summary

Capability
Form Fields
Description
Create and manipulate various form elements including text fields, checkboxes, radio buttons, and dropdown lists
Capability
FDF
Description
Import and export form data using Forms Data Format for efficient data exchange between systems
Capability
Widgets
Description
Customize form field appearance, behavior, and interactive properties to enhance user experience
Capability
Digital Signatures
Description
Add signature fields and validate signatures to enable secure document workflows
Capability
Actions
Description
Define custom behaviors when users interact with form elements
Capability
Form Recognition
Description
Automatically detect and convert static forms to interactive fillable forms

Features Details

Form Fields

The Form Fields capability allows you to programmatically create, position, and configure interactive elements within PDF documents. The SDK supports all standard PDF form field types including text fields, checkboxes, radio buttons, combo boxes, list boxes, and push buttons. Each field can be precisely positioned and sized according to your requirements. You can set field properties such as required status, read-only state, and visibility conditions. The SDK also provides methods for grouping related fields, establishing tab order, and implementing field validation rules to ensure data integrity.

FDF (Forms Data Format)

The FDF capability enables efficient handling of form data separate from the PDF document structure. Using the SDK's FDF functions, you can extract form data from completed PDFs, store it in compact FDF format, and later use that data to populate form templates. This separation of data and form design is particularly valuable for applications that need to store large volumes of form submissions efficiently. The SDK supports bidirectional conversion between PDF forms and FDF, allowing your applications to implement sophisticated data processing workflows while maintaining the visual fidelity of the original forms.

Widgets

The Widgets capability provides fine-grained control over the visual appearance and interactive behavior of form fields. Using the SDK, you can customize field borders, background colors, text properties, and other visual attributes to match your application's design requirements. You can define different appearances for various field states (normal, rollover, down) to provide visual feedback during user interaction. The SDK also supports custom calculation scripts, format scripts, and validation scripts to implement sophisticated field behaviors without requiring end-users to have JavaScript enabled in their PDF viewers.

Digital Signatures

The Digital Signatures feature enables secure form workflows by supporting the creation and validation of signature fields within PDF forms. Using the SDK, you can designate areas where users can apply digital signatures, configure signature properties, and specify which form elements should be locked when signed. The SDK supports multiple signature types including certificate-based signatures and image-based signatures. Your applications can programmatically verify the validity of signatures, check if signed content has been modified, and implement approval workflows based on signature status.

Actions

The Actions capability allows you to define custom behaviors that execute when users interact with form elements. Using the SDK, you can associate JavaScript actions with form events such as mouse clicks, focus changes, value changes, and form submission. These actions can perform calculations, validate input, show/hide fields conditionally, or trigger external processes. The SDK provides a comprehensive object model for accessing and manipulating form elements through JavaScript, enabling sophisticated interactive behaviors while maintaining compatibility with standard PDF viewers.

Recognize Forms

The Form Recognition feature automatically converts static PDF forms into interactive, fillable forms. Using advanced detection algorithms, the SDK identifies visual elements that represent form fields and converts them to actual interactive fields with appropriate properties. This capability dramatically reduces the time required to digitize existing form templates. The SDK intelligently determines field types, names, and positions based on the visual layout. After automated conversion, you can further refine the detected fields using the SDK's form editing capabilities to ensure optimal functionality and appearance.

Best Practices & Considerations

When implementing PDF forms functionality, consider these best practices for optimal results:

  • Design for compatibility

    While the SDK supports advanced JavaScript functionality, implement critical form logic server-side when possible to ensure compatibility with all PDF viewers.

  • Consider data storage strategy

    Determine whether to store form submissions as complete PDFs or extract data to databases based on your retention requirements and query needs.

  • Optimize form structure

    Group related fields logically and establish a clear tab order to improve user experience and accessibility.

  • Test across viewers

    Verify form functionality across different PDF viewers and versions to ensure consistent behavior for all users.

  • Implement appropriate validation

    Use a combination of client-side and server-side validation to ensure data integrity while providing immediate feedback to users.

Related Features

Document Protection

Complement your forms with encryption and permission controls to protect sensitive form data from unauthorized access.

Page Content Editing

Combine form capabilities with content editing to create dynamic documents that adapt based on form input.

Digital Signatures

Extend form workflows with advanced signature capabilities including timestamp authorities and long-term validation.

PDF to Image Conversion

Convert completed forms to image formats for archiving or sharing in environments where PDF editing capabilities are not desired.

Take the Next Step

Explore the full SDK documentationto see detailed SDK references and implementation examples.
Request a personalized demoto see how our PDF Forms SDK can address your specific requirements.